Boots falling apart - am I being unreasonable?

rev_henry

Bought a pair of safety boots around 18 months ago, worn two days per week for a job that mainly involves being sat down. Certainly not on my feet all day in them or anything like that. Well known brand who I've previously had a pair of boots last years with much heavier use.
Couple of weeks ago discover the soles are falling apart resulting in very soggy feet at the slightest suggestion of a puddle.
Contacted the retailer twice now, second time citing CRA etc, but they do not want to know and are putting this down to fair wear and tear.
I don't think this is reasonable. These boots were a reputable brand, they weren't £10 off Temu, but would be interested to hear others thoughts and what my next steps are?
I'm not expecting a full refund clearly as I've had a fair bit of usage but certainly either a new pair or a substantial discount on a new pair doesn't seem unreasonable.

comeandgo

How you store footwear could also result in deterioration.  I would not be looking for any sort of recompense for safety wear after 18 months.  

tacpot12

If the boots have only bee worn two days a week, you have only had the equivalent of 7 months use out of them, and I would couch your complaint in these terms. As a previous customer of the brand, I would expect them to extend a bit more latitude and goodwill. If they don't, you clearly won't buying another set of boots from them.

There is a question as to whether the boots are actually faulty, or whether they are just of insufficient quality. 

If you could find a cause for the boots failing, such as an indequate amount of glue applied to the sole, you might have more success. With more expensive purchases, it is often a requirement, before you can take legal action, to have an expert examine the good and provide a expert report as to the cause of the failure. 

If you have home insurance, check to see if you have legal expenses cover on the policy. If you do, you can ring the legal helpline provided by the insurer for more advice. They might even write a solicitors letter threatening legal action on your behalf. 

Ergates

If boots are failing due to wear and tear, then there should be other signs of wear and tear on them.  E.g. the soles wearing out, scuffs/scratches on the uppers etc.  If they are looking otherwise "unworn" apart from the fault you describe then that damages their claim.

photome

as another poster has said it could come down to how they have been stored/kept.  

born_again

But what sort of use do they get in the 2 days. Clearly not just sat at a desk, as you need to get there?

Which brand & retailer bought from?

DullGreyGuy

What do you mean "falling apart"?  The sole has come away from the upper? The upper is splitting? The sole is crumbling? 

There does seem to be an increase in complaints about shoes with a polyurethane sole having problems with the sole much quicker than normally but its unclear if thats your problem or not.

Alderbank

Yes, if you expect the seller to take your unsupported word that the boots have failed for reasons other than wear and tear (even if it's true) and your purchase is covered by the CRA then I think you might be being unreasonable.

It is quite normal in industry for safety footwear to last about 18 months before replacement.
As an example Mark Fishwick of iSB group says:

"How long should safety footwear last? Good quality safety footwear should last for at least as long as the manufacturer’s warranty, which in some cases is as much as 18 months. Generally the cheaper the footwear, the shorter the warranty, for obvious reasons."

https://blog.isb-group.com/how-long-should-safety-footwear-last

In the past I have managed workers who wear safety footwear on construction sites and know others who do so. Replacement after 12 months is quite usual, we would normally only investigate if they had lasted less than 6 months. So without further evidence, replacement after 18 months due to wear and tear will sound reasonable to the seller.

You say you have to wear them two days per week for a job that mainly involves being sat down. That does not sound at all like recreational use in your own time. It sounds more like your employer requires you to wear them as PPE to carry out your trade, business, craft or profession. As such, the CRA does not apply.

You still have rights but not CRA ones. After 18 months you need to take them to an independent cobbler (Timpsons should be OK) for a report to say they have had little use but have failed prematurely due to faulty manufacture or materials, then go back to the seller to say you wish to make a claim under SOGA (the Sale of Goods Act 1979).

That, in my opinion, would be reasonable.

Do they have a certificate to say they conform to EN ISO 20345?

rev_henry

Some interesting replies thanks everyone.

Not awfully sure about the particular components of shoes but the outer layer of the sole has come away in areas revealing a porous membrane underneath that is letting water in.

They're used for HGV driving - hardly comparable to construction workers who are possibly on rough ground all day I wouldn't have thought.
Yes I do require them as PPE for work but as I buy them myself and am not self employed I am not sure why CRA wouldn't apply?

born_again

rev_henry said:

Some interesting replies thanks everyone.

Not awfully sure about the particular components of shoes but the outer layer of the sole has come away in areas revealing a porous membrane underneath that is letting water in.

They're used for HGV driving - hardly comparable to construction workers who are possibly on rough ground all day I wouldn't have thought.
Yes I do require them as PPE for work but as I buy them myself and am not self employed I am not sure why CRA wouldn't apply?

So is that in top of the 2 days sat at a desk?
How many days driving?

18 months of flexing around on the pedals could well cause the damage you have.

rev_henry

born_again said:

rev_henry said:

Some interesting replies thanks everyone.

Not awfully sure about the particular components of shoes but the outer layer of the sole has come away in areas revealing a porous membrane underneath that is letting water in.

They're used for HGV driving - hardly comparable to construction workers who are possibly on rough ground all day I wouldn't have thought.
Yes I do require them as PPE for work but as I buy them myself and am not self employed I am not sure why CRA wouldn't apply?

So is that in top of the 2 days sat at a desk?
How many days driving?

18 months of flexing around on the pedals could well cause the damage you have.

No, 2 days of driving a week. Not worn at all outside of that!