Bringing gear back to Great outdoors

terencemc

Hey,
I bought a pair of solomon goretex boots about a month back in the great outdoors in Dublin. I wore them on one hike and they let in water...Not much but definitely noticable.

They mentioned that the boots are guaranteed but Im wondering what they are like for bringing stuff back - as the boots have dried out since

T

sparrowcar

Difficult one to call.

We are all recommended to wear new boots/footwear around the house in case of sizing/comfort issues but what do you do in your case when they don't perform as you expected.

Did the water get in under normal conditions? as in just walking on sodden ground or is there any chance of it getting in through the top or mixture of sweat and rain water if you know what I mean?

Either way it shouldn't be an issue if you explain to them.

FYI, from my friends I have heard nothing but bad reports about Soloman boots. My lady has a pair of solomon trail GTX runners and loves them. I get the feeling their footwear is a bit hit and miss?

Whitehawk

hi OP, clean them aka take mudd off them and bring them back, the great out doors have the set up where they will take your boots off and test them, to do this they out them in water and see if any gets in.

i had boots that water started to leak in on around 10 months after i had them, still with in the year waranty so they tested them found the gortex seal had a hole that was a defect and just had got worce on the boots so they have me store credit for new boots or what ever.

they are really sound about it, just takes them like 2-3 weeks to test etc so get your boots in there fast.

any probs post back.

Whitehawk

re the other poster and salomon goretex boots, i have had about 4 sets of boots that are/ware salomon, only 1 had a prob with and had no worrys getting money back, boots i talked about above, i even got a better pair as newer ones where our so put 20e of my own money in to it and was sorted.

salomon boots are great tho, so to worry about them been hit and miss is not needed. 1. if theres a prob with in a year u are sorted, 2 if there is no problem before that they fine its not like they fall apart, well made boots. just for some reasion the odd goretex layer seems to have a defect aka a hole in it. im sure they are aware of it and trying to make sure it dose not keep happing hit and miss as it cost them money not us!

terencemc

Cheers lads - I think I'll give them one more go on a hike this weekend to make sure.
So are you left stranded if they take your boots for 2-3 weeks for testing ?

T

Whitehawk

no worrys but if you are in anyway on sure after that id still have em test em, maby it will be faster i just know i was around 2 weeks waiting
anyhow best of luck

fergalr

I've not used the salomon boots, but I've had many pairs of the trail runners, some goretex and some not, and they've always been quality footwear; the goretex trail runners have properly kept water out when they should.

(Obviously, if you put your foot in a puddle above the ankle, they let water in through the hole for your foot; which is an argument for buying non waterproof shoes that at least dry out).

I've returned some stuff to Great Outdoors before, and they've always been very good about that sort of thing. If its a genuine defect, I'll be surprised if you have any trouble.

I went in to Great Outdoors in Dublin last year to buy a pair of Salomon trail shoes and vowed never to darken the door of the place again after my experience.

I had my eyes on a pair that were reduced to half price but they didn't have them in my size. I then had a look at a pair of shoes that were at full price - €140 - and was about to buy them when I said I'd chance my arm and ask for a few bob off. The salesman, a young lad who was very helpful, referred me to the manager but suggested I might not have much luck. My family have been in a similar line of business for three generations so I know how these things work and it's amazing how often you'll be given a discount to secure a sale.

Anyway, the manager's response was condescending and incredibly dismissive. He snottily said they weren't in the business of 'bartering' so I handed him back the shoes, which I would have bought discount or no discount, and told him I was looking for a discount and not trying to barter anything.

Needless to say I have never been back. Great Outdoors' loss was the Internet's gain. I still go in there to get my sizing right first of course!

duckysauce

how much were they on the internet?

I bought a pair of Meindls and couldn't rate the staff high enough , i was saying i thought I needed a size bigger , he kept saying no you don't . Glad i listened to him, as they are the best fitting boots I have had.

I was always happy with the service in Great Outdoors, but this incident spoiled it for me and I'll never be back.

I'm a big size so I can always pick up bargains on the internet and managed to get about €40 off this pair. I'd prefer to support local business but I gave GO the chance and was left frustrated.

neolithic

I was buying a tent , I went into all the outdoor shops I could find in Dublin.
I went into the Outdoor Adventure Store priced the tent, walked up to Grafton Street and went into the Great Outdoors and saw the same tent but five euro dearer. I asked the staff would they sell me the tent for the same price as the Outdoor Adventure Store , they said that they could not, so I walked back down to Liffey Street and bought the tent.
As it happened the first time I used the tent I found a pin prick hole , I brought it back and it was replaced straight away. This was a 200 euro Tent so the Outdoor Adventure Store gets my vote. Although it is important that if goods are faulty they should be brought to the seller.
T.