I recently purchased my new Meindl Borneo’s, from my local outdoor specialist(Shrewsbury area), my feet were measured, for width, length, then I was advised a 10.5 B was my size, I explained I usually only take a size 10, but was told the MFS would adjust accordingly to mold round my ankles and feet, so tried them on, they felt strange, but was told it’s the MFS it takes time to adjust to your feet, a week later after wearing them…THEY ARE TO BLOODY BIG, my feet move in them so much I have blisters, on my heels, bottom of my feet, toes. So off I traveled back to the store to be told, sorry, but once you wear them they cannot be returned, but we can sell you some volume adjusters. “Hang on” I said from the advice you gave me I purchased the size you advised. I am now stuck with a pair of new boots, only worn once. Which I cannot wear, I have tried 2 x socks, insoles, but my new boots £124.99 are now resigned to the back of the shed. Do I have any rights under the consumers act? If not looks like someone on EBay is about to get a bargain.

Have you spoken to the store manager? It may be a good idea to call and see if you can arrange a time to meet and discuss this. If you put your point across reasonably without ranting you might get a good result. If they stick to their no refund/exchange policy you might have a case that you can refer to your local trading standards. My knowledge of that is a bit limited but I seem to remember speaking with someone who made a succesful claim this way. I think a trading standards official wrote to the store to warn them that the customer had the write to refer it to a small claims court and the store offered an exchange.

Softly, softly gets the best results in my experience. There have been a few threads about this sort of thing before and many people may advise you to kick up a fuss at the store and generally make a nuisance of yourself. No doubt that would be quite fun but I doubt it will get results.

This is there reply to my enquiry:::

I'm sorry to hear that. If you can get into the shop we'll see what we can do wth the boots-sometimes there is a relatively simple solution eg.volume reducers. As regards refunds etc. I know for a fact that there is no possibility that the manufacturers will accept them as a return which means we won't be able to refund you. If you can call in with the boots we'll see what other options we have.

Do just that. Call in, explain calmly and reasonably without making any threats about trading standards etc. Let them come up with a solution, if that does not suit you then ask them to have another think but keep the conversation nice and calm. If they still wont refund/replace then leave your phone number and ask them to have another think and just leave. If no joy after 5 days contact trading standards.

Sorry to go on about keeping calm etc. I deal with complaints and disputes between retailers and the public for a living. Most of the disputes have been made worse by people losing their rag so I just thought I'd pass this small nugget of wisdom on. I'm sure you're not a ranter!

Don't let them fob you off with the "the manufacturer won't take them back" argument, this is absolutely nothing to do with the manufacturer. It's a dispute between you and the shop, you aren't even claiming that the boots are defective, you're claiming that they missold them to you.

>It's a dispute between you and the shop, >you aren't even claiming that the boots >are defective, you're claiming that >they.missold them to you.

Yep whatever the problem is - it's the shop and you - if the manufacturers get shitty that's a problem for the shop not you.
Any shop owner with a brain seeing this particular situation should immediately correct the problem - at worst he'll sell on your boots at a discount which will probaly be less than his profit margin anyway - you will never shop there again and we will think twice - result for shop owner NOT.

Jamie,

"If they stick to their no refund/exchange policy you might have a case that you can refer to your local trading standards. My knowledge of that is a bit limited."

"I deal with complaints and disputes between retailers and the public for a living."

Sorry, I may be way off beam here but the two quotes above from two successive posts of yours seem contradictory.
I'm not trying to be contentious but I am a bit puzzled as to how one can be reconciled with the other.

Graham,
You probably have a right to a replacement or a refund. Do contact your local trading standards officer.
This is a clear case of incompetent fitting.
As for letting the shop manager come up with a solution, bad idea.
You have to lay down the law by stating your case that the boots are not fit for purpose under the sale of goods act and any other applicable legislation. Give him a timescale in which to reply and/or act. He should be left in no doubt that you know what you rights are under the law so make sure you have it off pat. Any LTSO worth his salt will give you all the information and advice you need.
Remember, the retailer and not the manufacturer has a duty to ensure that the goods he sells are of good quality and fit for purpose and is so responsible in law.

Of course, the advice about keeping calm (and above all, civil) throughout, is good advice.

How's the navigation coming along by the way?

"then I was advised a 10.5 B was my size"

I'm a bit puzzled by this, I wasn't aware meindl did "B" sizes. They do have a "B" on the box and swing ticket but that denotes the classification of the boots' usage, ie- 2/3 season.

be calm but persistent to let the shop come up with a remedy. if they measure your feet and they come out as a size 10.5 then your case would be limited. if you thought that they were too big when you tried them at the shop but they said the mfs would cater for that and it clearly hasn't, then the advice they have given you is incorrect.
just calmly repeat this fact until the shop gets bored with hearing it and that you consider that you have have been missold and wait for their reaction. it may seem like bashing your head afgainst a wall but persevere. if there is no joy, ask the shop if they know the number of the local trading standards office whilst pulling out your mobile which may chivvy them up a bit.
remain calm, be scrupulously polite, which can really irritate some peolple, and firm.

i had a discussion with an assistant in hmv one day, the dvd wasn't widescreen and i didn't have a receipt, who then went to get the manager. every "objection" he came up with i just looked at him and calmly said "i don't need a receipt". he knew he was on a loser but tried everything he could not to give me my money back before relenting.

"i don't need a receipt".

You do need proof of purchase.

Name and shame them, but before you do so send the manager a link to this thread so they can see that they are gonna damage there own reputation by not sorting this out for you......

Glyn.
He told me the B is for the width!!!. my one foot is a 10.5, but the other is a 10, but the foot which has the most blisters is the larger foot, coz the boot is just way to big, my smaller foot is not as bad, but, its still bad. i sound like a moaning git, but who has £125, to thow away on boots, I don't thats for sure. I have just been into Blacks(Telford) tried a 10 on both feet they fit like a glove, they feel like boots should, my boots from Shrewsbury, feel like diving boots compared to the ones in Blacks...ANYNOE WANT A BARGIN LET ME KNOW.

You don't really need their receipt, just to be able to show that you purchased them from the shop, credit card bills should be enough really.

The one thing I've been impressed with PC World over was that my Dad wanted to return something that he didn't have the receipt for and their customer services could look up his card number and find everything he had purchased from them.

I suppose another tactic is to make sure you visit at an inconvenient time for their manager. Ideally just as a large order arrives on a day the shop is busy and just before he was due to go for lunch. Make him want to get rid of you, without actually being rude or impolite, so much that he'll cave in.

"You don't really need their receipt, just to be able to show that you purchased them from the shop, credit card bills should be enough really".

Yes.

Salopianman,
I'm still not convinced about Meindl having a B sizing.
I've just copyied/pasted this from Meindl website:
For extremely narrow feet we produce some of our standard models in a narrow last (narrow N).
For extremely wide feet we produce some of our standard models over a wide last (wide XL).
We can also offer our "Relaxed Fit System®" boots.

For clarification, you might want to check with the UK dealer - Bramwell International, 015395 61744

even if you paid in cash, the shop will have a record of your purchase. either by till roll or card transfer. therefore they will have proof of purchase. that's if you don't have a receipt or credit card bill handy.

"even if you paid in cash, the shop will have a record of your purchase. either by till roll or card transfer"

Now i'm really confused.

The till roll would only serve to prove that a transaction took place and a payment in cash was made for a certain item(s), NOT by whom.

perhaps a shop might like to try that but is it actually worth their effort in proving that YOU didn't buy it on that day at about that time....unless of course they had a run on that particular product in that size........

I wasn't implying that the shop would try to disprove the purchase, just that a cash sale on a till roll does not identify the buyer.

<groan, I knew I shouldn't have got involved>

I am pretty sure the point is that it is up to you (not the shop) to prove you purchased them from their shop - obviously a receipt is ideal but credit card statement etc. should also suffice.