I've been wearing Birkenstocks since I was a kid. I've even had a pair that held strong through 8+ years of 7km-a-day daily wear. 3 years ago, that pair finally gave way and I bought a new one in the exact same model (oiled leather, regular footbed). It lasted for about 1.5 years before it started falling apart. Re-bought the same model again. 1.5 years later and the same thing happened!
Bought a new one a month ago from https://www.birkenstock.com.au/ as per usual. It came with lots of glue marks along the edge of the footbed (not mine, but pics for reference). There was even a glue streak ON the footbed itself. Returned them. New one just arrived and the glue marks are still there but for $222 I'd expect better.
Have I just been unlucky or has the quality for Birkenstocks gone way down?