Scholarwear does not replace sweaters or other items of clothing that have been worn and torn or ripped or snagged creating holes. ScholarWear does not replace items that have a thread or two that need to be snipped off. A pair of scissors and a couple of snips will keep the thread from unravelling more. Some buttons may come off when children pull on them as normal wear and tear. As detailed in our return policy, we will replace an item that has a manufacturer's defect. There is a time limit (30 days) for reporting and returning an item with a manufacturers defect. Damage from wear and tear, even if it occurs during the first week of school, is not a manufacturers defect. The best thing to do is look over the item purchased closely before wearing it. If there is a button missing before it is worn, or a seam that is poorly sewn or a zipper that won't zip, please return the item for replacement or repair before removing the tags. If you remove a tag by pulling the tag off and a hole is torn in the sock or other item, it is not a manufacturers defect. Please use scissors to snip the plastic tabs that attach to the clothing.
If the garment has been worn, and it is brought to the store within 30 days from the purchase, the employees at ScholarWear can use their judgement to determine if the problem was caused by wear and tear or not. If an item looks used and worn, the problem was most likely caused by the child, not by the manufacturer, and we recommend that the parent repair the item or have it repaired. A hem on a skirt that comes loose calls for a needle and thread and a few quick stitches to secure the hem so the problem will not continue around the rest of the skirt. It is not appropriate to ask for a new skirt because a hem was snagged on a shoe or a chair. We do have buttons available for minimal cost if you lose a button and a small needle and thread may be used to repairs loose hems.
If a sweater comes back looking like it was only worn a few times and a hole is under the arm pit where the seams meet, it probably was caused by the manufacturer not finishing the seam properly and may be replaced by ScholarWear. The decision is up to the ScholarWear employee and their experience with what is typically caused by wear and tear and what may be a manufacturer's defect. We are not trying to sell faulty merchandise, but we will not replace items that a child has worn and torn or items that have been improperly cared for. Since the items are the same from year to year there have been occasions where parents have brought items from previous years asking for replacements only to find that the item was really an old item confused with the newer purchases made that year. There can be confusion with items that belonged to an older sibling or friend's sweater mixed in with the clothing from the newer purchases. Since there are no serial numbers on each item, it is up to the employee's judgment in issuing replacements even if the parent thinks the item is newly purchased. Keep in mind that if an item is heavily worn it may not be exactly the same item you recently purchased and listed on the receipt.
Some problems are caused by improper care. It is the parent's responsibility to read and follow the manufacturer's care instructions. For example, there was an item brought to ScholarWear that the parent thought that there was some problem with the material. It was wrinkled and bumpy and the parent asked for a replacement. We found that the item had been washed or dried in extreme heat and we were able to repair it by some careful steam pressing. It is not ScholarWear's policy to repair items that have been damaged by the customer. The item was returned to the parent looking like new. Following the fabric care tips is the parent's responsibility as is pressing care. Some children are tougher on clothing compared to others and they may ruin an item of clothing after only a month. Some parents realize this and take precautions by adding fabric patches, on the inside, before the knees are torn or tightening buttons when they become loose. Some children wear our clothing for the entire year and the items still look great with no holes in the knees. We do not guarantee the items will last an entire year.
I attended a school event, where a child was wearing a sweater with holes in both elbows. I wondered that the child was allowed to participate since the uniform was not in good condition. I was concerned that the sweater had appeared to have worn out and that it was allowed to be worn during a special function event or even any school day. The dress code states that "all uniform items must be clean, in good condition and worn as specified". I asked my child about the sweater and was told that the child had cut the holes into the elbows with scissors. A piece of a uniform that is no longer up to the Challenger Uniform Code is not to be worn to school and should be replaced before it is needed at an assembly. Some children are harder on their uniforms than others. We can not guarantee the items will last an entire year.
