I purchased an item from fanatics.com on October 11, 2020 and received it a few days later. The item was a gift, and I learned on October 30, 2020 that the size was way too small and I needed to return it. I checked the fanatics.com website to see how long I had to initiate a return and saw that their "365 day return policy" is featured very prominently all over the site (including on the page for the item I bought). There were no mentions of restrictions or exclusions to this policy.
Due to COVID restrictions I was not able to get the item back from the person I gifted it to until November 20, 2020. I then initiated the return process only to find out that the item I purchased needed to be returned within 30 days because it is a "manufacturer direct" item. Nowhere on their site could I find where it said that this type of item had a shorter return period. If I had known, I would have started the return process sooner. The return rules indicate that once a return is initiated I would have 30 days to ship the item. I am still within this window and am prepared to ship the item, but because the return was not started within 30 days I am not allowed to. Customer service was unwilling to amend their policy or make any concessions beyond issuing me a 30% off coupon.
The item is still for sale on their site, at the same price that I purchased it for. So I am not trying to return an item that is no longer for sale. I was deceived by their return policy not clearly stating that there are exceptions for certain items.
Matthew
Glenview,#2Author of original report
Mon, November 30, 2020
Fanatics has contacted me and informed me that they will accept the return. I am satisfied with this outcome. Thank you.