This is the Best Deal Ever!

Hi Everyone,

The season's holiday gift giving is now in the past. Do you find great deals that you couldn't pass up? We all look for great deals to save money to make our money go further during the holiday season and for any other occasion. Unless you plan to buy a knockoff, sales of products that you know are real can save a whole lot of the green stuff.

When you buy merchandise from a company, what kind of guarantee or warranty do they offer? 90 days, 6 months, 1 year, or in the case of a new car; 30,000 miles or even a 100,000 mile power train warranty? Well I found an even better guarantee, which I believe is the best guarantee ever! Everyone has heard of L.L. Bean. This iconic made in America company, actually made in Maine, of all things outdoorsy, has the best guarantee bar none. Their slogan is even, "Guaranteed To Last". In smaller print Bean states, "Our products are guaranteed to give 100% satisfaction in every way. Return anything purchased from us at any time if it proves otherwise. We do not want you to have anything from L. L. Bean that is not completely satisfactory". Sounds to good to be true?

Last month, after years and years of wearing Bean clothes, for the first time, I decided to take them up on their guarantee. I had a pair of lined jeans that were about 10 years old. Not only did the lining give up the ship, so did the outside denim. I went to a brick and mortar store instead of mailing the jeans to them. I found the same exact lined jeans and went to the check out. With no questions asked, the cashier accepted my jeans and the new replacement one. When all was said and done, I received my new jeans and a gift card for $1.93. I questioned why I received the gift card and the cashier told me that was the difference between the old jeans and the new ones.

A few weeks ago, my daughter returned a pair of boots that we had given her a few years ago. Bean didn't have her size, so they had to be ordered. Then they gave my daughter a gift card for $30.00, again the difference? Now I am not one to kick a gift horse in the mouth, but giving money back in addition to the replacement doesn't seem right for the company. I don't think anyone would ever complain about getting free lifetime replacement for a well worn out article of clothing etc that may be years and years old. But giving money back in addition, just doesn't make sense to me or for the company.Yes Bean's merchandise is pricey, but how can you go wrong with the industry's best return policy ever!

I know that I have blogged about companies that rip customers off, but this is way far over the other side of the pendulum. I am not sure that giving away money for something that you purchased for a lesser amount, should equate to a monetary refund. Bean has been around for a long time and most likely know what they are doing. But to me, this doesn't make any common sense, (for the company) other than, as time goes by, my leisure clothes in my closet are more and more Bean then any other manufacturer. Score one for the customer.

Til next week.

Peter