Re cleaning walking boots

[choirmumoftwo]

Bought DS walking boots in April and paid more than expected to make sure they were waterproof. They've been worn for a D of E expedition and a long-distance footpath walk and were leaking like a sieve on second use. Returned them to the store who said they'd issue an exchange or refund (suspiciously without hesitation) but only if we took the boots away and cleaned them thoroughly first. Given that they had a light coating of dried mud on them, not half a field, and were faulty and presumably therefore could not be resold, I thought this was a bit rich but AIBU?

I guess the shop have to send them back to headquarters, not just throw them in the skip, else they could just fish them out and sell them on EBay.

I can see that having to store and transport muddy, possibly cow shitty boots, isn't going to please them.

Not that leaking boots, please you.

My walking boots also leak, but they are 20 years old.

That's what they said Elephant, that they had to go back to head office. I probably am BU but they honestly weren't filthy and it just annoys me that I've been sold a duffer but I have to be inconvenienced.

Clean the shoes. Why should they have to handle, package and then head office handle filthy muddy shoes. I think it's pretty slack of you not to have at least given them a wipe over before taking them back. Gross.

YANBU. If they are faulty, why on earth does it matter what condition you return them in? It's their problem if they're muddy!

Midnite, please read the op. They were not filthy or muddy. They had a thin layer of very dry earth on them which is what remained after they'd been cleaned by me. Frankly, I would have packaged them myself if they'd given me the option and please remember that I didn't just decide I didn't want the boots. They weren't fit for purpose!

In situations like that you have to employ the and the calm 'No, sorry, that doesn't work for me - you need to take these now and organise a refund - they are not fit for purpose' Then basically just stay silent, don't try to fill the awkward silence.

YANBU - they are!

I don't think you are being unreasonable op. I don't see that they can resell them. It would be illegal here in Australia and I imagine it would be in the UK. While yes, they no doubt have to send them back to the factory or whatever, would it kill them to put them in a plastic bag or something? Or clean them off themselves. Bit unfair to expect the person who has already been inconvenienced by the fact that the boots had to be returned to have to take them home, clean them and come back again.