L.L. Bean: Old Reliable
Written: Feb 05 '04 (Updated Dec 20 '04)
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I am taking my daughter to a sleepover and for the first time in about 25 years, I needed a sleeping bag. I shopped around the internet a bit but found that the full price at L.L. Bean was competitive to many other sites for sleeping bags.
WEB SITE
The web site is well-organized and it is fairly easy to find what you are looking for. Customer service information, including shipping rates, is easy to find. Lots of images might frustrate slower computers.
BACKORDERED INFORMATION
I ordered a sleeping bag that was backordered two weeks. The web site indicated that the item was backordered before it was placed in my cart. The site also indicated the expected ship date. Since there was only a two week wait, I decided to go ahead with the purchase. As it turned out, the item shipped two days before the expected ship date listed on the site.
CHECKOUT
Checkout was very straight forward and easy. I did not need to choose a password, although you can create an account with L.L.Bean and they will save all of your information to speed future checkouts.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Even though I did not create an account with L.L.Bean, I still got an email confirming my order. I also got an email confirming when my items shipped.
It took three days from the time I placed my order to the time the item that was in-stock shipped. Three days to leave the warehouse is not too bad, but not top of the industry either. The other thing I noted is that my credit card was charged for the in-stock item the day I placed my order, not the day the item shipped. It isn't a big deal - but many retailers don't charge your credit card until the item leaves the warehouse. After shipping, the item arrived at my house in two days. Overall, a five day delivery is pretty good.
MY ITEMS
I ordered a sleeping bag and sleeping bag pad. Both items arrived in perfect new condition and were exactly as described on the web site.
STEALS AND DEALS
I don't have a L.L.Bean credit card, but according to the web site, if you use their credit card (which is a visa in their name not a store credit card) you can get free shipping and free monograms on their products. You can also earn credits towards L.L. Bean merchandise.
Currently, L.L. Bean offers a 3% rebate through Upromise.com.
There are some sale items listed on the L.L. Bean site. However, there are many more listed on its outlet site.
I looked on the internet for other coupon codes or deals and didn't come across any. Of course, all of this information is subject to change.
SHIPPING
U.S. shipping costs are below:
Up to $25.00: $4.50
$25.01-$75.00: $6.95
$75.01-$125.00: $8.95
$125.01-$150.00: $10.95
Over $150.00 $11.95
L.L. Bean ships internationally and there are express options - all for more money, of course.
PACKAGING
The packaging was fantastic. The items were wrapped in plastic and shipped in sturdy boxes.
RETURNS
I didn't have to return any items so I can't comment on the process. However,the boxes arrived in very good condition so they would be easy to repack for a return. Additionally, a return label and shipping label were included that would further facilitate the process. The following information is from the web site:
L.L.Bean QuickExchange
For the fastest service, call 800-221-4221 anytime to request an L.L.Bean QuickExchange™. We'll need to charge you for the new item, but we'll ship it the next day – and for US exchanges we'll waive the regular shipping charge. Once we receive your return, we'll credit you for the cost of the original item.
Returns or Exchanges from the US
1. Complete the returns/exchanges section on your order’s packing slip, or download a Return and Exchange Form.* (The form can be completed electronically, then printed.)
2. Secure your merchandise in the original packaging, if available, and enclose the completed form.
3. Return the item by using one of the labels included with your order's packing slip, or use the Prepaid Merchandise Return Label found on the Return and Exchange Form.* Affix this label over the original shipping label on your package. Leave your package at your mailbox or drop it off at the nearest post office. Please note that a $5.85 fee is charged for the use of this label. If the returned merchandise was purchased with L.L.Bean® Visa® Coupon Dollars, we may reduce the number of points credited to your account by the amount of the return charge in lieu of charging your credit card.
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If you would like to pay your own postage, please use the Merchandise Return Label found on the Return and Exchange Form.* Affix this label over the original shipping label and take this package to your preferred postal carrier.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
I thought shopping at L.L. Bean was a very good, reliable experience. Shopping the web site is easy. The merchandise was exactly as expected. One of my items took 3 days to leave the warehouse but that is not too bad considering it arrived 5 days after I placed my order.
DO YOU LIKE TO SHOP ON THE INTERNET? HERE ARE SOME MORE REVIEWS OF WEB STORES:
Clothing and Accessories: Talbots; The Gap; CWD Kids; Hanna Andersson; J. Jill; Tote Le Monde ; Blu Pyxie ; Miniboden; One Hanes Place; Nordstrom; Gymboree; Simple Shoes; Sierra Blue; Ebags.
Clothing and Home Goods: Lands End; Bluefly; Soft Surroundings; Garnet Hill; Sundance.
Home and Garden: Smith & Noble; Restoration Hardware; Gardeners Supply Company; Unicahome; Homeclick; FaucetDirect; Gardens Alive; West Elm; Crate & Barrel; MyKnobs; CB2.
Books and Magazines: Amazon.com; ValueMags; Magazine Values; Dover Publications.
Office Supplies, Furniture and Services: Staples; Officemax; Topdeq; Efax.
Electronics: HP Shopping; Buy.com; ABT Electronics.
Travel: Amtrak; Hotwire; Orbitz; Hotels.com.
Discount: Overstock.com; Target.
Photo Developing: Shutterfly; Snapfish.
Baby Stuff: Babystyle; Babys Here Birth Announcements; Baby Universe; SoZo; Baby Center; Baby Age.
Miscellaneous: 1-800 contacts; Movie Tickets.com; Drugstore.com.
Rebate Sites: Upromise; Ebates.
Before you start shopping, check out my tips on how to save money by shopping on the internet . I have also included some coupon codes and plan to add more as I find them.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? sleeping bag and sleeping bag pad
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About the Author
Location: Basking in the Sun
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