Sperry Quality? Authentic Original Boat Shoes (pictures included)

So I recently received my Sperry Authentic Original Boat Shoes that I purchased from Macys.com. They didn't have it in their inventory so it was shipped directly from Sperry in Louisville, KY. I got them really cheap, $63.75 each, both in Oatmeal color but in different sizes. I wasn't sure my size and was planning to return the one that didn't fit. These are what I got...


One of these is definitely not Oatmeal. (What looks like the actual oatmeal color is on the right).


The stock number 0197632 for Oatmeal matches on the box as well as behind the shoe tongue.


Look at the different color in soles. The non-oatmeal colored shoe has to what I believe is the proper sole, whitish sole that feels like rubber. The actual oatmeal shoe looks as if the sole was stained yellow (and its not consistently yellow all over). On top of that, the sole feels like hard plastic.


Look at the stitching on the back of the actual oatmeal colored shoe. It's not straight, and strands are prying out of the stitching.

I'm so disappointed in Sperry. It's hard to find Oatmeal in store and now I'm hesitant to order this color online. Maybe I should try Sebago?

I've had a similar experience with Sperry. I bought the exact same shoe a year or two later and the quality was radically different, completely different thickness of the leather, stitching, etc.

The simple answer is that they use different manufacturers in China and that they don't bother maintaining ultra-precise specs / quality control across manufacturers for $75 summer shoes.

Why are there two identical threads with this title?
This exact thread is already underway here:
http://www.styleforum.net/t/298989/sperry-quality-authentic-original-boat-shoes-pictures-included