Huge purchase mistake: please tell me it won't matter

Several of you commented on my lovely boots in this thread: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ay-promise
They were a score at the Boden outlet this summer: $65 for these boots that retail at $265. I tried them on in the store, they felt good, and they got the thumbs up from my mom and my daughter.

I brought the outfit with me on my 3-day business trip. While browing online at shoes, I realized that I wasn't sure of my European size, so i checked the boots. Oops. The left is a 38 and the right is a 41.

I notice the size difference in the foot a little bit when I walk, but it's not terrible. Not sure why I didn't notice it in the store. BUT .. the part that worries me is that the right boot gaps and seems to have extra fabric at the calf. I'm not sure if larger foot sizes make for a larger shaft, or if my right calf is smaller. I suspect it's the former, because I have never noticed this in other boots.

I tried to take a photo but couldn't do it in the hotel room without a photographer. I'm really hoping that people will only really see me in motion or sitting down, or if I'm standing, from the front.

I'm sad that my huge bargain that I absolutely loved has now been demoted to an "eh."

13 years ago

qpswan

Active Member

How frustrating for you, poor thing...

Enjoy your lovely boots; no one will ever notice!

If it bothers that bad, I wonder if a shoe repair would be able to "take in" the boot?

MNsara

Veteran

Bummer! These are boots YOU physically bought at the outlet? (As opposed to boots sent to you by the company). And they're probably no use to you while you're on your trip then

If you avoid wearing them on the trip, can you go back to the outlet with them at home? Lots of places look at boots/shoes before ringing them up to be sure they're same size, right and left, match their box, etc. Clearly no employee did that for you and this is a pretty gross difference. Can you call the outlet from your trip to ask for assistance?

Even if you padded the too big foot with an insole, check if they are the same height and circumference. The gap might be partly if you have different size calves.

Carole

Oh dear, that's a bummer! Not too much you can do unless a cobbler can take in th shaft, and add inserts. I'm with MNSara, I would take these back and demand a refund.

Glory

oh that is terrible. I agree with taking them back and asking for a refund. If that is not possible, then the cobbler approach and inserts on one boot?

It can't hurt to ask for the refund. What have you got to lose? Phone ahead, maybe they still have the other mismatched boots and you can just make a swap.

Or maybe they were selling the mismatched boots so cheap precisely because they were mismatched, in which case you would want to avoid that store in the future. How they react to your situation will tell you a lot about their culture as a store and whether or not you should do business with them.

sarah

Ugh - I agree - take them back!

Anonymous

This happened to me with a pair of shoes from Last Chance, where all sales are final. The shoes were both marked size 8, but after I got home, I realized that one was noticeably smaller than the other one, and the details on it were slightly different. That's what I get for walking around in just one of the shoes (and trying on others on my opposite foot).

I would try first to return, and if that's not possible, you could just add inserts to the larger boot. I doubt anyone will ever be able to see the difference. If you need to stretch the smaller boot out, try Shannon's potato trick. Just wedge one into the foot part overnight for some gentle stretching.

Sylvie

Go back to the outlet (or call) and complain. A 3 size difference is too much. This is clearly a mistake on the store's part.

Diana

Yeesh. That is a BIG size difference. I had a pair of boots where one was a 7 and the other a 7.5, and I found them unwearable (my feet are 7.5, and the 7 one was just too tight). And, yes, I could tell the size difference by eye if I looked at the two shoes next to each other, so I would think a 3 size difference might look really obvious.

I'd definitely demand a refund. That's ridiculous and obviously not your fault at all.

esme noir

(website)

try to return them--really the salesperson should have checked the sizes....what customer would think of this? if they're not returnable, just enjoy. you're the only one who might notice!

Beth

I agree with the return contingent. A half size off or even a whole size would be odd enough, but three sizes has to be retailer error. Boden's CS is typically very good; I'd call them.

Suz

Oh, that's SO sad and frustrating!! Poor you.

I would definitely try to take them back. For all you know, they are having trouble selling the other mismatched "pair" and will be relieved!

krishnidoux

Take them back, absolutely. It might not be too late. The clerk who helped you, or who was at the cash, should have checked sizes. That's part of their job. It's their fault, not yours.

Ann in New England

The rest of the story is that the Boden outlet is 7 hours away from here -- I took a day trip when I was visiting my mother this summer. The purchase was in July. Plus, I wore the boots today, since I was in Vermont with a dress and no other appropriate shoes.

Honestly, I think that I am the only one that will notice, unless someone looks *very* carefully. I may investigate the cobbler option. There is a seam up the back where the extra material is, I think they are nice enough and I paid little enough to make the investment if the cobbler can do it.

What makes me the most sad is that the left foot (proper size) fits me like these boots were custom made for me. It is perfect in every way. I wish I had a perfect pair.

Thanks for your advice and listening to me whine.

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