Information and Alerts
Alert Details
This business has 2 alerts.
Investigations
In January of 2020, BBB received a complaint alleging that the products ordered from the FAN-PIT website, was never delivered.
In March of 2020, BBB initiated an investigation on this business to research these concerns further.
Over the course of the investigation, BBB identified a duplicate website that is now inactive, formerly hosted by shopify: fans-made.com
BBB found numerous unconfirmed, negative reviews online concerning non-delivery and poor quality products.
BBB also found 5-star reviews online that do not appear to be genuine. BBB questioned the validity of said reviews after determining that the 5-star reviews were all submitted by users whose reported location was the Philippines, and who have only reviewed this business and the duplicate websites that are now inactive. BBB also found a 5 star review submitted by a user with the same first and last name as the general manager BBB has on file for the business; "Lilybyn Laput".
BBB confirmed that the business is not registered as a business entity in the state of Maryland.The website fan-pit.com, now inactive, indicated that the business is located in Singapore.
Based on these concerns, BBB is unable to verify the legitimacy of this business.
BBB will update this profile with developments as they surface.
Ad Review
BBB reviewed the business website and found advertising claims that could benefit from clarification and/or substantiation.
On 03/26/2020 BBB contacted the business regarding the follwing claims:
CLAIM A: "Fan-Pit is not affiliated with or licensed by Marvel, DC, Disney or any other company."...
"ALL DESIGN is intended as a fan representation only and is not intended to infringe upon any copyright."... "We're the perfect place to find apparel and merch based on your favorite TV series, movies, and games."
BBB CODE OF ADVERTISING CONCERN: The Layout and Illustrations section of the BBB Code of Advertising states that - 21.1 The composition and layout of advertisements should be such as to minimize the possibility of misunderstanding by the reader.
WHY BBB HAS THIS CONCERN: BBB noted that one section of the website indicates that the business sells apparel and merchandise based on TV series, movies, and games while another section of the same webpage indicates that the business is not affiliated nor licensed to sell said merchandise. The disclaimer also indicates that all designs are intended as fan art (or fan representation) not intended to infringe upon any copyright.
According to copyright.gov, "As a general matter, copyright infringement occurs when a copyrighted work is reproduced, distributed, performed, publicly displayed, or made into a derivative work without the permission of the copyright owner."
PROPOSED RESOLUTION: BBB recommended that the business clarify how products sold on the website comply with copyright infringement regulations and/or cease the advertising of copyrighted material and derivative works.
CLAIM B:"Price Match Policy: 100% Lowest Price Guaranteed !"..." every single product on our store cannot be found anywhere else in this universe!"
The 1. Basic Principles section of the BBB Code of Advertising states that -
1.1 The primary responsibility for truthful and non-deceptive advertising rests with the advertiser. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate any objective claims or offers made before publication or broadcast. Upon request, they should present such substantiation promptly to the advertising medium or BBB.
1.2 Advertisements which are untrue, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent, falsely disparaging of competitors, or insincere offers to sell, shall not be used.
1.3 An advertisement as a whole may be misleading by implication, although every sentence separately considered may be literally true.
1.4 Misrepresentation may result not only from direct statements, but by omitting or obscuring a material fact.
WHY BBB HAS THIS CONCERN: The website indicates that the merchandise sold is unique (cannot be found anywhere else in the universe) but also offers a lowest price guarantee and a price matching guarantee. If the merchandise sold is truly unique, the business offers both the highest and the lowest price for the merchandise- as they essentially offer the ONLY price out there.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION: BBB recommended that the business remove the lowest price and price match guarantees from the website, as these claims are deceptive with the omission that all merchandise is one of a kind.
As of 07/20/2020, the business has not provided BBB with substantiation for the claims.
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