These Shoes Were Made For Walking

In August 2014, I started to pack for my globe trotting adventure. So many things needed to be considered and sourced and everything I looked at had to meet a range of very specific requirements from strength to durability, weight to cost. One of my most important searches was for what I would put on my feet? Something comfortable, waterproof and breathable - and that would last a year. I took a good friend with me to help choose and was delighted with a pair of Merrells (they even had bright orange inner liners which I could take out periodically and wash!)

       

                                       Proudly sporting my Merrells in China and Vietnam

Well they perfromed fabulously. Through Sri Lanka's heat, Nepal's mountains, China's vastness, Vietnam's rough motorcycle riding, Cambodia, Singapore and Australia, but then - just as I reached the shores of New Zealand - disaster! The right shoe began to split. I quickly searched out a cobbler and asked him to fix it for me. His response was to look the shoe over and then tell me there was nothing he could do. "You'd be best to buy some superglue mate. Fix it yourself and carry the glue with you as you travel so you can do it again." What a bummer. Just six months into my world adventure and my shoes were not going to make it all the way around with me. I followed the cobblers advice and bought some superglue.

           

                                

The suerglue worked, though I did nearly glue my fingers together! They survived rugged travel through New Zealand, but required remedial gluing again in Alaska. I knew it was only a matter of time before I needed to replace them so I decided to contact Merrell and see if they would help. I had nothing to lose and I certainly didn't have a spare £120.00 to spend on a new pair of shoes.

I sent the following email and hoped for a response:

Dear Customer Service, Merrell, UK

On October 1st 2014 I set off from Chester on a trip around the world. A few weeks prior to departure I invested in a pair of Merrell shoes (Beluga) pictured above from a Cotswold store in the city of Chester.

Those shoes and I have now been travelling for nearly seven months and are currently in Alaska. They have been wonderful companions, serving me well as I have walked the mountains in Nepal, strode across the Great Wall of China, ridden the length of Vietnam on a motorcycle, explored the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and so much more.

Imagine my distress then, when the right shoe started to have issues where the sole meets the side of the shoe on the right hand side. In New Zealand, I took them to a cobbler to see if he could fix them before the issue became too great to deal with (a stitch in time saves nine.) He said that he was unable to do so, but recommended I apply a dose of super glue into each small split and to then carry the superglue with me as I continued travelling, reapplying as necessary.

I followed his advice and the shoes performed perfectly as I made my way across New Zealand for six weeks.

However, now, as they face their greatest test here in Alaska, the same shoe has really failed. Once more I have applied superglue and pressure and managed a temporary fix (which saw me climb to the top of Mount Roberts above the capital of Juneau yesterday,) but I know it is only a matter of time before this shoe has to be humanely put to sleep and then buried.

Now, despite the fact that they have travelled the globe for the last 7 months; through mountains, deserts, jungles and cities; in driving rain, deep snow and blistering heat, and have been involved in some remarkable activities, I had hoped these £100+ shoes would take me the whole way around the planet (including the little matter of Machu Picchu which I am due to trek in August.) Indeed, I imagined arriving back in the UK in September and being welcomed by friends and family, incredulous that my Berghaus coat, my Karrimor t-shirts, my Rohan jumpers and my Merrell shoes were all still intact and looking good!

I have been writing a blog during my adventure and have taken thousands of photographs and I invite you to visit it and have a look ( http://pjbexplorer.blogspot.com ). In it you will see me proudly sporting my fabulous Merrells, but not for much longer.

Now this is where you come in.

I am unable to return my Merrells to the store I purchased them in in Chester to ask for a refund for the right shoe which has failed, whilst the left shoe is still in perfect working order. And I am not in the financial position to go and buy another excellent pair of walking shoes here in the States. Imagine my joy, if you were able to sort something out for me? A complimentary pair of new Merrells or a refund sent to my bank account so I could buy some more? I think it would make an amazing post in my blog (which you really should read as it has had thousands of visitors.)

I shall be travelling to Seattle on Friday 8th May for a week and then on to Vancouver, Canada. If I fail to hear back from you within the week, I will assume this email has failed to reach anyone with the integrity or authority to deal with the matter and will have no option but to buy a new pair of shoes. However, I dearly hope that someone will reply and either offer me their sincere condolences for the death of my right shoe or wave a magic wand and arrange to get me a new pair somewhere, somehow.

Sincere best wishes

Paul Burke

                                       

                                

                                                      Me yesterday...in my Merrells!

Well, I did not receive a reply straight away and started to price up replacement shoes when suddenly a lady called Kathrin Brandenburger got in touch with me. She did indeed begin with an apology, stating that Merrell shoes, even under duress should not fail and are guaranteed for a year. If I could just take them back to the shop I bought them in with a receipt, they would immediately be replaced. I reiterated my travel plans and explained how that would be impossible for me to do. She promised to get back to me. A little while later and she did. If I were to take certain requisite photographs, serial numbers, the damage and evidence my purchase date she could arrange for a brand new pair to be shipped to an address of my choice.... in England! I asked again if there was any option for getting a pair to me in America, or sending me credit as I was going to have to buy a new pair? Alas, there was not.

I followed her instructions to the letter and even went online to take a screen capture of the credit card statement which had the initial purchase on them. I promptly emailed Kathrin all she required. Last week my mum received a new pair at her address (to keep until my return.)

                              

                           One requirement was to draw crosses through the labels in my old pair

I meanwhile managed to nurse my existing Merrells to Nashville where I found an outdoor shop which sold the exact same pair (for a considerably cheaper price than I paid back in August 2014 I might add!) My old shoes are no more. My new shoes are identical. 

I can truly recommend them. They have been comfortable, waterproof (not too smelly) and steadfast. They have endured streams, rivers and seas. Sand, rocks, tarmac and forests. Traipsed through snow and ice, forests and mountains. They have driven cars, pedalled bicycles and ridden motorbikes and (by my reckoning) walked over 1400 miles. They have experienced temperatures from -10 C to +40 C and endured both extreme humidity and arid desert.

My new shoes already have 100+ miles on them, but I am confident they will take me safely through South America culminating with the Inca Trail in Peru.

                                  

My sincere thanks go to Merrell UK for honouring their guarantee and I am looking forward to donning my new pair (No. 3) when I return home in the Autumn. I also want to specifically thank Kathrin Brandenburger as she dealt wonderfully with my enquiry and clearly was 'the someone with both the integrity and authority' I hoped would receive my initial email and help.

                                    

Hi Paul,

I’m glad we could help.

Hope you’ll enjoy the rest of your travels!

Please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you.

Kind regards,

Kathrin Brandenburger