Tell me if you think this is right for a business to do

[Dave]

I bought a pair of shoes on Monday at a chain store while in Muskegon. Wore the shoes to work on Tues and Wed, by the time I got home Wed night and my feet hurting even more then they did the night before it became clear that I was going to need to return the shoes. I'd returned a pair of shoes a few years back at one of the other locations within the same chain and had no problems getting my money back.

Today, I head down to Muskegon to do a few things which included returning the shoes. Get to the store I bought them at and went to the counter and told the 2 cashiers standing there that I wanted to return the shoes. As I was getting the receipt out of the box, one of the girls asked if I had worn the shoes outside to which I said yes. She then informed me that they don't take back shoes that have been worn outside because they can't be resold then but said she would check with the manager. She took the shoes over to him and he said no, they couldn't take them back.

I wouldn't have a problem with this except for the fact that nowhere does it state anything about this policy... no where.. not on the receipt which list the returns information nor does it say anything on the website about such a rule. I've never heard of such a rule as it is. I could see their point if the there was some obvious wear and tear on the shoes but just simply these shoes don't have that.

And really, how is someone to know that shoes are going to be comfortable or not until they have actually been able to wear them for a few days?

[Mary A.]

From the time I could understand, I remember my mother always having me wear new shoes only in the house on the carpet until I was sure they would be comfortable. I was always taught that if the soles showed evidence of outdoor wear, the shoes could not be returned. I still follow that practice today. I think it's just good common sense, Dave, that the store would not be able to resell a pair of shoes that had been worn outdoors. I do agree, though, that if the policy is not stated, you may have some recourse, but it may not be worth the effort. Maybe you need to break the shoes in a little longer. If not, it's a lesson learned.

[XLFD]

I agree with you, Dave. If the website and the store's written policies have nothing about this disqualification (wearing the shoes outdoors means no refund) you have a very legitimate gripe. Take a couple of digital pictures showing that the shoes are not worn in and state your problems with them, including the unwillingness of the workers at the Muskegon outlet to refund your money and the basis they used not to and send it to the company's website. Be sure to mention your past loyalty to the store, and the more liberal shoe return policies of one of their competitors.

Hopefully, they'll be able to convince Al Bundy they can do this return for you. If not, treat this as a learning experience and remember in the future to answer "I don't think so" when they ask whether you wore them outdoors.

[Dave]

I've been polling people both in person, in the forums and on my Facebook page as well. About a 1/3 of the respondents were with Mary in that once shoes are worn, they are basically yours. Honestly, I don't so much have a problem with that line of thinking, if that's the way you were raised then I can certainly appreciate and respect it.

The rest of the respondents were more in tune with the line of thought I am on that, in the case the shoes, while worn, did not show noticeable signs of wear and tear. Myself, I was raised that if you purchased something and it wasn't what you expected or of course in this case, the shoes just didn't fit the way I was comfortable with that you return them and either exchange them for something that does fit or just get a refund and look elsewhere. Let me note that if it was obvious that the shoes were well worn or even some what worn then I would understand a stores refusal to not refund a persons money.

I'm going to try and return the shoes again at a different location in the chain and see if I fair any better.

[Willy]

Anything worn should not be returned.

[AQUAMAN]

Maybe you can post a pic of the shoes and how they look now, especially the soles. Is there any dirt lodged in the soles? Any cracks on top from bending? More dirt on top? Like I said over yonder, usually, they cannot be returned. You could also try to clean them to new condition and return to a different location. But, overall, this could be considered unsanitary for the new prospective owner. Good luck and don't do this again if uncertain about keeping them, wearing inside the house on carpet for several hours will tell you if they are keepers or not.

[Mary A.]

Hmmmm. We've sure gotten a lot of mileage out of this "mundane" topic! :-)

[Dave]

Shoe's happen ;-)

[XLFD]

They must have been 'athletic shoes', Mary.

I know that was pretty corny-- just like Dave's feet are now ; )

[Sweater Cows!]

That's really gross that you would try to return a pair of shoes that you wore for any length of time. I mean maybe you have odor and germ free feet, and you never ever sweat, and the places you walked were as sanitary as the moon, but I doubt it. It's gross.

If I bought a pair of shoes with any idea that someone had worn them for an entire day at work I would probably sue the store for unhygienic practices or something.

Corns and bunions and athletes foot and sweat and germs from the world all over the bottom. Then back in a box and tried on by how many ppl spreading disease all about. YUCK YUCK YUCK.

I think it has a bit more to do with that than if they 'show wear', it's just easier to state it that way.

I would NEVER knowingly buy a pair of USED SHOES. Not new, not at goodwill, not at a yard sale. nope.

So, Dave...Think of the nastiest grossest customer you've ever seen and ask yourself if you would like the store to return his or her shoes after they wore them for a day.

[Dave]

This is why stores defect shoes out if returned as I have come to find out. As I pointed out in a different forum though, consider that a majority of shoes are often tried on in the store... granted its usually only for a minute or 2 but that foot in that shoe most likely came out of a shoe where its pretty sweaty, basically getting the same effect of a shoe that has been worn for awhile. Depending on where you buy shoes, lets say Meijer, god knows who tries on shoes, and you have to hope that they are all wearing socks when they do it.

In the end, this topic goes back to a given stores return policy though. Some would suggest that its common sense that you don't return shoes which I would say its common sense that you don't return underwear or swimsuits... both of which are listed in the return policy... shoes are not. And again, i've returned shoes to a store in the same chain and it wasn't a problem before. Also talked to a friend at work that has a daughter who bought shoes from the same chain I purchased for use in a sport she plays and it turned out that those shoes didn't fit properly, took them back and returned them to the store without no problem.

Anyhow, hopefully you can understand the point i'm trying to make here. And let me stress that stores that do take returns (not all stores do as Aqua and Masonco have pointed out), do not appear to put the shoes back on the shelf, they are defected out and sent back to the manufacture so I don't believe you have to worry about buying used shoes... at least from a regular retailer. This all goes back to the stated return policy... if they don't take shoes back then that should be clearly stated with any stipulations.... just as its clearly stated that a store will not take back underwear or swimsuits.

[AQUAMAN]

Maybe it's the way the clerks are trained these days in not saying anything in advance about returns, cause they don't know themselves. I'm quite sure any "legitimate retail shoe sales only" outlet would tell you this beforehand. It has been customary for many many decades. If it's another box store with everything under one roof, quite possible indeed, they aren't being trained for shoe sales only, but any department they are placed in from day to day. Anyhow Dave, if your mom and dad didn't teach you kids this in earlier life, you know now.

[Dave]

I don't know if this is a question of how one was raised... as we all know, different people do different things. I've talked to several people regarding this subject, that if shoes didn't fit right, they should be returned. And if there is no policy regarding shoe returns, there is no reason for clerks to say anything... or mention any stipulations. Like I say, most any store that does take shoe returns appears to defect them out so that they don't loose the credit for the sale. I asked at Walmart how they handle shoe returns and if there are any stipulations, they said as long as you have a receipt and its within 90 days there is no problem in returning them, they defect them out and the shoes are sent back to the manufacture.