Business ProfileforWest Marine

On June 1st I placed an online order to West Marine for a hypalon inflatable boat. The boat was delivered to the ************** store. When I picked it up I found it to be more heavy than I anticipated. Once I unpacked it I realized that I should have ordered the *** version which was considerably lighter. At this point I had only taken the boat out of the box and not even unrolled or assembled anything. I decided to take the boat back for an exchange. When I spoke with the store manager, he refused to accept my return. I was treated rudely and as if I were ignorant for not knowing the store return policy. When I explained that I did not know this item was nonreturnable he showed me a faded sign at the point of sale with the policy. My issue is that nowhere during the online purchase was this policy disclosed, not even at the checkout portion. The manager referred me to a ***** # but said his answer was no and he has the last say. I called the number and opened a case with West Marine. **************** said the item can not returned as well. I asked where the policy was online and they said I needed to search for it. I did and explained it was nowhere in the description. I researched CA return laws and Civil Code Section 1723 states that nonreturnable items must have the policy posted which they did not. Also that in the store the policy must be posted at every entrance and directly on every item that is nonreturnable. I went back to the store and it was not. West Marine is in multiple violations off the code. Based on the fact that they failed to disclose the noreturn policy in the online point of sale or on the item in the store, I feel my return should be accepted. Furthermore, the policy does not even specify my item as nonreturnable. They only refer to "life rafts" which are a completely different category. I asked several times through email and phone to speak with upper management and my request was denied. Now Im out $1743.99 and stuck with an item I cant use.