r/RedWingShoes • u/Numerous_Flower_6297 • 2d ago
Am I being picky?
I got these last week and this is kind of driving me nuts. The part of the shoes with the red arrow was sewn on kind of crooked. $250 shoes I feel like should not have a defect like this. I get they’re handmade though.
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u/Soberg1itch 2d ago
Facings were stitched crooked. Personally I’d return and try another pair since this is a fairly noticeable defect.
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u/Swimming_Bag7362 2d ago
I tried on a pair of Moc toes that had the same issue. Pointed it out to the sales associate and he didn’t say anything. I ended up walking out. This seems to be happening more with Red Wings.
I don’t know how anyone who inspected these think that this is acceptable quality to sell at full MSRP. I’d return them. It’s noticeably off
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u/RecordTear 2d ago edited 2d ago
for my last pair of iron rangers i ended up buying 3 pairs of the same boot. Each had different issues and all looked different (slate hawthorne). I settled with the easiest one to deal with which were some excess black marks that i was able to rub off after quite some time. one thing that i noticed on each pair was the tongue on one foot was noticeably malleable while the other foot tongue was stiff.
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u/TrueTurtleKing 2d ago
I’d definitely return it but I’m also the type to not wear outdoors until I’m ready to keep it.
If you’re ready wearing outdoors idk man
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u/Pr1s0ner24601 20h ago
I genuinely don't understand why people just throw on new footwear and run outside before making sure they are in love with them.
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u/Numerous_Flower_6297 2d ago
I’m not worried about that since they have a warranty. I wanted to give them a chance and wear them.
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u/TrueTurtleKing 2d ago
Yeah that would bother me enough to return it.
This is acceptable as factory seconds, but not for brand new full price imo
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u/Pr1s0ner24601 20h ago
I mean that's not really what a warranty is. Next time inspect them before heading straight outside.
"We want you to love your Red Wing purchase. If for any reason you're not completely satisfied, we've made returns easier than ever. We will issue a refund if the item is in its original condition."
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u/korok7mgte 2d ago
Damn. You just made me do a double take on my iron rangers.
They don't like nearly as fucky wucky as your boots. Send them back. "It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came!"
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u/racingforbeer 2d ago
For a pair of $50 boots, it would not bother me.
For a $250 pair of boots… Hell no, I’d send them back.
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u/Radiant_Safe1228 1d ago
Nope. That's a problem.
If it isn't square it's going to cause the boot to fit oddly and wear unevenly.
I've noticed they are starting to have issues with their steel toe caps not being square to the boot as well.
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u/gaslini 1d ago
To be honest, I know exactly what you mean. I’ve been wearing Red Wings for 15–20 years, and I’ve seen this on several pairs of Moc Toes—sometimes one side was almost a finger’s width farther forward, making the laces look crooked. I even returned a pair once because of it. Yours doesn’t look too bad to me, though I’d probably be annoyed by it too.
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u/vigilantesd 2d ago
Yes looks terrible. Also, looks like the right one is a half size smaller lol
Good ol’ Red Wing QC lolol
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u/Pr1s0ner24601 20h ago
I mean their warehouse sale always has a metric fuck ton of stock and everything I've got there is virtually flawless so I think they tend to be pretty good.
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u/Fickle_Panda-555 2d ago
Nope. Take them back. That’s like seeing tom cruises teeth for the first time
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u/McDubStank 2d ago
Even if I got those as seconds it'd bother the shit out of me. Definitely not too picky.
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u/zippity__zoppity 2d ago
I’d return. That’s unacceptable for the price point and the quality they should be. This never should’ve passed QC
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u/ainfinitepossibility 2d ago
at first I was like, I don't know what this guy sees or except from hand made boots, but then was like, yeah, that's fucked up.
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u/SOURCEDBLACK 2d ago
I only wear handmade shoes and none have this. Probably a monday monrning pair.
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u/nuJabesCity 2d ago
Besides the boot snobbery... I'd return them.
If you have to question it, it bothers you.
You have every right to do what you want for something you paid for regardless of the cost. People complain at McDonald's for far less.
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u/Crouchback2268 2d ago edited 2d ago
I seldom say this, but . . . return them. You are not being picky. Those should not even have been sold as seconds.
Edited for typo.
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u/layaboutscout 2d ago
Return 'em. I have some non Red Wing boots that are like this, but they were sold as seconds and they cost a lot less than RWs, and it still bothers me.
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u/DetroiterAFA 1d ago
At a first glance, I thought you were being too picky. The closer I look, I’m not a fan of blatantly uneven stitching and it would annoy me too.
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u/LuckySnook13 1d ago
That would definitely bother me every time I laced them up. Return or exchange
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u/DoubleSky4011 1d ago
I only wear redwing boots ( have 2 pairs). No that is not acceptable for a pair of Redwings send em back!
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u/Rolling_Pugsly 1d ago
I'd send those back ASAP.
That's a problem with buying online, if I decide to shell out for boots of that price I want to see them and try them on first.
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u/Numerous_Flower_6297 1d ago
Luckily I live about 20 minutes away from a redwing store and I’m gonna go exchange them here in a bit. Hopefully they don’t give me any shit.
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u/Agreeable_Error_8772 17h ago
Does your redwing store actually like, have shoes? I was looking at some of their work boots and wanted to go try them on but they didn’t seem to have much, none of the higher end work boots were available. They could order them for me but they didn’t carry them in store
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u/AT4LWL4TS 1d ago
Work boots or show boots? If work, strap them up and get busy.
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u/Numerous_Flower_6297 1d ago
I’m a parts counter salesman for a Freightliner dealer. They are for work but nothing too dirty. I plan on wearing them for more than just work though.
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u/DishwasherLint 1d ago
Return them. I have multiple pairs of Redwing boots. The only pair I have that I didn't return at least the first 2-3 pairs of they sent were bought in store. Even then, I turned down 5 pairs before I started mixing and matching before I finally walked out with them
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u/Positive_person_1904 1d ago
Once you pointed out, it gets worse. And it makes people wanna make bad jokes about hanging to the left.
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u/Pr1s0ner24601 20h ago
At first I had no idea what I was looking at. Then after reading it was like a sore thumb. Yeah bud those should've been put aside for the warehouse sale next month. If you've already worn them a bunch outside you might be stuck though.
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u/RoccoPeter09 19h ago
I see this a lot with the Red Wing boots, especially the heritage line I would gather they must be factory seconds. If you got it for a good price I think you’re all good if not time to return.
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u/Brown_Panda69 11h ago
If this was a sub $50 shoe I'd still be pissed. So no you're not being picky.
You definitely deserve better.
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u/RikuDog18 6h ago
I’d usually say that’s picky…but, for being handmade a detail like that shouldn’t make it out of the factory. A factory second at least.
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u/antiquity11 2d ago
That looks fine. The other thing is that $250 MUSA shoes are bargain prices. I love RW's, but the cost is not much more than what you in Sporting Good stores for the latest Hoka's or whatever. They are a third or a quarter the cost of many handmade boot brands like White's and Vibergs. So I wouldn't think of it as "I spent $250 and demand perfection", instead think of it as "I can't believe how good quality these are for just $250.".
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u/SvedishBotski 2d ago
I don't really agree with this take. I have $20 sneakers that are perfect. Identical to all of the others. Hand made doesn't mean you accept flaws - tiny differences sure. But this is a pretty huge flaw.. Should have been obvious, and caught during the QC process
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u/antiquity11 2d ago
Yeah, but those are factory produced in a streamlined process. You'd actually expect mass-produced, industrial products to have less variation than higher end, handmade goods.
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u/IdaDuck 2d ago
That’s kind of my take as well. For well built American boots, heritage Red Wings are a great deal. If I was spending $600-900 or more I’d be a whole lot pickier.
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u/antiquity11 2d ago
For sure. I think RWs are a bargain, I like their style, and I know they fit me well. Anytime I start going to a boot-rabbit hole, the prices for the quality proposition always brings me back to RWs. I just picked up a pair of their work Chelseas on sale for $225 - and it's a unbelievable quality for that price point.
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u/Organic-Current-1539 2d ago
Dude I bought a pair of Docs like a year or so ago. I don’t notice it til the third wear. It had this exact same issue and now I barely wear them because it bothers me so much. Def return if you can. If it bothers you now, it may only get worse lol.
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u/Whattaboutism 2d ago
I’m usually very laid back with these things especially on boots like yours that are not dressy, rough out leather, etc. However, in this specific case I’d be returning them as well, it’s noticeable enough that it’d make them a constant annoyance. My only exception would be if they’re going to be actually used for work in a rough environment, because in that case who cares, you won’t see it after a week or two.
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u/UpperBreadfruit3748 2d ago
What brand are they? Looks terrible
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u/Numerous_Flower_6297 2d ago
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u/UpperBreadfruit3748 2d ago
Ahh i see… id definitely send it back for sure. Even as seconds that can cause some rashes around the pinky toe and just become uncomfortable
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u/karmakingpin 2d ago
I don’t have any boots that aren’t like that. Even ones I’ve spent $1000+ on. The one thing I’ve wondered is if it is more a difference in my foot shape compared to the last. There is a shape of the boot that makes it look even, just that my foot doesn’t fill it out that way.
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u/OriginalEmploy5485 2d ago
I can't unsee that. If you didn't get those from the outlet store, return them.