On Friday, a dark cloud descended upon New England and wherever else monogrammed backpacks and fleece zip-ups are widely purchased. Maine-based retailer L.L. Bean — which, as you may remember from this boycott explainer, does not stand for Linda Linda Bean — has announced that they’re changing their famed lifetime return policy.
Now, per a letter posted on the company’s Facebook page, customers will only have a year from purchase to return items. “Increasingly, a small, but growing number of customers has been interpreting our guarantee well beyond its original intent,” they wrote by way of explanation. “Some view it as a lifetime product replacement program, expecting refunds for heavily worn products used over many years. Others seek refunds for products that have been purchased through third parties, such as at yard sales.”
People had mixed reactions:
what is even the point of LL bean if i can't buy a backpack, wait seven years, and then return it???
cale g weissman (@caleweissman) February 9, 2018