Two bean bags can look identical in photos and feel completely different a year in. Almost always, the difference is the fill, and specifically whether it's virgin or recycled polystyrene.
Virgin vs. recycled polystyrene beads
Recycled or reground polystyrene beads are made from reprocessed material, which is cheaper to source but comes with less consistent bead size and shape, since the material has already been through at least one prior use and grind cycle. Inconsistent beads compress and clump faster, which is what makes a cheap bean bag go flat and lumpy within months.
Virgin polystyrene beads are made fresh, in a consistent 3-5mm size, which is what actually lets a bean bag hold its shape and rebound after use instead of permanently compressing into a low spot.
Where it shows up in the Gouchee lineup
Every Gouchee bean bag and pouf, including the Alpine Outdoor Bean Bag Lounger and the Belgique Pouf, uses Canadian-made virgin polystyrene fill, tested to CPSC and ASTM safety standards where applicable.
Why this is the actual price difference
Fill quality is invisible in a product photo and rarely mentioned in a listing, but it's the single biggest factor in whether a bean bag chair lasts two years or ten. If you're comparing two bean bags at very different prices, this is usually where the gap comes from.