Faulty or not Faulty?

polarbear1975

My wife bought a pair of trainers from a well known, large cup selling, sportswear store just over a week ago. She has worn them twice to work since then. On day 1 they developed a squeak in the right shoe only. At first she thought it was just "wearing in" and that it would only be temporary. By day 2 it was pronounced and when walking through the supermarket after her shift it was noticeable how many people were turning around and looking at her as she squeaked up the aisles. 
It seemed pretty obvious that there was a fault with that particular shoe (she has had other pairs the same with no issue) so not unreasonably she decided to take them back and ask for an exchange. 
At the store the manager decided that he wouldn't return them as, in his view "it is not a manufacturing fault." He did admit they were faulted and that the likely cause was air trapped within the sole but still refused the exchange. 
My wife asked him if there was a list of what are manufacturing defects to which he said the list was "not exhaustive" I tried to ask him in that case was he making a subjective decision and on what basis but he declined to answer as I was not the customer. 
The solution he offered was to leave the trainers at the store and that the Area Manager, who apparently visits every couple of weeks would make a final adjudication. This seems nonsensical to me but I wondered if anyone on the forum had any thoughts on what would be a sensible next step?
Thanks for reading!
A

HillStreetBlues

Faulty.
Trainers aren't suppose to squeak when walking, if it was both ones would squeak.

polarbear1975

HillStreetBlues said:

Faulty.
Trainers aren't suppose to squeak when walking, if it was both ones would squeak.

Yep, definitely faulty but the bloke in the shop seems to think they are fine! Might be a call to Trading Standards. 

born_again

polarbear1975 said:

HillStreetBlues said:

Faulty.
Trainers aren't suppose to squeak when walking, if it was both ones would squeak.

Yep, definitely faulty but the bloke in the shop seems to think they are fine! Might be a call to Trading Standards. 

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/

Who deal with consumer issues now 👍

boobyd

Are they faulty?
 By your post it is only when in a specific store?
Do they do the same walking down the road or other shops.
I have a pair of trainers and in the local Sainsbury get aqedking but no where else, I put it down the the terrazzo floor.
Just asking

Manxman_in_exile

I have completely flat feet and wear prescription orthotics in my running and tennis shoes and also in my "everyday" shoes.

When wearing some shoes it sounds as if I have a pair of mice tied to my feet.  The leaflet that came with the orthotics says that if this happens talcum powder might help.  Whether it does or not I don't know as I've never tried it and I've just got used to the squeaking.

Of course if the OP tips a load of talc into the shoes they probably won't be able to return them...

Fosterdog

Squeaking is usually air or water in/under the insoles, rather than in the actual sole, sometimes just taking them out and refitting them fixes the problem, it's not necessarily a fault because everyone's feet are different and another person wearing the same pair would have different amounts of pressure in different parts of the insole and they wouldn't squeak.

polarbear1975

boobyd said:

Are they faulty?
 By your post it is only when in a specific store?
Do they do the same walking down the road or other shops.
I have a pair of trainers and in the local Sainsbury get aqedking but no where else, I put it down the the terrazzo floor.
Just asking

Yep, every surface - just more noticeable when she wore them at work as in the same environment for longer.