What online retailer has the best return policy?

[SDHNTR]

I have weird ass feet and am now having a hard time finding a serious boot for steep (think mtn goat) terrain. I want to buy several models, try them all out and send back the losers. By try them out I mean actually hit the hills with a heavy pack, not just wear them inside. So I need a place that will accept a return on boots that have been worn outside and maybe even gotten a little dirty. I also need a place that will return my money, not just give me store credit. Any suggestions?

 

[duchntr]

rei will work

 

[SDHNTR]

Sure, but their selections of leather mountaineering boots is very limited.

 

[RyanC]

Zappos has a good return policy, not sure it's that good though.

Good Luck.

 

[topher89]

backcountry.com has a great return policy.

Also, if you call and talk to the one of the gear heads, they will definitely help speed the process up for you.

 

[SDHNTR]

Zappos has a good return policy, not sure it's that good though.

Good Luck.

Zappos returns policy says they only accept unworn returns. That ain't gonna work.

 

[couesbitten]

Sierra Trading Post return policy below, I'd give them a call and talk to someone first, but they might work with you.

Our Return Policy

If you are not satisfied, you have one full year from the date of purchase to make an exchange or return.

Items can be returned, exchanged or replaced if they are returned to us in clean, sellable condition.

Returns made within 6 months will refund to the original method of payment, returns made between 6 months and one year after the purchase date will refund to a merchandise credit.

 

[ChadS]

Well I know it seems either people love or hate Kenetrek, but I wore a pair a whole season that were not fitted correctly at Sportsmans Warehouse and when I called and explained my issues with customer service at kenetrek they sent me a return order, and a brand new pair of boots that were the right size no questions asked. And they have been perfect for me. Hard to beat that, they are at least worth talking too...

 

[LostArra]

I think you are asking a lot from a retailer.
Some may do it if they have a significant used boot market.

 

[twall13]

Shoebuy.com has a great return policy but I'm not sure if you can wear them outdoors and still return them. Also, their selection of mountaineering boots may be somewhat limited. Still for free shipping both ways it's worth checking out.

 

[Brendan]

LL Bean - Bar None. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for the life of the product. The only trick - they don't have a great selection in boots. I do make an effort to see if they carry what I'm looking for and price-compare pretty much every time.

I love their leather/Gore-tex Cresta for an every day boot, and then they carry Salmon, Merrell, Keen... Worth a try though.

 

[hunting1]

Huge fan of Sierra Trading Post. I have bought, returned, and exchanged many times. You get $400 boots for $125 too. My garage looks like a sporting store.

 

[MuleyFever]

Try Campsaver. They have a 180 day return policy but I do not know the specifics.

If you find one let us know. I am sure a lot of us would love to be able to try some boots.

 

[IDHUNTER]

Maybe i'm off base here but it seems a little ridiculous to me to order multiple pairs of boots, use them to the point where they cant be resold and then return them expecting all of your money back. You're asking the retailer to take several hundred dollars of loss.

 

[twall13]

Maybe i'm off base here but it seems a little ridiculous to me to order multiple pairs of boots, use them to the point where they cant be resold and then return them expecting all of your money back. You're asking the retailer to take several hundred dollars of loss.

You bring up a good point and I think that's why most retailers won't accept returns on boots worn outside. Still some choose to offer better return policies as a marketing tool in the hopes of luring new customers as well as retaining current customers. As you can see throughout the forum, alot of people are very brand loyal and keep coming back to the same brands and retailers time and time again. Retailers look at the lifetime value of a customer, not just the value from one sale. Each has their own strategy for getting and keeping customers. If they have a return policy that allows those type of returns I have no problem using it. Having said that, I don't expect all or even most retailers to have such a return policy. It's a business decision they have to make and we as customers choose where to shop according to what's important to us. At least that's my take on it.

 

[SDHNTR]

I see your point IDHUNTR, but one could argue that it's also equally ridiculous for a retailer to sell a hunting boots and expect a consumer to be able to properly test them out, only wearing indoors. I need to see how they feel in steep, uneven country, wearing a pack. Sometimes they might feel great in the store, or at home, or even wearing around town, but then tear you up in the field.

Believe it or not, there are plenty of retailers where you can wear stuff under actual use conditions and still return them. REI, Cabelas and even Nordstrom's come to mind. That's what I'm trying to find. Someone with a good selection that has a similar policy.

I agree with twall13. I don't expect this, but I do understand and appreciate retailers who offer such a policy and will henceforth support them with my business.

 

[kodiakfly]

Yeah, I gotta agree, that's kinda asking a lot and narrows your choices. REI comes to mind. But living on an island with minimal boot selection to try on, I feel your pain. I was once told by an experienced climber that if a mountaineering boot isn't immediately comfortable, it likely won't become comfortable enough to wear in that situation. Meaning, there's not much break-in to be had and it's not a pair of light hikers where you can put some moleskin and cover up a seam or thread line. If the boot isn't comfortable in your living room, it won't be on the mountain. If the boot is comfy on carpet, get on some stairs and do one-leg calf raises. If the boot moves in any direction or you've got heel lift, try to adjust the boot and do it again. If you can't adjust it in a couple of trys, the boot doesn't fit. Of course the proof is in the pudding, but it's held true for me for many years of mountaineering boots. I've never returned a boot I wore outside. I just returned two pairs of Sportivas after ordering three. The pair I kept have been good so far in the light hikes I've been able to do, and I expect them to keep on working.

 

[SDHNTR]

I wish it were that easy for me. I just returned a pair of Scarpa Wrangells that I really wanted to love. Really a well made and bad ass hard core boot. They felt great in the house, and yes I did the stair test. I thought they were gonna be perfect. Once I got on uneven ground though and walked maybe 1/2 mile of side hill, my feet slipped around so much and were severely blistered. I barely limped back to my Jeep. It's hard to duplicate side hills on steep loose terrain. A nice maintained trail is one thing and you can get away with a lot. Get off the trail in steep broken ground and that's when a boot will really show whether it fits or not. Unfortunately, I haven't found a way to duplicate such terrain outside of the real thing.

All this said, since I just found out that REI will do custom orders (they carry Lowa, Scarpa, Zamberlan, etc) and can get boot models that aren't normally stocked, I think I found my solution. Just have to pay for shipping, which I don't mind too much given the accommodating return policy.

 

[Murdy]

I doubt retailers losses are that significant on returns like these, otherwise they wouldn't do it. I'm sure boots are marked up a lot (otherwise places like Sierra couldn't sell them for 60%+ off), and retailers have outlets for such goods, like various clearing houses that do business on Ebay. The profit they make on the pair you keep probably offsets their loss on a few pairs they can't sell through normal channels.