Description

Subject: Misrepresentation of Goods, False Advertising, and Refusal to Honor Written Refund Agreement I am submitting this complaint regarding Brecklen & Meyer Stores Co., operating through the website brecklenmeyer.com, for what I believe to be misleading advertising, deceptive business practices, and refusal to honor written refund commitments. 1. Product Misrepresentation On December 30, 2025, I purchased the “Barger Vintage Leather Jacket”, advertised as a premium leather product with high-quality construction, detailed stitching, premium hardware, and a tailored fit. The item I received was not leather, but thin plastic, with: - Inferior construction - Cheap hardware - Poor stitching - Incorrect sizing (I ordered Small; they sent Large) - A visibly different appearance from the product photos The product delivered was materially different from what was advertised. This constitutes false advertising and misrepresentation of goods. 2. Written Promise of Full Refund Including Shipping After I reported the issue, the company acknowledged the discrepancy and provided written confirmation on January 2, 2026, stating: “Upon receiving the returned item and the shipping receipt, we will promptly process a full refund, including the product cost, initial shipping fees, and the cost of the return shipping you incurred.” This written statement clearly promised: - Full product refund - Refund of initial shipping fees - Refund of return shipping costs (EUR 23.50) I followed all instructions exactly as provided. 3. Return Completed as Instructed I returned the item using a trackable service, as required. I provided: - Tracking number - Photo of the shipping receipt - Confirmation of return delivery The company acknowledged receiving the tracking information and confirmed the return was being processed. 4. Company Reversed Its Position After Receiving the Return After the return was completed, the company changed its story and refused to refund the shipping costs they had explicitly agreed to reimburse. Their later emails stated: - “Our company policy does not allow refund of return shipping costs.” - “We must adhere to this policy and cannot refund EUR 23.50.” This directly contradicts their earlier written commitment. The company is now refusing to honor the refund they promised in writing, despite me fulfilling all requirements. 5. Pattern of Inconsistent and Misleading Communication Throughout the email chain, the company: - Provided contradictory information - Repeatedly changed its stated policies - Attempted to retroactively apply policies after promising otherwise - Used multiple names (Monica, Amanda) with inconsistent signatures - Provided a U.S. return address that appears to be a residential property, not a legitimate business location The address provided was: 7598 US Highway 61–67, Barnhart, MO 63012 This is publicly listed as a single-family home, not a commercial warehouse or corporate office. This raises concerns about the legitimacy of the business operations. 6. Summary of Issues - Product was not as advertised - Material misrepresentation of product quality and materials - Incorrect size shipped - Company promised full refund including shipping - Company refused to honor that promise after receiving the return - Provided a residential address as a return location - Communication appears intentionally misleading - Behavior consistent with fraudulent or deceptive online retail practices