L.L. Bean Just Updated Its Return Policy

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L.L. Bean's duck boots may still be going strong, but good luck returning a pair if they don’t work out. (Which is quite possible after the past holiday season.) Since 2012, L.L. Bean has reportedly tripled the number of boots it sells each year, telling the Associated Press that it increased production in order to have enough boots to meet the ever-growing demand. The company even projects it will sell 750,000 pairs this year, a 100,000 pair increase from 2017. "We are working fast and furious to keep up," said company spokesperson Carolyn Beem. "We have been expanding year over year over year."

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But keeping up means making changes, including updating its return policy. On Friday, the Maine-based brand announced it would no longer accept an item returned more than a year after it was purchased, and you’ll need a receipt in order for the transaction to be processed. The reason? It seems customers were taking advantage of the retailer's leniency.

“Increasingly, a small, but growing number of customers has been interpreting our guarantee well beyond its original intent,” the company wrote in a letter posted on Facebook. The status went on to say: “Some view it as a lifetime product replacement program, expecting refunds for heavily worn products used over many years.” Then, some people allegedly took it even further: “Others seek refunds for products that have been purchased through third parties, such as at yard sales.”

Though L..L. Bean doesn’t think this update will affect the amount of returns each store sees, Twitter users had some thoughts, sharing their own experience with the retailer.

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

LL Bean is tired of your shit, people. pic.twitter.com/HFPVFS8xfU
— Sonny Bunch (@SonnyBunch) February 9, 2018

I applaud LL Bean for taking action on this issue. Anyone who is upset by their new policy would implement the same thing if it was their company. People are taking advantage of it. Why should someone be allowed to return a well worn 10 year old jacket they scooped at Goodwill?
— Lorraine (@Lemon_Lorraine) February 9, 2018

As a loyal LL Bean customer for over 40 years, I don’t blame L L Bean for doing this. Dishonest people abuse this goodwill policy and I am happy they are taking this measure so they can continue to stay in business! I would love to be a loyal customer for 40 more years!
— heykiki (@heykiki) February 9, 2018

INBOX: LL Bean has had it with your b.s. pic.twitter.com/l4lZZZTead
— Gordon Chaffin (@GordonAChaffin) February 9, 2018

Lol my grandpa used to buy LL Bean stuff at Goodwill and have my Mom and I package it up and "return" it to LL Bean for a full refund. He had a million schemes like this. RIP to one of Grandpa's not-very-efficient-but-favorite-ways-to-pass-a-Sunday cons. pic.twitter.com/qbL6XexSKd
— Meagan Fisher (@owltastic) February 9, 2018

Consider now the time to double-check whether those duck boots in the back of your closet still fit. And if not, well, there's always eBay.

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