Bass Pro Shops Sued, Accused Of Fraud Over 'Lifetime' Sock Guarantee

SPRINGFIELD, MO — A dissatisfied Bass Pro Shops customer is bringing a class action lawsuit against the store, claiming the business failed to uphold the lifetime guarantee it promised customers who bought a certain sock.

The complaint was filed earlier this month in the U.S. District Court’s Western District of Missouri against the Springfield-based Bass Pro Inc. by Webster County resident Kent Slaughter.

Between 2014 and 2021, Slaughter purchased from the Bass Pro Shops store in Springfield about a dozen new pairs of Redhead Lifetime Guarantee All-Purpose Wool Socks, according to the lawsuit, which was uploaded to DocumentCloud by Law & Crime. Over the years, Slaughter would exchange the socks for free replacement pairs, but that came to an end around January 2021, the complaint said.

When Slaughter tried to return four pairs of socks, he was directed to the store's customer service department, according to the lawsuit.

“Customer service ultimately told Plaintiff — over his objections and demands that Defendant continue to honor the Lifetime Warranty — that he could no longer return the Socks pursuant to the Lifetime Warranty,” the complaint said.

Instead, the store offered Slaughter a pair with a 60-day warranty, according to the lawsuit.

“By making false, fraudulent, and misleading statements to consumers, Defendant Bass Pro has deceived thousands of consumers who have purchased the Socks under the false belief that the Socks come with the purported Lifetime Warranty,” the complaint said. “Plaintiff and other purchasers have been harmed by Defendant’s fraudulent misrepresentations and false advertising.”

The complaint alleges several counts, including fraud and unjust enrichment, and seeks a jury trial, requesting actual, statutory, punitive and compensatory damages.

Bass Pro declined to comment on the lawsuit.

“Bass Pro Shops does not comment on pending litigation,” the company said in an email in response to a request from Patch.