Would you return a pair of shoes which wrecked your feet on the first wear?

[ProseccoThyme]

I bought a pair of flat sneakers-type shoes from Sainsbury's & wore them for the first time last weekend.

I only had them on for a short time (1-2 hours) and walked maybe 1/2 a mile in them.

This resulted in them wearing the skin off my heels, to the extent they bled through my socks.

Would you return in these circumstances?

Did you try them on before you bought them?

No.

That's what new shoes do. You need to break them in.

Would they accept them back for that reason?

Technically they are fit for purpose, they just don't suit your feet.

Whenever this has happened to me in the past, I've used cushioned plasters and when the blisters heal, the skin toughens up.

No, there is nothing wrong with the shoes, they just don’t fit.

@Fastedbrownie

No.

That's what new shoes do. You need to break them in.

If shoes fit properly, they shouldn't need breaking in - at least, not to the extend that they make your feet bleed on first wear.

Unfortunately most shoes on the high street are made for a standard foot width (D) and if your feet are wider or narrower than that, shoes never fit properly. If you have wider feet they will stretch in time, and some styles will fit better than others, but the only way to avoid this problem altogether is to find a retailer that does width fittings or to have your shoes tailored.

Perhaps you could also try thicker socks?

It wouldn’t cross my mind to return them , it’s not the shoes or the retailers fault .

No, I wouldn't return them, are they too narrow or too wide. Lots of high street online shops do wide fittings and I would pay more to have comfortable shoes.

No, I'd use blister patches for a while and see if they get better. Dd had some from Clarkes which still hadn't softened after 2 weeks and 3 boxes of patches and we did return them.

Why is that the shop's fault?

When I'm wearing new shoes, I always put plasters on the back of my heels, because I know they rub as the material can be quite stiff at the back until you've broken them in, which causes rubbing. The vast majority of shoes do this to my feet the first time (or few times) I wear them, but they end up completely fine.

You really can't take them back for that. If the blood went through your sock I assume it went on the shoes. You can't return things with your blood on them for goodness sake.

Nope, I would expect this to happen. It's the same with every new pair of shoes I ever buy and also happens when I go back into boots in the winter.

I think I have scarring on my heels from proper bad walking boot blisters, but I also have narrow heels, so that might make more sense.

I wouldn't buy cheap or supermarket shoes for this reason though. They always rip my feet to shreds, and I can never break them in.

Yes if it were clear they are not going to “break in”. I would ask for refund based on faulty shoes. Some shoes are like that. Especially women’s shoes that seem to be made with looks ahead of functionality.

If it were blisters because I’d walked 10km in brand new trainers, that’s a breaking in issue, not a faulty shoe issue.

No. It sounds pretty normal for wearing in new shoes. Try blister plasters on your heels.

I can't wear cheap shoes , they always hurt my feet !

The shoes do not have a fault. They haven’t fallen apart.

I’m afraid this is user error.

You can't return shoes you've worn for half an hour and bled all over, no.

@PurpleWh1teGreen

The shoes do not have a fault. They haven’t fallen apart.

I’m afraid this is user error.

Things don’t have to fall apart to be faulty. I don’t think it was user error as she only wore them for 1-2hrs and walked a mere 1/2 mile in them.

I’ve successfully returned shoes like this and gotten refunds for them. I do avoid supermarket/cheap shoes though for exactly the reason that they’re usually so poorly made they belong in a bin.

Definitely wouldn’t return. It’s not like the supermarket made any commitment to you that they would be comfortable for your particular feet.
I would only ever return fitted children’s shoes as the store has advised they will suit.
It’s up to you to make sure they fit.

Well they're not fit for purpose are they?

This is down to the store's discretion. And yep, they'll refund you (I can say this with some confidence as I'm an area manager at Sainsbury's!) I should think.

There's definitely a case for cheaper shoes causing issues though.

What on earth shoes are people buying that so many of you think this is what you expect!

I've never had this since I was a child and my mum would just guess what size to get me.

If you bought them from a shop and had them fitted properly, or the size/measurements are correct then I would look to return them. Though shoe shops are a nightmare for this.

I’m not sure you can return them. There’s nothing wrong with the actual shoes, and it’s not like they could re-sell them now!
I had a pair of laceless sneaker type shoes from Sainsbury’s that did the same to me in under an hour (wonder if they’re the same ones?) Unfortunately I was at work so couldn’t change and kept them on for another 7 hours... then had to wear them the next morning as there was no time to buy more before my next shift. They actually stretched out pretty quickly and became my most comfortable shoes! By the end of the second shift they were wearable even with my plastered ankles.

* lunar1
Op bought them from a supermarket.
Not a shop that offers a fitting service.

@lunar1

What on earth shoes are people buying that so many of you think this is what you expect!

I've never had this since I was a child and my mum would just guess what size to get me.

If you bought them from a shop and had them fitted properly, or the size/measurements are correct then I would look to return them. Though shoe shops are a nightmare for this.

It's in the very first line of the OP