Advice needed for shoe return.

singlemom7

Hello
I bought some shoes from SportsDirect in store. As i needed these urgently for my daughter as the ones she was using had the bottom of the shoe ripped.

We tried it in the shop and got the right size. Paid on credit card and recycled the box in the recycling bin as we swapped it over there and then.

We spent the rest of the day walking through town (1hour) and every now and again, my daughter would cry and say its hurting, thinking its a new shoe and she will have to get used to it, told her to walk for a little more so she can get used to it.

Come home and see she has got skin burn things where the shoe has rubbed against the inner ankle area. She was wearing socks. Poor thing was in tears and I felt bad that I didn't notice in town.

So took it back with my receipt and photo evidence of what happened and they wouldn't hear my side of the story. They said she wasn't wearing socks that's why that happened. Then they said I don't have a box so no return.

So what are my rights. The shoes have injured my 3 year old daughter on both ankles. What can I do?

marliepanda

Unless the shoes have a fault which is hurting your daughter, you have no rights.

Sports Direct are not a tore to go above and beyond. It unfortunately sounds like you rushed into a purchase which was unsuitable.

elsien

Just because they are rubbing doesn't mean they are faulty. They may just not fit her feet well in which case you have no cause for a refund.
Is there anything obvious inside the shoes causing them to rub?

For future reference, sports direct may not be the first port of call for decent quality kids shoes. Plus their customer service is poor and they do not generally go above and beyond the statutory rights.

singlemom7

No I didnt rush into buying anything, This was the 3rd shop we went too after trying on shoes. This one fitted perfectly, made her walk a few steps to make sure.

And I have personally bought shoes that looked good and fitted perfectly but ended up hurting my feet. So can understand how it feels.

elsien

So have you checked the inside of the shoe to see what was rubbing?

marliepanda

singlemom7 wrote: »

No I didnt rush into buying anything, This was the 3rd shop we went too after trying on shoes. This one fitted perfectly, made her walk a few steps to make sure.

And I have personally bought shoes that looked good and fitted perfectly but ended up hurting my feet. So can understand how it feels.

None of this changes your rights.

Shoes cannot fit perfectly AND rub. Try them with different thicker socks if they fit perfectly.

I’m assuming you have inspected the shoes and not found anything untoward as you’d have mentioned that to sports direct and the forum.

shaun_from_Africa

A pair of shoe stretchers may well sort out the problem area.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Babz-Womens-Stretchers-Expanders-Stretching/dp/B00SZ1KBTQ/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1538320636&sr=8-3&keywords=shoe+stretchers

singlemom7

I shouldn't have to be putting on thicker socks so it doesn't rub. Will she be wearing thick socks during summer so it doesn't rub?

I have had 5 children so I do know how a little about purchasing clothing and shoes for kids. This is the first time I have experienced this with my children ( I have experienced it with myself - not shoes bought from sportsdirect but other shoe shop) so I do know that there doesn't have to be anything protruding for skin to be rubbed.)

Sports direct were asking for a box which I put in the recycling bin after seeing my photos. Which I could not provide.

Tigsteroonie

If the shoes are not faulty, you have no right to return anyway (with or without the box), you are reliant on retailer goodwill. Sports Direct don't do goodwill.

As you yourself know, sometimes you can buy shoes that fit just fine in the shop, but shred your feet when you then wear them for any length of time. It just happens. Doesn't mean the shoes are faulty, doesn't mean your feet are weird, just the two aren't very compatible. So you throw them to the back of the wardrobe, and eventually get rid.

shaun_from_Africa

singlemom7 wrote: »

I shouldn't have to be putting on thicker socks so it doesn't rub. Will she be wearing thick socks during summer so it doesn't rub?

Putting thicker socks for a while may well sretch the shoes enough to relieve the problem or by the time summer comes, the material may have softened up a bit.

marliepanda

singlemom7 wrote: »

I shouldn't have to be putting on thicker socks so it doesn't rub. Will she be wearing thick socks during summer so it doesn't rub?

I have had 5 children so I do know how a little about purchasing clothing and shoes for kids. This is the first time I have experienced this with my children ( I have experienced it with myself - not shoes bought from sportsdirect but other shoe shop) so I do know that there doesn't have to be anything protruding for skin to be rubbed.)

Sports direct were asking for a box which I put in the recycling bin after seeing my photos. Which I could not provide.

Paragraph 1: it’s amost October, I’m assuming you do not expect these shoes to last you until next Summer. Anyway it’s not about having hot feet...

Paragraph 2: shoes that fit perfectly don’t rub. I appreciate shoes can rub without something being wrong with the shoe but that’s no ones fault, it’s certainly not Sports Directs fault, everyone has different feet. In the absence of something wrong with the shoe other than it not fitting your daughters feet then you have no legal right to a refund.

Paragraph 3: they were probably willing to refund with the box due to the short time frame between purchase and return, but they could refuse you 1 second after you bought the shoes. The fact you threw the box away immediately after ‘a few steps’ in a shop is again, no ones fault but your own, and certainly not Sports Direct.

What do you think they will do with a pair of worn shoes that were sold absolutely fine which are now worn with no box?