Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take back these boots?

68 replies

CakeNinja · 21/04/2016 23:22

Started a thread in chat but decided to chance my arm on AIBU aswell, sorry for multiple boots spamming.

Bought some boots instore (wanted to try them on in a few sizes and am generally shit when it comes to organising myself to send stuff back so seemed like a better idea). It was end of November.

They are now unwearable due to both zips buggering up, one of the teeth (??) on one boot has fallen out so it won't zip up, and the other zip lining has torn away from the other boot.

Had dumped them in the cupboard a couple of months ago as had not kept the receipt and had resigned them to being fucked but resentful at throwing them away. The tread on them is still perfectly intact.

Today I found the receipt and am wondering if I took them back of they would replace them (I love them, although thinking they may do the same thing again?) or laugh me out of the shop for trying to get new boots out of them 6 months after purchase.

Wwyd? Try and get a replacement or resign them to the bin? WIBU to try and take them back?

OP posts:
WhereYouLeftIt · 22/04/2016 00:32

I would take them back, as they are faulty - zips should not do that. They should be able to see from the soles how much they have been worn, which is not much. Six-months-old boots should not fall apart, even if they were worn every day of that six months.

Have a look at this article, it covers what you need to know when you go into the shop. These boots did not last a reasonable length of time, especially since they weren't worn much during the time that you have had them. The Sale of Goods Act 1979 is your friend!

NHSisfubar · 22/04/2016 00:37

Wow that looks very poor quality; the way the whole line of teeth has pulled away from the webbing and the teeth missing too. And not at a point of main stress either. Poor quality manufacturing of zip. I'd defo take back and say faulty goods. I paid a load for some Merrell boots that did the same. Sent first pair back within 12 months and they replaced. 2nd pair did exactly the same again (teeth fell out so they wouldn't do up) but because it happened at the end of winter and I forgot about it for too long they wouldn't replace them by the time I contacted them again. Obviously a fault and I wouldn't buy again from them now.

nancy75 · 22/04/2016 00:42

I was a shoe shop manager for years, looking at the photos it seems obvious that the boots have hardly been worn, I would have refunded or offered to get them repaired without question.

Original poster
CakeNinja · 22/04/2016 00:45

The trouble is, clearly, I'm a bit of a wimp! I don't want to cause a fuss. I'm not going to make a fuss, I'm going to go in tomorrow and explain the problem nicely and ask if there's anything they can do as I'm not happy they haven't lasted.
If they say no, then at least I've tried!

OP posts:
BumWad · 22/04/2016 00:54

Take them back they are faulty!! Plus they were £175!!!

Original poster
CakeNinja · 22/04/2016 01:02

I know but they are 6 months old!!! Grin
I'm going to give it a go tomorrow, just wanted to see if IWBU because they're so old. Most people think I'm not, although Felicia upthread has made a valid point, which were my first thoughts tbh.
I will plan for the worst (ie buy new boots if they won't replace) but be pleasantly surprised by the best (that they replace my poor quality boots with another pair of poor quality boots?! Grin )

OP posts:
nancy75 · 22/04/2016 01:06

You can reasonably expect a pair of £175 boots to last more than 6 months and from looking at the sole it is quite clear you haven't worn them everyday for 6 months. When I worked for monsoon a woman brought back a 10 year old cardigan because a button had fallen off, she was unreasonable, you are not!

NKFell · 22/04/2016 01:13

Don't forget as they were purchased after October 2015 it's the consumer rights act not sales of goods act- just so you sound knowledgeable Wink

Lilylonglegs · 22/04/2016 01:28

I bought a pair of Sandals from Faith and took them back about 4/5 months after I bought them as they completely fell apart while walking through London Bridge station and it was only about the 5th time I had worn them, Completely unfit for purpose. I called up first as I was completely aware that they may refuse to take them back. Would have loved another pair as they looked beautiful but were so badly made I won't even buy any shoes from there any more.

I worked in Dolcis in the 90's and the policy was if someone returns shoes for whatever reason no matter how long ago you refund them. People used to bring them back years later. Didn't really bother me, just did as I was told!

Original poster
CakeNinja · 22/04/2016 01:38

Alright alright, I'm going first thing!!!
Thankyou everyone, I'm now feeling okay about taking them back.
Although, Lily, I am now questioning whether or not I even want a replacement pair.
It's some feat to fuck up the stitching on 2 separate boots to the extent they are ruined in a few months, they're probably just really poorly made and in that case, do I even still want a replacement?
Bloody love those boots though!

OP posts:
AdjustableWench · 22/04/2016 02:13

I wouldn't expect a zip to fail within 6 months on a £175 pair of boots. I have a pair of boots I bought 12 years ago and they only just fell apart this winter. I've worn them a lot but looked after them. The zips still work fine but the sole detached. I'd have been gutted if they'd fallen apart in a few months.

Also, I think you should be looking for a different pair instead of a direct replacement - it's probably a manufacturing fault and might affect other boots in the same style.
Good luck!

Lilylonglegs · 22/04/2016 02:24

Apologies it was Dune: www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=108865241 I loved them so much.

I wouldn't get another pair, they will likely do the same. This was my third pair (different styles) of Dune wedges which fell apart on the street. I could no longer take the embarrassment. I actually fixed the first two pairs (unsuccessfully) and by the third time I had enough. They did ask me a few questions and call the manager to inspect but I think it was just following protocol because at that point I was not leaving without my money back and thank heavens they didn't try and dispute anything.

Clandestino · 22/04/2016 02:46

Seriously? You are asking what to do? They are faulty, they were bloody expensive, you've got the receipt.
Take them back and insist on refund.

littledrummergirl · 22/04/2016 06:43

I took a pair of £30 boots back when the sole came away. They were only four months old and I didn't have a receipt.
They exchanged them.
As you have the receipts you should get a refund if you want that.

teawamutu · 22/04/2016 07:32

I once took back a pair of m&s boots two days after purchase because the leather had completely worn away on the toe. They refused to refund or replace because 'they were too damaged to have been worn only one day' Hmm

MiaowTheCat · 22/04/2016 07:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Junosmum · 22/04/2016 07:49

Take them back. By law shoes should be fit for purpose for 6 months (unless excessive wear) so they should replace them or give store credit, particularly for that cost!

DontOpenDeadInside · 22/04/2016 07:52

Get them exchanged, keep receipt in safe place, if same happens again ask for refund. Receipt wouldn't have details of the old transaction on I don't think (ie it was 6 months for exchange) so they should refund no problem.

JessieMcJessie · 22/04/2016 08:06

Stop fixating on the 6 months and think about the number of wears. They have broken after very few wears. That is why they are not fit for purpose.

flanjabelle · 22/04/2016 08:09

Definitely right to take them back. It's clear from the sole that they have barely been worn.

Original poster
CakeNinja · 22/04/2016 08:10

Thanks everyone, I'm taking them today.
teawamtu that's bloody ridiculous Shock
I hate taking stuff back, I just really love the boots, although I'm having doubts as to whether or not to even have them replaced. Might do as dont suggests, give them another go and keep receipt safe this time.

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 22/04/2016 08:18

£175 and 6 months!! You've got the receipt. Total no brainer!

ohtheholidays · 22/04/2016 08:27

I'm positive they will replace them for you OP,you can see just looking at the tread that they're hardly been worn.
I think like other's have said they're a faulty pair,all clothes/shoes that are made have spot checks run,but the problem is those spot checks might be 1 out of every 100 or 1000 so there will always be a chance of a faulty item or 2 getting through the checks.

diddl · 22/04/2016 08:33

Good that you are taking them back.

I would have without a receipt.

That is just shocking that they are falling apart.

I wouldn't expect that even if they had cost a 10th of the price.

That's really shoddy work.

jaketweeneyistooadvancedfor2 · 22/04/2016 08:44

I had a colleague who bought a pair of shoes from M & S, she wore them once and the strap broke, so she took them back the next weekend with receipt in hand. Lady at customer service called a manager over and after some conflab, the manager said she couldn't refund as the soles looked like 'they had been walked on gravel'. Colleague came out with a classic response and asked where it said on the shoes that they were for indoor use only - she got her refund!!

Swipe left for the next trending thread