With the NBA trade deadline in a little more than two weeks, fans might be afraid to buy the jersey of their favorite player.
Well the company Fanatics, the largest seller of jerseys in the U.S., just announced a new program that will help fans everywhere!
They will offer fans a chance to exchange for either the new jersey of their favorite player or to get a different jersey of a player on their team, if the player whose jersey they recently bought gets traded.
Here's how the program works:
If a fan buys a jersey on the site within three months of a player leaving that team, the fan has two weeks to make an exchange.
Co-President of Fanatics' Direct-To-Consumer Business, Chris Orton says, "We found out that 25 percent of fans were worried that the jerseys they purchase will become obsolete. So by doing this, this is a major paint point we are solving."
The website goes a step further if the jersey is purchased with an American Express card.
In that case, fans can change their jersey if their player leaves within 12 months of the purchase of the jersey.
Vice President of Experiential Marketing and Partnerships for American Express says, "This program resonated with us. At the heart of it, buying a jersey is a simple transaction, but it's so much more. What you wear on your body is a reflection of the passion you have for your team. So this is a natural extension for us."
The jersey exchange program also is available on the NBA's online store.
Chris Orton says, Fanatics soft-launched the three-month assurance for jerseys of all sports in November during quieter times.
When Adrian Peterson was traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Arizona Cardinals, Saints fans participated in the exchange, with most, opting to get a new Saints jersey.
Fanatics pays the shipping both ways.