New Meermin oxfords quality issue - why is the color coming off?

[Boxlike9092]

These are new Meermin oxfords (oak antique calf). The color is flaking off right on the borders of the stitching.

After 5 minutes of wearing inside the house, the color started to come off. I'm assuming it's because of friction or flexing in those areas. I suspect if I rub or scratch the leather in other parts, the dye will come off there too, but I haven't tried it.

And this is a replacement pair! When it happened with the first pair, Meermin immediately offered to replace them.

This time, Meermin says it is NOT a defect.

Have you ever seen this problem with Meermin or other brands? Are black shoes less likely to have this problem?

 

[mahlerization]

Did you ever find out what this is? I also ordered a pair in the exact same model/color...

 

[Andy57]

Life is too short to subject yourself to Meermin shoes. Throw those away and get a pair of good shoes.

 

[pyunghwa]

Disclaimer: not a shoe expert. But my guess is that there’s an adhesive applied between the two pieces of leather and squeezed out when they were pressed together; the extra residue was not removed properly. And when the dye was applied, it was applied over the adhesive residue, and now the adhesive is flaking off, revealing the undyed leather beneath.

 

[mahlerization]

Life is too short to subject yourself to Meermin shoes. Throw those away and get a pair of good shoes.

I needed something quick, and honestly after my experience dealing with their laughable customer service, it's a definitive "never again". I hope a far better company fills that market that doesn't screw customers over for their own ****** production mistakes.

 

[Boxlike9092]

@mahlerization How were your shoes when they arrived? Did they have the same problem as mine?

Meermin refused to refund, so I replaced them with the same model in black. No problems with the black pair after about 1 hour of wearing them around the house (see attached photo).

Probably the black leather comes black and doesn't need to be dyed, but the brown leather comes in a lighter shade of brown and then needs to be dyed with "antique oak". Thanks to @pyunghwa for the explanation, but always thought that the leather would be dyed before stitching, not afterwards. Is there really someone with a cotton ball attempting to dye light brown shoes after they've been stitched together?

 

[mahlerization]

@mahlerization How were your shoes when they arrived? Did they have the same problem as mine?

Meermin refused to refund, so I replaced them with the same model in black. No problems with the black pair after about 1 hour of wearing them around the house (see attached photo).

Probably the black leather comes black and doesn't need to be dyed, but the brown leather comes in a lighter shade of brown and then needs to be dyed with "antique oak". Thanks to @pyunghwa for the explanation, but always thought that the leather would be dyed before stitching, not afterwards. Is there really someone with a cotton ball attempting to dye light brown shoes after they've been stitched together?

My pair was ok, fortunately, after like 15 minutes of walking around and sitting down and getting up in the house.

I'm pissed off with Meermin for other things though, where their customer service is entirely unhelpful (or anti-helpful). Last pair of Meermin shoes for me, I think.

Edit: nevermind, I just checked again. There is one tiny spot of glue falling off in the same way, but I guess it isn't very noticeable (that I needed to check for it).

 

[Blastwice]

Meermin is a budget brand, so you're getting not the highest end finishing. When you pay Meermin price, you cannot expect Lobb finishing.

With these, I'd say if they're comfortable, just wear them. Maybe rub some similar color creme on the area to mask it. These are not shoes you pass down to your kids, so just get your money's worth and move on to a higher end brand that meets your quality expectations.