Refund policy

Last updated: July 14, 2026

The Short Version

We want you to love what you ordered. If something is not right, email us at info@yarnworldhaven.com and we will work through it with you. The details below explain exactly what we can and cannot accept back, and why — written plainly so there are no surprises.

1. What You Can Return

You may return unused, unopened items in their original condition and original packaging within 30 days of the date your order was delivered.

To be eligible for a return, your item must meet all three of these conditions:

Condition	What It Means
Unused	Never wound, worked, knitted, crocheted, swatched, or handled beyond brief inspection
Unopened	Original packaging intact; seals, bands, and labels unbroken
Within 30 days	Return request emailed to us no later than 30 days after your confirmed delivery date

2. How to Start a Return

Step 1 — Email us first. Send a message to info@yarnworldhaven.com (Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM Central) with:

• Your order number
• The item(s) you wish to return
• A brief reason for the return

Do not ship anything back before hearing from us. Returns sent without prior authorization may not be processed.

Step 2 — We respond. We will reply with instructions. Return postage is handled case by case — we will discuss it with you in that email.

Step 3 — Ship and receive your refund. Once we receive and inspect the returned item, we will issue your refund within 7 business days. Refunds are returned to the original payment method (credit/debit card, Shop Pay, etc.).

3. Why Used or Opened Yarn Cannot Be Returned

Plain-Language Explanation — Please Read Before Opening Your Yarn

Yarn is dyed and sold in dye lots — small batches where every skein receives the same color formula on the same day. Once a dye lot sells out, that exact color cannot be reproduced. Even tiny differences between lots are visible in a finished project.

Here is why we cannot accept yarn that has been opened, wound, or worked, even briefly:

• Dye-lot matching is destroyed. The moment a skein's band is removed, we cannot verify which dye lot it belongs to or guarantee it will match another skein for the next customer.
• Winding measurably degrades yarn. Pulling yarn through a winder stretches and stresses the fibers. This changes the drape, twist, and tension — qualities that matter enormously to knitters and crocheters.
• Use leaves permanent traces. Even a single swatch introduces handling oils, pet hair, lint, and odors that are difficult or impossible to fully remove.
• It protects you, the next customer. If we accepted and resold worked yarn, the buyer after you could receive a skein that looks right but performs differently — that is not a standard we are willing to set.

This is not a loophole or a fine-print trap. It is a quality standard that treats every customer equally.

For the same reason, partially used craft kits, opened pattern booklets (non-digital), or tools that show signs of use are not eligible for return.

4. Refund Method

Refunds are issued to the original payment method used at checkout:

• Credit or debit card purchases: credited back to the same card
• Shop Pay / Shopify Payments installments: credited per that platform's terms
• We do not issue cash refunds on online transactions — see the legal note in Section 9 explaining how Minnesota's refund statute applies to our online format

Refunds are processed within 7 business days of receiving and inspecting your return. We will email you when the refund is issued. Please allow your bank or card processor its own processing time after that (typically 3–7 business days, though this varies by institution).

5. Non-Returnable Items — Full List

The following cannot be returned or refunded under any circumstances, except as required by law in the case of a defective or misdescribed product (see Section 7):

• Yarn that has been wound, worked, swatched, or whose packaging has been opened or removed
• Opened or used craft tools
• Opened craft kits (once the kit packaging seal is broken)
• Opened pattern booklets
• Digital downloads (PDF patterns) — see Section 6
• Custom or special-order items
• Items marked Final Sale at the time of purchase
• Items returned after 30 days from delivery

6. Digital Downloads — PDF Patterns

All digital downloads — including PDF knitting and crochet patterns — are non-refundable once the file has been accessed, downloaded, or delivered to your account or email.

Why: A digital file is delivered instantly and completely upon purchase. Unlike a physical item, it cannot be returned — the information is already in your possession. Once downloaded, the product has been fully consumed.

Exception: If the file you received is corrupted, incomplete, or technically undeliverable, email us and we will either re-send a working file or issue a full refund at our discretion. That is a delivery failure, not a change of mind, and we will make it right.

Before you buy a digital pattern: Product pages display the pattern name, designer, skill level, gauge, and a preview image where available. If you have a question about a pattern before purchasing, email us — we would rather answer a question than process a dispute.

7. Damaged, Defective, or Wrong Items

If your order arrives damaged, defective, or is the wrong item entirely, that is our problem to fix, not yours to absorb.

Email info@yarnworldhaven.com within 7 days of delivery with:

• Your order number
• A description of the issue
• Photos if the item is visibly damaged

We will offer a replacement, store credit, or full refund — your choice. You will not be asked to pay return postage in this situation.

Note on partner-shipped orders: Some items ship directly from our partner suppliers and may arrive in separate packages. If a supplier-shipped item arrives damaged or incorrect, the same process applies — contact us, not the supplier. We are responsible for everything you order from Yarn World.

8. Orders That Never Arrived

If your tracking shows delivered but you did not receive your package:

• Check with neighbors and any building access points
• Wait 24 hours — carrier GPS scans sometimes fire slightly early
• If still missing after 24 hours, email us

We will investigate with the carrier. Outcomes depend on carrier findings, but we will not leave you without a resolution.

If your order is genuinely lost in transit (tracking never updates past a certain point), email us and we will work toward a replacement or refund.

9. Legal Framework — What the Law Actually Requires

This section explains the specific statutes this policy was drafted against. You can look every one of these up yourself.

A. Minnesota's Refund Disclosure Statute — Minn. Stat. § 325F.80

The default rule: Under § 325F.80, subd. 2, a seller generally may not refuse to give a cash refund on goods that are acceptable for return unless the seller discloses a different policy.

The definition of acceptable under § 325F.80, subd. 1(3) requires that goods be in a condition acceptable to the seller using reasonable and objective standards, the goods are returned within a reasonable time from the date of purchase, and proof of purchase is presented by the consumer at time of return.

This gives Yarn World a legally sound basis for declining returns on opened yarn — it is not in a condition acceptable to us under reasonable and objective standards, for the reasons explained in Section 3 above.

The disclosure requirement: § 325F.80, subd. 3 requires that a seller altering the default cash refund policy display written notice of its refund policy clearly and conspicuously, in boldface type of a minimum size of 14 points. That language was written for physical stores; Yarn World has no physical premises. The purpose of the statute — ensuring you receive clear, conspicuous notice of our return policy before you buy — is served by displaying this policy clearly and conspicuously on the website, in bold text, linked from every page and at checkout, before and at the point of purchase.

Enforcement: A seller who violates § 325F.80 is subject to remedies under Minn. Stat. § 8.31, with civil penalties capped at 500 dollars per violation.

B. Minnesota Consumer Fraud Act — Minn. Stat. § 325F.69

The Consumer Fraud Act prohibits fraud, false pretense, false promise, misrepresentation, misleading statements, and deceptive practices in connection with the sale of merchandise. As the Minnesota Supreme Court confirmed in Hoang Minh Ly v. Nystrom (2000), Minnesota's consumer protection statutes are broadly construed to enhance consumer protection.

How this policy complies: Every material limitation on returns at Yarn World is stated in plain language, with the reasons given, before you complete a purchase. There are no hidden conditions.

C. FTC Rules on Returns and Refunds

FTC Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 435): This rule applies to Yarn World as an online seller. If we cannot ship within the time we state, we must notify you and offer the option to cancel for a full refund, and refunds on canceled orders must be issued promptly — within 7 business days for credit card charges.

FTC Act, Section 5 (15 U.S.C. § 45): The federal prohibition on unfair or deceptive acts and practices applies to return policies. A return policy that is deceptive, or posted but not honored, violates this standard. As noted in Dahl v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (Minn. Ct. App. 2007), federal and state consumer protection law operate side by side.

D. Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practices Act — Minn. Stat. § 325D.44

This statute prohibits deceptive trade practices, including misrepresenting the characteristics or quality of goods. Yarn World's policy defines return eligibility on objective, verifiable criteria.

10. Contact Us

Questions about this policy? We are real people and we are happy to talk it through.

Email: info@yarnworldhaven.com
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM Central Time

We typically respond within one business day.

11. Legal Citations — For Your Own Verification

Authority	What It Covers in This Policy
Minn. Stat. § 325F.80	Minnesota's retail refund disclosure requirement; the acceptable-condition standard; the conspicuous-notice obligation; 500-dollar-per-violation penalty
Minn. Stat. § 325F.69	Minnesota Consumer Fraud Act; prohibition on deceptive return practices
Minn. Stat. § 325F.68, subd. 2	Definition of merchandise under the CFA (includes goods sold by Yarn World)
Minn. Stat. § 8.31	Enforcement and civil penalty mechanism for § 325F.80 violations
Minn. Stat. § 325D.44	Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practices Act; quality misrepresentation
16 C.F.R. Part 435	FTC Mail/Internet Order Rule — shipping delay notification and refund timing obligations
15 U.S.C. § 45	FTC Act Section 5 — federal prohibition on unfair or deceptive practices
Hoang Minh Ly v. Nystrom, 620 N.W.2d 309 (Minn. 2000)	Broad construction of MN consumer protection statutes
Dahl v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 742 N.W.2d 186 (Minn. Ct. App. 2007)	State consumer protection law coexists with FTC Act; not preempted