Men's shoes - would you return these?

[Mikey77]

I bought these about a week ago and have only been wearing them around the house to see if the right shoe would loosen up a little. Instead it seems that three is something of a quality issue with the shoe in that only the right one has started getting wrinkles in the leather already - while the left one has none at all.

To make it worse it is that part just behind the toe insert so it looks more like an indentation rather than a wrinkle in the leather. I bought a pair of boots a few months back from John Lewis, and I think it is the same issue - when the shoe is made in the factory it seems like the leather is not pulled back tightly enough above the toe insert and just below the part where it is stitched to the bottom part of the laces. Hence the wrinkles start to develop.

I don't usually wear shoes so at first I thought I was being fussy. I like these shoes, but the more I look at the photo the more I should go back for an exchange / refund.

 

[Shirl]

I think most leather shoes and boots wrinkle a bit with wear. I like my leather a bit wrinkled tbh then they don't look like I just bought them

 

[Geri]

Maybe it's your feet that are the issue.

 

[moose]

Leather wrinkles at different rates, no two pieces are alike. They look ok to me.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I bought these about a week ago and have only been wearing them around the house to see if the right shoe would loosen up a little. Instead it seems that three is something of a quality issue with the shoe in that only the right one has started getting wrinkles in the leather already - while the left one has none at all.

To make it worse it is that part just behind the toe insert so it looks more like an indentation rather than a wrinkle in the leather. I bought a pair of boots a few months back from John Lewis, and I think it is the same issue - when the shoe is made in the factory it seems like the leather is not pulled back tightly enough above the toe insert and just below the part where it is stitched to the bottom part of the laces. Hence the wrinkles start to develop.

I don't usually wear shoes so at first I thought I was being fussy. I like these shoes, but the more I look at the photo the more I should go back for an exchange / refund.

All shoes will get flex marks. My handmade Churchs (22 years old and counting!) have, as have my £30 cheapos. It's about how you walk, and the fact that the leather needs to flex in certain parts (generally over the primary toe joints).
If shoes were made from leather rigid enough to not flex, you wouldn't be able to walk in them. As it is, shoemakers try to find a happy medium between rigidity and flexibility, but you're never going to find a shoe, even a handmade, that doesn't get flex marks.

 

[muvva]

I had a pair of leather shoes that were kind of taut on one shoe only, I exchanged them and the new ones were fine. If you've paid a bit for them then yeah, I'd say exchange.

 

[Ted Striker]

Are the shoes too big for you?

I crinkle in all leather shoes, but not that far up - it looks like your shoes are flexing twice, once at the toe knuckle, and once after the toe finishes. Maybe they're too long and thin for you?

 

[Miss Caphat]

yeah, take 'em back. but if you exchange them for another pair of the same, you probably will have the same problem. maybe do some research about shoes that don't wrinkle like that and invest in them even if they cost more than you paid for these ^

 

[Mikey77]

All shoes will get flex marks. My handmade Churchs (22 years old and counting!) have, as have my £30 cheapos. It's about how you walk, and the fact that the leather needs to flex in certain parts (generally over the primary toe joints).
If shoes were made from leather rigid enough to not flex, you wouldn't be able to walk in them. As it is, shoemakers try to find a happy medium between rigidity and flexibility, but you're never going to find a shoe, even a handmade, that doesn't get flex marks.

Right but you probably got those flex marks from walking outside, not on one shoe from wearing them at home. The thing that bothers me is that the mark on the right shoe looks more like a very tiny tear in the leather because of where the mark has developed - just behind the toe insert (hard bit) at the front.

The are not too small for me. The right one is slightly tighter, but mostly in the width at the front. It is fine length wise. I paid nearly £90 quid for them so I don't want to settle for something that is not perfect - that is too much to pay for something that is not noticeably consistent in quality.

 

[maldwyn]

I'd start wearing them outside, get them weathered and if there is a tear in the leather it should become more obvious. But from that photo they look OK to me.

 

[Shirl]

If you paid 90 quid (and that's not a lot for nice leather shoes) why aren't you wearing them outside? Go out and look at other men's shoes as they walk about, they will look worn, as they should.

 

[Mikey77]

If you paid 90 quid (and that's not a lot for nice leather shoes) why aren't you wearing them outside?

So that I can get a refund. I am hoping the right foot will stretch width wise as it is a bit tight on my foot. If not I will take them back.

 

[moose]

The right shoe is probably wrinkling because it doesn't fit you properly and is being stretched. Something's got to give.

I'd take them for a refund now - it's not fair to keep wearing them then expect JL to exchange them, when you bought shoes that don't fit.

 

[purves grundy]

save them to fling at an elected representative of the people

 

[Libertad]

The op's shoes are incorrectly laced. There's your problem right there.

 

[Mikey77]

The right shoe is probably wrinkling because it doesn't fit you properly and is being stretched. Something's got to give.

I'd take them for a refund now - it's not fair to keep wearing them then expect JL to exchange them, when you bought shoes that don't fit.

Not true. I had the same problem with M&S boots, and some boots from John Lewis. I retuned the Joh Lewis boots, but the M&S ones were just badly made. I still have them and they have bad wrinkles in the leather. Who is JL?? I didn't buy from JL this time.

save them to fling at an elected representative of the people

People "vote with their feet" apparently. I seen it scrawled on a wall many years ago.

The op's shoes are incorrectly laced. There's your problem right there.

I might wear them Run DMC stylee - making your point null and void.

 

[moose]

Sorry, I misread, and thought you got these from John Lewis.

So....you had the same problem with the right boot from M&S wrinking, and the same problem with the right boot from John Lewis wrinkling??

 

[Mikey77]

Not so fast Sherlock. With M&S it was both boots. With John lewis I think it was both as well, and I only tried them on - never wore them. With this one it is just the right one. Anyway, I suppose I've said enough. The sole of these are made of rubber, and I think that might effect the likelihood of them stretching to be more comfortable. Reminds me of a pair of Converse boots I bought online, which were too small. Nothing would stretch them. Even the cobbler couldn't get them to budge.