Platteville, Wis. – October 29, 2026 -- A Brewers fan says she spent nearly $400 at MLBshop.com on Christmas gifts for her family, then was offered only store credit when she tried to return the gear. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says holiday rushes for team merchandise bring both scammers and return headaches.
The gear arrived, but the quality fell short for her
The longtime fan says the colors and fabric were not what she expected. She describes the gear as thin, with logos that looked like stickers. She says she is disabled, lives on very little income and saves all year for the one holiday she spends with relatives, who live in Iowa.
Her order confirmation email shows it came from the official site, so the problem was not a scam. It was the return.
MLBshop.com's policy allows 90-day refunds with exclusions
The policy allows full refunds within 90 days. Clearance items, final-sale items and non-returnable items are excluded. The fan says only one item in her order was marked final sale. MLBshop.com had not responded to a request for clarification at the time of reporting.
The BBB says returns are the company's call, not a consumer right
Lisa Schiller of the BBB says many shoppers assume they have a right to return an item, but each company sets its own policy. She advises checking before purchase whether you would get your money back or only store credit.
Lookalike Brewers shops and counterfeits are circulating
Cybersecurity company BrandShield found lookalike Brewers stores with "official" in the web address. The BBB says to check addresses for typos and creation dates, and to treat newer sites with hidden owners as red flags. Schiller says counterfeits are the biggest uptick the BBB has seen in Wisconsin. Shoppers report:
- Thinner material than expected
- Crooked or off stitching
- Colors that aren't right
Six checks to make before you click "buy"
- Read the return policy first. Check whether you get a refund to your card or store credit only.
- Look for exclusions. Clearance, final-sale and non-returnable items are often excluded.
- Check the web address. Look for typos and extra words like "official."
- Look up the site. Make sure the company is real and check when the site was created.
- Save your records. Keep your order confirmation and a screenshot of the return policy.
- Report problems. Scams can be reported to the BBB Scam Tracker.