Church's shoes falling apart

spoovy

I bought some Church's shoes in Dec 2014. They were expensive, about £250, and are supposedly handmade in England and therefore high quality. As summer shoes, and as a pair to be worn for 'best', on holidays etc, I've only worn them about 10 times since I bought them.

Unfortunately they are falling apart. The stitching is coming out and if I wore them another 2 or 3 times I've no doubt they would literally be in pieces.

This is clearly a manufacturing defect, but I'm aware that the retailer is reponsible so I got in touch with them. An Italian company. They bluntly refused to deal with me, saying they were damaged by me and the sale was from too long ago.

I therefore contacted Church's (imagining they might care about their brand and customers) but they just say that they must go back to the retailer.

Now I know that I bought them over two years ago, but what seems more relevant to me is the amount of wear they have had. It can be clearly seen that they have been hardly worn. And they were rather expensive; I expected them to last for many years.

Do I have any rights here?

Thanks in advance.

hollydays

They are part of the Prada group.
It does seem extreme if they are nearly in pieces, is this actually the case?
Can you post photos?

spoovy

Well I didn't know it at the time but Church's was bought by Prada some years ago, and it's old customers have not been happy with the company since from what I read online. I believe they are still made in Northamptonshire though.

The Italian company I bought them from is just a retailer, FRMODA.

spoovy

Yes I'll upload a couple, including one to show how little wear they have had.

It might not look too bad in the photo, but the thread is coming out so it's only a matter of time before the panels separate and they will be unwearable. The top strap is under some stress when being worn so this process would not take long.

neilmcl

It's unlikely you're going to have much luck exercising your statutory rights against a retailer based in Italy, also bear in mind after 6 months the onus is on you to prove that it's down to a manufacturing defect.

Personally I'd be seeking out a decent cobblers to get get them repaired, or at the very least get a professional opinion. What you believe might happen doesn't really count for anything I'm afraid.

neilmcl

spoovy wrote: »

Yes I'll upload a couple, including one to show how little wear they have had.

It might not look too bad in the photo, but the thread is coming out so it's only a matter of time before the panels separate and they will be unwearable. The top strap is under some stress when being worn so this process would not take long.

Other than the bit slightly lifting in the first pic, possibly because something has come into contact with the underlying glue (they would've been glued and stitched), I can't see anything to suggest the shoes are falling apart.

Again, you're best bet is to seek expert advice from a decent shoe repairer.

spoovy

This is my thinking -- a good cobblers. Trouble is the fix will not be cheap, and as they are clearly faulty, where is the stitching going to come apart next?

Just suck it up and don't buy Church's again probably. But I thought I'd ask the question here anyway.

Shame that an iconic British brand is being destroyed like this though.

davidwood123

My wife has a pair of Jimmy Choos that according to the retailer, shouldn't be worn outside.

Makes perfect sense

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

One word. Cobblers!