Complaint Review: L.L. Bean - Freeport Maine
Ripoff Report on CBS 19
Ripoff Report on CBS 19 - Global Marketing Alliance
Ripoff Report on ABC 15 - Smart Shopper
Ripoff Report - Girls Gone Wild
Ripoff Report on Fox 11 - Car Repair
- Author Confirmed
- L.L. Bean llbean.com Freeport, Maine U.S.A.
- Phone:
- Web:
- Category: Mail Order Services
LL Bean RIPOFF slow no refund on returned items, rude customer service Freeport Maine
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Your return took 4 weeks just to get there!
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Your return took 4 weeks just to get there!
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Your return took 4 weeks just to get there!
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Your return took 4 weeks just to get there!
*Consumer Comment: I have used LL Bean
Show customers why they should trust your business over your competitors...
listed on other sites?
Those sites steal
Ripoff Report's
content.
We can get those
removed for you!
Find out more here.
Ripoff Report
willing to make a
commitment to
customer satisfaction
Click here now..
L.L. Bean claims to accept returns on any item, anytime, for any reason. But what they don't tell you is how abominably slow they are in processing refunds and crediting your account.
At the beginning of this month I returned a pair of boots and a pair of shoes, that didn't fit me. They were unworn, in new condition. A few weeks afterward, I still hadn't received a refund, so I emailed their customer service.
The customer service rep rather snottily responded that I shouldn't even think about seeing my refund for at least 4 weeks after they receive my returned item.
Now what in blazes takes so long? I sent the boots back priority mail, didn't take it more than three or four days to arrive, so why does it take four weeks or more to see a refund? It's not like they have to mail a check, all they need to do is type some information into a computer to get the refund processed through my debit card. So what's the holdup?
Even if they have a huge warehouse full of returns, they need to hire enough people to get their refunds out in a timely manner, not keep people waiting for weeks! If I walked into a store and returned an item, I would walk back out with the money in my hand. But apparently it's okay for companies to play waiting games with customers. No way could you or I walk into a store and take home a pair of shoes and casually say, "I'll just pay you in four weeks or so, or whenever I get around to it." They'd have us arrested for shoplifting if we did that. Yet, retail companies can hold on to items sent back to them AND hold on to our money.
I wasn't happy with this at all, so I kept complaining. They first tried to fob me off with "we can't expedite returns", and I had to be really persistent. Finally I mentioned taking them to small claims court, and that seemed to get them going a bit. They eventually refunded the boots price after a couple of days, but I am still waiting on the refund from the shoes. I emailed them again about the shoes and got the "we can't expedite returns" automatic response. I am pretty mad now. That money was supposed to buy our Christmas tree, but looks like we won't have one this year because these Grinches won't get off their butts and go look for the box in their warehouse so I can get the money back.
I emailed them several times after that, and now they are not answering me at all. I asked them how they would feel if a bunch of disgruntled customers got together and filed a class action suit against them for their refund policies. I would be all for that. It isn't fair for them to hold on to people's money.
I complained to the BBB, even though I know they won't do anything, it will help with the paper trail, I guess. Also, I am going to file suit against them in my local small claims court for the 34.95, though God only knows when I'll see that money.
What rude, rude customer service. I am never shopping with L.L. Bean again. I'll go to Lands' End, who have always been nice to me
Melinda
South Lake Tahoe, California
U.S.A.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 12/22/2005 05:17 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ll-bean/freeport-maine/ll-bean-ripoff-slow-no-refund-on-returned-items-rude-customer-service-freeport-maine-169024. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content
If you would like to see more Rip-off Reports on this company/individual, search here:
#5 UPDATE EX-employee responds
Your return took 4 weeks just to get there!
AUTHOR: Bad Housekeeping - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Priority mail means nothing, it's still slow as frozen molasses just with a fancier name. I no longer live in Maine, but it has been known for items mailed from 2 towns away to reach Portland in 3 or more days. OF COURSE they can't expedite returns! When I worked at the NorthPort Catalog Center we were still processing Christmas returns at mid-March, THERE ARE JUST THAT MANY!
And Land's End isn't any better as far as product quality is concerned, I've had shirts from them that literally fell apart at the seams after two or three washes. Land's End is also owned by SEARS, at least L.L. Bean is it's own company.
#4 UPDATE EX-employee responds
Your return took 4 weeks just to get there!
AUTHOR: Bad Housekeeping - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Priority mail means nothing, it's still slow as frozen molasses just with a fancier name. I no longer live in Maine, but it has been known for items mailed from 2 towns away to reach Portland in 3 or more days. OF COURSE they can't expedite returns! When I worked at the NorthPort Catalog Center we were still processing Christmas returns at mid-March, THERE ARE JUST THAT MANY!
And Land's End isn't any better as far as product quality is concerned, I've had shirts from them that literally fell apart at the seams after two or three washes. Land's End is also owned by SEARS, at least L.L. Bean is it's own company.
#3 UPDATE EX-employee responds
Your return took 4 weeks just to get there!
AUTHOR: Bad Housekeeping - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Priority mail means nothing, it's still slow as frozen molasses just with a fancier name. I no longer live in Maine, but it has been known for items mailed from 2 towns away to reach Portland in 3 or more days. OF COURSE they can't expedite returns! When I worked at the NorthPort Catalog Center we were still processing Christmas returns at mid-March, THERE ARE JUST THAT MANY!
And Land's End isn't any better as far as product quality is concerned, I've had shirts from them that literally fell apart at the seams after two or three washes. Land's End is also owned by SEARS, at least L.L. Bean is it's own company.
#2 UPDATE EX-employee responds
Your return took 4 weeks just to get there!
AUTHOR: Bad Housekeeping - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Priority mail means nothing, it's still slow as frozen molasses just with a fancier name. I no longer live in Maine, but it has been known for items mailed from 2 towns away to reach Portland in 3 or more days. OF COURSE they can't expedite returns! When I worked at the NorthPort Catalog Center we were still processing Christmas returns at mid-March, THERE ARE JUST THAT MANY!
And Land's End isn't any better as far as product quality is concerned, I've had shirts from them that literally fell apart at the seams after two or three washes. Land's End is also owned by SEARS, at least L.L. Bean is it's own company.
#1 Consumer Comment
I have used LL Bean
AUTHOR: J.m. - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Saturday, March 01, 2008
...A ton of times and never had problems with their customer service. In fact, even when I've gotten fussy (which I am prone to do in buying situations because I hate shopping) they have gone above and beyond to appease me...as disagreeable as I can get. I am shocked that you had such a hard time. I would call them back and ask to speak to a supervisor to see if you can get some resolution. LL Bean, from my own experience, has always been willing to go the extra miles for a customer -- no matter what the size or cost of the order.
I hope you can resolve this with them as I know they have customer service in their priority one slot...
Also, you may want to point them to this rip-off report because I am sure they will want to know -- plus it may help you in your resolution process with them.
Good luck and Cheers!
Advertisers above have met our
strict standards for business conduct.
