I am an avid wearer of Birkenstocks have been for years (and yes they get a bit of a hammering from the fashionistas but I dont care !).
But I needed to replace a silver pair that were about 10 years old, on holiday in Spain I bought a pair of Giza in a stockiest who also had other well known European brands. Had the box with the labels attached all looked the same as previous purchases.
After wearing them for roughly 4 weeks the sides are splitting already, now this does happen but only after many years of wear with all my others. I currently have 7 pairs on the go at the moment with no problems with splitting at all, bought in Germany, UK, France and the States.
I have sent a message to Birkenstock and they have asked for photos which I have sent, but looking around I now see how much there is a problem with fake ones, I hope I have not bought counterfeit Birkenstocks!
Anyone had the same problem? and how do you know whats fake and whats not as its not that easy to figure out other than made in China.