Don't Chance the Last Chance

​I stepped away from all my Birkenstock sandals for more than a year and a half due to heel pain.  I have been living in and loving my Hoka Bondi.  Now that my heel is on the road to recovery, I have been dipping my toes into the world of Birkenstock ever so slowly.  When I recently browsed the Birkenstock USA webpage, I was SHOCKED to learn that the "Last Chance Items are Final Sale.  No Returns or exchanges” are allowed.  This stopped me in my tracks. 

Image from Birkenstock USA's Last Chance page

​Really Birkenstock?!  You are not going to accept returns on deeply discounted Birkenstocks no matter what?  Isn’t it bad enough that you have increased prices and charge shipping on regular sale items?  Now you are not going to accept returns on your Last Chance items, even if there is a defect or quality issue?  What about sizing?  Width?  Or colors not displaying accurately online? 

​A number of my previous blog posts have highlighted issues surrounding quality over the last several years.   Just to name a few:

Do Better Birkenstock
Birkenstock Shearling Lined Shoes
Birkenstock Exquisite Leather
Houston, We Have a Problem
 
As a customer of more than three decades, I find your “No returns or exchanges” on final sale items disappointing.  I personally, don’t make online purchases of items that are marked “Final Sale” because it’s too much of a gamble.  Some people might think that the deep discounts are worth the risk, but given the recent history of defects since Birkenstock "sold out", I would not take that chance.  These days I look at Birkenstock quality, like Forrest Gump looks at a box of chocolates “you never know what you’re gonna get”. 
 
If you are looking for a pair of Birkenstocks on sale, avoid the Last Chance section at Birkenstock USA.  Instead, wait for end of season sales from Zappos or Nordstrom, both sites accept returns on sale items and their sales usually happen twice a year in February and August.  
 
Don’t take a chance on Birkenstock Last Chance items.  Rather, buy your Birkenstocks from small local businesses.  It's worth the difference in price knowing that you will get a quality item and knowing that you can return or exchange an item if something is asmiss.  Some small business owners are even willing to send you a picture of the actual pair that you are going to purchase.  My favorite small businesses that sell authentic Birkenstocks are Custom Made Birkenstocks / Repair My Birkenstocks, Birkenstock Attitudes, Footwise, and Footprints.