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Wednesday 3 January 2018

Gabor - An Apology


I think I may just have breached the boundaries of my embarrassment.

I have had this ongoing battle with Gabor boots since November (see my second post on my battle HERE). Countless pairs of greys and blacks have to-and-fro'ed across the English Channel.  I started with ordering my regular size 5s for a try-out session, then to my cost discovered the company I normally use don't offer free returns.  Whoops.

So I moved on to John Lewis and their excellent free returns, and focused on the boots I really really wanted.  No more multi try-ons.  Focus. My beloved Gabor nubucks were beyond cleaning so this time I wanted a similar style, but polishable.

 And Pollyanna met all criteria.  Leather, not suede or nubuck (what is the difference, anyway?). Same height in heel and shank as the oldies, so that they can be worn with jeans, trousers and skirts and dresses.

I ordered size 5.5 from JL.  My foot couldn't get in the boot.  I returned them (free!).
I ordered a size 6.  I could just about get my foot in but when I zipped them up they were so tight I could hardly walk. But we were coming up to Christmas with no time for post office returns so they got shelved for the holidays.
By this time I was developing a bit of an obsession about them.  I was on a mission.
I WILL HAVE POLLYANNA BOOTS!!!

Somewhere along this journey I began to suspect my feet had become misshapen with age.  That my days of boot-wearing might be over.  I inspected my feet.  I got TP to inspect my feet.  We both agreed there was nothing untoward going on down there.

So I had started thinking of ordering a 6.5 and a 7.  Bearing in mind my normal shoe size is a mere 5, I was now thinking with no sense or reason.  I was just focused on the prize.  Pollyannas.
Last night I reined myself in, finally seeing sense.  "This is crazy.  Walk away from the Pollyannas".
This morning I started the walk away process, preparing to pack up the size 6 for the post office.  But  I thought I'd just try them on one last time so that I would remember how ludicrous the whole situation had been. Two sizes up and they still don't fit. 
 I slipped my foot in.  My toes felt something inside. 


I pulled out that something.


I felt around and pulled another something out in the other boot.


Yes, I had a pair of these "somethings".  And I had a huge DUH moment.

For I realised that Gabor had put these rigid foam protector shapes on the top inside of the boot.  I'm an old fashioned girl.  I come from a time of scrunched up paper stuffed in the toe of the shoe.  A girl knows where she stands with scrunched up paper in a shoe.

And the painful realisation hit home.  I'd been returning boots because they were ridiculously tight, I couldn't get my foot in, etc etc., and probably every pair of returned Gabor boots had this stuff inside them.  Every single pair.  It had cost me a small fortune to return to the first firm before I'd started the free returns with John Lewis.  So, so  embarrassing. 

I think it was only because I could actually get my foot inside a size 6 (which were still unwearably tight) that I must have pushed the protector about a bit (see first photo), so only on this final try-on could I feel that there was something inside.

Terribly annoying on Gabor's part for introducing this new invisible innovation without a warning to old folk?
Terribly embarrassing on my part not to detect it when trying on half a dozen pairs?


I have learned two things from this debacle. 
1. Manufacturing is moving all the time so be ready for the unexpected, like invisible boot protectors.
2. Stop and think.  A company like Gabor can't have gone totally off the Richter scale in terms of sizing.  So stop and think, is it me?
3. (OK, I have learned 3 things!).  Read the returns small print.  Boots are no different to frogs, you've got to kiss a lot of them - so shop where the free returns service is.


So I give you Gabor Pollyanna, on my feet.  Finally. Taadahhh!!!


Nice high  over the ankle style, loose style.  Nice heel height.  Nice caterpillar style soles. 
Just what I wanted.  And just what I got.  Eventually.
So I have written this post today for any ladies out there who've  experienced issues with boot sizing of late.  Look inside the boot.


A la perchoine.

18 comments:

  1. Ha ha, this has happened to me, but I did figure it out before actually returning the shoes. One pair in particular had clear plastic inserts that fit inside quite snugly. And I ordered a bunch of purses from Nordstrom rack without realizing returns are not free. Ugh.

    Anyway, the boots are cute! So all’s well that ends well.

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    1. You're much smarter than me, Annie, I now have a very bad track record! It's the snug fit that caught me out. Undetectable. Shame about having to pay to return all those handbags, I would have expected better from Nordstrom. Thanks for popping in, hope your week is going well. Hugs, x.

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  2. Oh you are so brave to admit your embarrassment. It has happened to me but I'm not sure I could admit it to the world! Love your boots and glad you have them finally.

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    1. Hi Pieta, when I discovered my faux pas I sheepishly told TP, then in the next breath told him I taken photos to tell you guys about it - I have no shame! The boots are uber comfy, pleased I persevered. Hope 2018 is going well for you, hugs, x.

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  3. I had that happen too. After walking around the house, I figured something had to be way wrong and sure enough, there were those foam thingys. You are right, shoes usually don't come with those. I still get a lot with tissue paper. After your experience, I will always check now!

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    1. Oh dear, only me then who was blaming the boot manufacturer! Pleased to hear papers still being used, it can be seen, felt, and can be recycled, unlike these silly foam thingies. Hope day 4/2018 is going well for you! Hugs, x.

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  4. Success in the end. Well done you for airing your embarrassment. I did walk around in a pair of boots once that still had scrunched up paper in the toes, I loved the boots so much I put up with toe cramp. In my defence the tissue paper was black like the lining of the boots and I just never realised until about two months down the line the paper in one boot just fell out when I took it off. How silly? Your boots look great so a happy ending. Sue H xxx

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    1. Oh Susan, I love this story! What we ladies put up with in the name of style! Hope your toes were ok. Happy rest of week to you, hugs x.

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  5. Well perseverance pays off my friend! What size ended up working, your original 5? That is just crazy business! I think manufacturers should see this post of yours and change their ways. They can still use that type of packing but why not make it white rather than the VERY SAME COLOR as the boot? I'm sure you, brilliant one, are not the only person to make this mistake you just may be the only person brave enough to share your experience. And this is why we love you!!!
    xo,
    Kellyann

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    1. I ordered 5.5 (again!) as they'll probably accommodate socks better. I don't think the colour helps as it can't be seen, even with the boot unzipped, as it's a perfect fit directly under the upper instep. And because it fits perfectly, it doesn't move when you attempt to put your foot in. What happens is your foot just doesn't slide in, so you just can't get your foot inside the shoe. That's why I even considered that my instep may have malformed. Don't know about brave though, I just thought I should tell my friends straight away! Thanks for your sweetness as always, x.

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  6. Oh you do make me laugh Mary, this is just the type of thing I would do - lol. I once did the same with my son who was about 6. I couldn't understand why I couldn't get the new shoes on and hadn't realised the toe was stuffed with padding!! Opps sorry son. x
    Thanks for sharing this Mary. Jacqui
    www.mummabstylish.com

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    1. Oh dear, your poor son. I hope he didn't walk in them for two months like that, like poor Susan H (above) did because despite the awful pain, she loved the boots!!
      Thanks for popping in, Jacqui. Hope your son doesn't read this!
      Hugs, x.

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  7. Oh Mary - you are a plonker! Anyway at least you know it wasn't your feet at fault...
    xxx

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    1. Yes, I deserve that Del Boy word! How silly! I really was beginning to worry that it was my feet at fault, as I have been getting foot pain for the past 3 years and I thought this must be the culmuination of all that pain. So all's well that ends well, eh?!
      Hugs, x.

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  8. Replies
    1. Funny but true! But better to have spent a small fortune on returns and end up with perfectly normal feet that fit inside a boot, eventually!
      Thanks for popping by, Polly, hugs to you, x.

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  9. Nordstrom Rack would take the returns at the store and you could have saved the shipping. JUST FYI

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    1. Hi Robert, thanks for the info. However, I don't live in the US but this info should be of help to my US-based readers. Wishing you a Happy New Year, x.

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