£100 Boots with holes in.....

chambta

Bought some Hudson leather boots in December for work from a local shop. Cost me £100 which is treble what I normally spend on work shoes but I liked them and thought they'd last longer so be worth it in the long run.

Walking the short distance to work I felt my feet getting wet and when I got to work I saw both boots had holes in the centre soles. I've had them barely 2 months and can't have walked more than 100 miles outside in them. Apparently they have leather soles that are less hard wearing than rubber ones.

Am I being unreasonable to expect my money back in the circumstances?

I don't have a receipt but can get my credit card bill if needed though I'm sure the guy will remember me anyway so 'proof of purchase' won't be an issue.

jenniewb

Personally I would (but this is because I live off £130 a week so would have taken me a year to save for that!) so I would say something as its such a huge amount of money (to me).

I don't know the store or the type of shoe or exactly how much walking you may have done in them, for example if they are just "party" shoes where your meant to get a taxi everywhere (go to Jimmy Choo, you'll see what I mean, don't think many of the shoes there would last longer then a month if you wore tehm daily AND decided to do more then walk a few paces in them! Stunningly pretty though...)

I would try it tbh, what have you got to lose?

Magnolia

Whether you live of £130 or £1300 per month I would want more than 2 months wear out of a pair of 100 quid boots - merchantable quality springs to mind!

Enterprise_1701C

If they are specific work boots then I would expect them to last a lot longer than that!

Take your credit card bill (even if he does remember you he might insist on proof of purchase so he can send them back to his supplier), and be nice about it, if you lose your temper then you will get nowhere, but if you are nice then you have a good chance of getting new ones, although I would expect a repair - that way you will be delighted if they get replaced!

chambta

I took them back today and he agreed that the wear was far more than expected for the use they've had. Although I ordered a copy of my card statement as proof he said he didn't want it as he remembered serving me as we had a chat about cricket. Benefit of using an independent local trader I guess.

He's sending them back to the suppliers and says he expects them to 'credit' him and which point I will be refunded. I was happy enough with that though I think I could have insisted on a refund today.

chambta

Update. The shop owner has left me a message stating the manufacturers are saying it was caused by 'normal wear and tear'.

I disagree and think they were not fit for purpose.

Is this the point where I remind him of my rights? He is their customer and I am his.

jaytin

When you say work shoes do you mean sturdy boots or just shoes/boots you wear to the office? If they are a fashion item, rather than say a pair of steel-toe-capped work boots, then they would only be considered for occasional wear, not necessarily for every day and not for walking any distance. Yes, two months doesn't seem like much time, but fashion items are not always intended to last a long time, in a lot of cases you are paying more for the brand name on them than the materials they are made of. My husband has the same problem with a lovely pair of leather shoes he bought for work, the leather soles wore out in a couple of months, apparently they are not intended for every day or for walking outside, shame the pavements don't come with carpets!:(

missymugwump

Write a letter giving them 7 days to refund you in full include the boots in the parcel (only after photographing them) send recorded delivery or special delivery
The boots are not fit for purpose (I sold shoes for 20 years and its outrageous)
Quote sale of goods act and them not being fit for purpose
If they fail to refund
Start a small claim online
Trust me they will pay quick smart then

Price has nothing to do with it at all
2.5 months of use is unacceptable

Do not take no for an answer but you must put it in writing and be seen to give them the chance to refund,it will gain you credibility with the judge

Good Luck the law is on your side

Also if you paid on a card raise it with your card provider you may be covered for a charge back

berniesmaster

thats good advice missymugwump, goodluck chambta!

chambta

missymugwump wrote: »

Write a letter giving them 7 days to refund you in full include the boots in the parcel (only after photographing them) send recorded delivery or special delivery
The boots are not fit for purpose (I sold shoes for 20 years and its outrageous)
Quote sale of goods act and them not being fit for purpose
If they fail to refund
Start a small claim online
Trust me they will pay quick smart then

Price has nothing to do with it at all
2.5 months of use is unacceptable

Do not take no for an answer but you must put it in writing and be seen to give them the chance to refund,it will gain you credibility with the judge

Good Luck the law is on your side

Also if you paid on a card raise it with your card provider you may be covered for a charge back

Thanks for the advice. I did pay with credit card but hadn't considered that option at this stage. Will go back in tomorrow and update you!

Just to add I've printed off the key points of the Sale of Goods Act to take in with me. He may think I'm a pr*ck but I'll have my money back!

chambta

Update from today. Went back in and he refused to offer any refund, repair, exchange. I explained my understanding of the sale of goods act and he said that having sent them off and got them back his involvement is over but he would speak to the rep to explain my position.

He invited me to contact trading standards which I did and they said he was out of order saying what he did and recommended I write to him giving him a timescale to arrange either repair, replacement or refund. Interestingly I then had a voicemail from the shop owner saying that he'd spoken to the rep who'd said if I sent them back to the manufacturer they would arrange a refund.

Perhaps not the right way to get it but a result in the end?