If you say you’re going to do something, then you do it. That’s how I was raised and that should go double for businesses servicing customers. Kent Slaughter of Missouri bought some socks from Bass Pro Shops a few years back. They are the Lifetime Guarantee All Purpose Wool Socks. They promised a lifetime guarantee. They would wear out, He’d take them in and they’d replace them…… until recently when they told him no more. So, Kent is suing them.
His suit says that they offered to trade him. He’d give up the lifetime warranty business and they’d hand over a pair with a 60 day warranty. And of course, he said “no”. Now he’s asking for 5 million dollars. I don’t agree with that amount, but I’m sure it’s to get attention. I get the feeling Kent would settle just to get his lifetime guarantee back.
I know it’s just socks, but I stand behind this guy. As a business, you can’t make guarantees that help you sell more of something and then back out of it. It’s called fraud. Sure, costs are up. Don’t care. You made a promise that made you more money. Stick to it.
By the way, his lawyers are inviting other customers to join the litigation and turn it into a class action suit. I think Bass Pro would be better off sticking to the lifetime guarantee.