Re: exchanges
(no name) ((no email))
Mon, 1 Mar 1999 14:45:14 -0600
Hi Mary Lee!!
I'm posting only the first sentence to the list, because it's a
question I've been asked nine times since posting the response.
Also, here word-for-word is the exact "policy description" from the
BSA's Supply Division catalog (it's also on a lucite plaque at some
local Council Scout Shops (tm) ).
Mary Lee and some others asked:
>Mike, how far does the exchange policy go? You make it sound
>almost unbelievable!
>From the BSA Supply Division catalog:
"Our Guarantee:
You must be entirely satisfied with any item you purchase from the
Boy Scouts of America or we will refund your fully purchase price.
Each item in the BSA line is field-tested under varying conditions,
and must meet our our rigid standards before we recommend it to our
membership and before it can bear the Scouting Seal. That seal is
your guarantee of quality, excellence, and performance.
Ultimately, you are the final judge of our products. If for any
reason you wish to return any article to us, we will gladly
exchange it or refund your money promptly."
Signed by the Director, Supply Division."
Here's some additional information I provided to others:
"Isn't this all subject to abuse??"
Sure it is, which is why you must return the items to the Supply
Division by mail or to the Scout Shop(tm) in person. At the Scout
Shop(tm), you will be asked to fill out a form which explains who
you are, what unit you belong to, and why you're returning the
item. Supply Division employees are trained NOT to refuse your
return but to "make it good" by offering you a similar type item or
to refund your money. When you write to National's Supply
Division, make sure that you indicate whether you want a refund or
another item. Like anything you purchase, you will be asked to
make up the difference in price if the item is more expensive than
the item you've purchased; and if it's a special order item you're
looking for (larger inseams, longer belt, extra-extra large shirt,
smaller hat, whatever), you will be asked to pay the costs in
advance of them shipping the item to you (or your Council, which
they prefer because it's slightly cheaper).
"What if I find one of the old shirts and send it in to National
Supply...will I get a new shirt in return??"
Some Scouters have used this "guarantee" to find older style shirts
and sending them to National in exchange for present style shirts.
They *used* to do this, but my understanding is that they will *no
longer* do this kind of "swap out". There are exceptions, of
course, for those Scouters that have had their shirts since the 60s
and have "grown out" of them...but I leave that to the Supply
Division to respond to individually.
Also, be aware that a copy of your "exchange ticket" will be shared
with your Council Scout Executive, so that excessive "exchanges"
can be "corrected" or stopped at the local Council level.
However, Mary Lee, the BSA's stand on their merchandise is firm:
they stand proudly behind what they sell to us, and if *we* don't
like what we've received or worn, we can return it for an exchange
or for our monies back. No time limit, no questions.
This all started shortly after the Great Flood in the midwest back
in the 30s, whereby entire communities were flooded out by the
Ohio. Many Scouts had ruined uniforms and the BSA announced that
they would exchange those murky uniforms for brand new ones for
each Scout and Scouter affected. This was later extended to all of
the products carried in the official catalog, and in the 50s,
extended to everything that carried the BSA's official seal (which
includes cards and certificates, uniform items and accessories, and
many of the BSA's publications and booklets.).
The BSA's Scouting Seal became as clear-cut as the Underwriters'
Laboratory's seal, and many Scouts and Scouters opted for the
"BSA-labeled" items rather than cheaper, perhaps better-made,
commerically available items (which brings us back to those that
want the option to wear the "BDU" pants). The Seal, as stated
above, insured that at some time in the process, each item was
tested, checked and confirmed good enough for the BSA.
(we can argue about that last sentence for a long, long time,
folks, but that's what the BSA's thinking was for sure!)
Hope that this resolves your question as well as those other's
questions about our Supply Division. They may NOT get things right
all of the time....and there are some things we wished they would
have left alone. But they know if WE don't like them, WE can
return them to the Division (and like any good business, backlogs
of stuff that's NOT moving means one thing....we need to change!)
Settummanque!
(c) 1999 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") blkeagle@mninter.net
http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle Burnsville, MN 55306-7130 (612) 435-3068
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonmi@usarc-emh2.army.mil
---- FORWARD in service to youth ----
Claim YOUR BINDER(s), ready for the BSA's new 8x11" pubs, at my website NOW!
