L.L.Bean Drops Lifetime Return Policy

From ELLE

We've got bad news for L.L. Bean fans: the beloved brand has canceled its century-old lifetime return policy. As of today, customers will have one year to return an item along with a proof of purchase. The now-defunct lifetime return policy had been in place for 106 years.

The brand shared the news in a Facebook post on Friday morning to the dismay of Bean Boot and tote bag worshippers everywhere. In the message, L.L. Bean said the policy update was caused by customers who have "been interpreting our guarantee well beyond its original intent."

"Some view it as a lifetime product replacement program, expecting refunds for heavily worn products used over many years," the statement reads. "Others seek refunds for products that have been purchased through third parties, such as at yard sales."

Roughly 15 percent of recent L.L. Bean product returns abused the lifetime guarantee policy, L.L. Bean President and CEO Stephen Smith said in an interview with the Portland Press Herald.“The satisfaction guarantee and the intent of the guarantee is very much still intact," Smith added. "We make great stuff and we stand behind great stuff. But we have had a huge growth in abuse, and fraud, and a misinterpretation of that guarantee.”

Read the company's full statement here:

L.L. Bean fans promptly lost it on Twitter after hearing the news. Some customers understood the change after hearing that people were taking advantage of the lifetime policy:

Others didn't take to the news kindly:

You Might Also Like

• The 50 Most Expensive Celebrity Engagement Rings Ever

• 50 Surprising Things You Never Knew About 'Sex and the City'

• 15 Gorgeous Natural Hairstyle Ideas