Faulty goods - no receipt, any chance of a replacement?

[stripeyknickersspottysocks]

I got DD some new school shoes at the beginning of April from Brantano. Hush Puppies so not cheap, think they were £40.

One of the leather loops that holds the velcro strap in place has torn off. On the other shoe you can see its ripped nearly all the way through as well. She's worn them for 9 weeks max. However I guess I can't prove we only got them in April.

Is it worth going back?

You don't have to have a receipt to get your money back on faulty goods. However, you will need some form of proof if the shop tries to claim you didn't get the shoes from them. Without the receipt it may be difficult to prove absolutely but a credit card statement showing the transaction would help.

We once returned school backpacks to Staples that had hardlty lasted any time at all. We didn't have a receipt but CC statement was fine - I think they were able to link this to their own records as to items purchased

Did you buy them on your debit/credit card? The shop should be abl to find your receipt from that

I paid cash for them. Will try, guess they can only say no.

Not fit for purpose. You can get an exchange.

I've been back to Brantano and they said they can't do anything without a receipt or a credit card statement.

bollocks they can't! Write a letter to the head office, explaining when and where you bought the shoes. Ask for a refund or repair.

Have you got the box? It might have batch number of the like to help

The manufacturer might be able to tell you when the shoes where made too,

You paid cash and you have lost your receipt but do you still have the box? That would have the shop barcode label on it proving where you bought them.

The main issue that I see here is the length of time and what caused the straps to come away.

I retail shoes myself and have over the years seen many different faults. It is exceptionally rare for both shoes of a pair to develop the same manufacturing defect in the same places. Left and right shoes are not made at the same time so even though it could be weak leather or faulty stitching it would be a rare case on both shoes at the same time.

Could it be that extra stress from your daughter pulling the straps has caused the problem ? Lots of children do overtighten shoe straps and it's not unfortunately a manufacturing defect.

However, having said that you do still have options. You have had use and wear from the shoes so a full refund is unlikely, you could ask for a repair - it's a fairly cheap job to get done at a cobbler's. Brantano may agree to pay all or some of the cost if you provide a receipt for the repair.

Alternatively contact Hush Puppies themselves, in my experience they are always happy to look at shoes with faults and they will give you an honest report on the shoes. They themselves may exchange them or agree to compensate the repair.

You will need to act fairly quickly though because if your daughter has grown out of the size then they probably won't give you a refund or a replacement. They will know if they are too small from the removable footbed which will show where her toes are in the shoe.

Good luck.

Oh and btw if you do get them repaired expect to pay around £10 - £12 for it.

under the sale of goods act you are entitled to repair or replacement (not a refund) if the goods are not of reasonably merchantable quality. there is certainly a statable argument that you should expect new shoes to last more than 9 weeks, therefore they were not of a reasonably merchantable quality. You will, however have to prove that you bought the shoes from the shop you return them to. If you paid cash you won't have a bank statement etc to show the transaction so are totally dependent on the goodwill of the shop. (PS - I am a barrister).