Table of Contents
Introduction
Fansedge is an online retailer that sells licensed sports apparel and fan gear. They have been in business since 2007 and carry items from all major sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL as well as colleges. However, many people wonder – is Fansedge legit or is it a scam site? In this blog post, we will take an in-depth look at Fansedge to determine if it can be trusted or not.
Company Background and History
Fansedge was founded in 2007 and is based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. They started out selling licensed sports apparel exclusively online but have since expanded to also have a retail store. In the early years, they focused primarily on college fan gear but have grown their licensed inventory to include all major professional sports leagues as well.
Some key facts about Fansedge:
- They are an authorized licensee for all the major sports leagues, meaning the leagues have approved them to produce and sell officially licensed merchandise. This gives customers confidence they are buying real, legitimate products.
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Fansedge is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating. They have been a BBB member since 2008 with no significant issues reported by customers.
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The company employs over 300 people at their headquarters and distribution center in Pennsylvania. They have grown from a small startup to a major online retailer.
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Fansedge processes millions of orders per year and has over 1.5 million Facebook fans. Their growth and loyal customer base show they are a trusted source.
So based on their background, licensing, BBB accreditation, staff size and overall growth – it’s clear Fansedge is a legitimate company and not a fly-by-night scam operation. Their history shows they have been around for over a decade serving customers.
Products and Licensing
When determining if a company selling fan gear is legit, one of the biggest factors is their licensing agreements. Fansedge products are all officially licensed which gives customers confidence they are buying high quality, authentic items. Here are some more details on their licensing and products:
- They have licenses with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, NCAA and more. This allows them to produce gear with logos, team names and player likenesses.
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In addition to pro sports, they also have college licensing deals covering virtually every D1 school. So you can find gear for your alma mater.
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Their licensed products include jerseys, t-shirts, hats, jackets, collectibles and more. Everything from causal apparel to game-day gear.
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Fansedge ensures all products meet league standards for stitching, materials, sizing charts etc. This official approval maintains high quality.
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They regularly release new products to correspond with events like playoffs, championships or player trades/drafts. Fans can stay up to date.
Having licenses with all the major sports entities is the gold standard and shows Fansedge has legitimate partnerships. This is a clear sign they are not dealing in bootleg or underground products. Customers know what they buy is real.
Payment Methods and Security
Another factor when determining a company’s legitimacy is the payment methods and security procedures they follow. This helps ensure customers’ financial information and orders are handled properly. Fansedge utilizes established payment processors and security practices:
- They accept major credit/debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay for secure transactions.
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Fansedge uses encrypted SSL connections so payment details are safely transmitted and stored. This protects customers from fraud.
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They do not keep payment information on file without permission. Customers must re-enter details for each transaction for increased security.
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Shipping addresses must match billing addresses to prevent unauthorized orders. Additional verification may be required for high dollar items.
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Fansedge is PCI Compliant which means they meet payment card industry data security standards for handling sensitive financial data.
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Positive customer reviews confirm orders are received as promised without any fraudulent charges on accounts later.
Legitimate, reputable merchants always prioritize security. Fansedge’s use of encryption, compliance with PCI standards and acceptance of major payment options provides customers confidence their financial information and orders are well protected.
Fulfillment and Delivery
Another aspect to consider is how a company fulfills and delivers orders to customers. A scam operation likely cannot fulfill orders as promised or may use misleading delivery estimates. However, Fansedge has strong logistics capabilities:
- They have a large warehouse and distribution facility able to hold millions of products for fast fulfillment and shipping. No reliance on third parties.
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Standard ground shipping gets items to customers within 5-10 business days on average. Faster shipping like 2-day is also available.
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Customers can track their orders online from confirmation to delivery for full visibility into order status.
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Fansedge uses major carriers like UPS, FedEx and USPS for fast, reliable delivery across the USA. International is available too.
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Positive reviews attest to items being well packed for protection and arriving as described in a timely manner, usually beating arrival estimates.
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They guarantee orders or provide refunds/replacements if items are damaged or lost in shipping which builds more trust.
Having direct control over fulfillment from their Pennsylvania location gives Fansedge the logistics capabilities expected of a large, established company. Customers can count on timely delivery of authentic products.
Customer Service and Reviews
How a company interacts with and supports its customers is also very telling in regards to legitimacy. An evaluation of Fansedge includes looking at their customer service abilities and reviews:
- They provide 24/7 live chat, email support and phone assistance should any issues arise.
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Fansedge aims to respond to all inquiries the same day during normal business hours.
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The website has a comprehensive help center covering common questions on orders, products and accounts.
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They accept returns on most unworn/unused items for refund within 30 days of receiving for sizing or quality issues.
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Fansedge will work to make things right if items arrive damaged or not as described with refunds/replacements.
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90% of over 65,000 Trustpilot reviews rate them as “excellent” praising products, service and value. Only 1% left poor reviews.
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Other review sites show similar trends with helpful customer support resolving matters professionally.
Clearly Fansedge goes above and beyond to support buyers both before and after a sale through various convenient channels. Positive ratings confirm the experience and point to a real company truly serving fans.
Pricing and Promotions
Assessing prices and promotional tactics is another angle that can give insights into legitimacy. Here’s what we found with Fansedge:
- Products range widely in price from inexpensive casual tees to collectible jerseys, but all seem fairly priced for similar quality items elsewhere.
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Sales and discounts are occasionally run especially during major sporting events for additional savings beyond everyday prices.
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Customers can save more with membership programs that provide free standard shipping on all orders among other perks.
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An email newsletter alerts subscribers to fresh arrivals, clearance items, coupon codes and other deals.
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Prices don’t fluctuate strangely before/during sales which dubious sellers sometimes do. Items are commonly and fairly discounted.
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Fansedge competes on selection, service and experience rather than unrealistic “too good to be true” prices that question legitimacy.
Through balanced prices, occasional sales and membership savings, Fansedge aims to provide good value to loyal customers without any shady tactics. This shows they operate with integrity as a trusted source.
Conclusion
After evaluating all available information across their background, licensing, security, operations and customer reviews – it’s clear that Fansedge is indeed a completely legitimate online retailer.
They demonstrate all the hallmarks of an established, reputable company with over a decade of success supplying sports merchandise at fair prices with reliable fulfillment and responsive service.
While no company is perfect, Fansedge exceeds expectations on legitimacy through official partnerships, secure payments, fast delivery of quality licensed gear as advertised along with pleasing reviews from verified purchasers.
Shoppers can be confident Fansedge offers an authentic fan shop experience without any of the dubious uncertainty that underground resellers present. They continue servicing new and returning customers with professionalism daily.
In summary, yes – Fansedge is most assuredly a real, trustworthy online merchant for all your team apparel, souvenir and gift needs. Browse, buy and fan out with certainty through their verified storefront.
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