Stinky trainers - update
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On 17 November Watchdog uncovered a story about brand new Nike trainers that have been causing a stink.
After hundreds of you got in touch, we knew the problem was much bigger and whiffier than anyone had first thought.
The particular problem is a distinctive smell rather like cat wee.
Nike said that the problem was limited to small number of its Total 90 and Mercurial ranges, and as a result of our report, told us that it would accept returns and issue refunds. (See its statement below.)
However, while lots of you with the affected shoes have had your money back, we've heard from quite a few others who, despite what Nike promised, have been refused a refund.
In some cases, that's because you've taken the wrong shoes to the stores. So, to be clear, the only Nike boots and trainers that definitely have this particular problem - a very distinctive smell, not those normally associated with football boots (such as mud, sweat, damp, and so on) are some, not all, T90s and Mercurials. So don't try taking back any others.
But we can't see why people who do have the right shoes haven't had refunds, when Nike was so clear on this last week. It's mostly the high-street sports chains that are being a bit sniffy, but viewer Mark Hadley emailed to say it happened to him in one of Nike's own branches.
The manager told him his Mercurials didn't smell badly enough. Though Mark says they stink out his garage, which is now the only place where he can keep them.
We've been back to Nike, who says it will be reiterating its advice on this to all its stockists. It said that its store staff having to make judgement calls can "...only go on how the boots smell when they come into store".
It is confident the process is working for most people, but it's committed to helping all customers with this problem, and to making sure it doesn't happen again.
In its statement Nike told Watchdog: "The high quality of our products and consumer satisfaction is of the utmost importance and we are taking this matter very seriously.
"We must stress we are still only seeing a very small number of cases where our football boots or astro turf shoes are affected by this particular problem, however, we appreciate the inconvenience and apologise sincerely to those people whose boots are affected.
"We are continuing to explore the exact cause so we can ensure that the problem doesn't occur moving forward, but this process takes a little time.
"The boots we have seen with this problem seem to be from our 'Total 90' or 'Mercurial' ranges, dating from pairs on-sale since June 2007. We encourage consumers with boots that have the distinctive bitter, ammonia-like smell, that match these models and dates, to return them to the retailer where they were purchased, where they should be replaced or refunded, even without a receipt. If consumers cannot get to the original store of purchase they can also return them to any Nike store round the country.
"It's important to recognise that any football shoe is a performance product and may therefore be affected by general footwear smells associated with sport and exercise. We also encourage people to care for their boots properly by cleaning them and ensuring they don't remain damp in sports bags after use. Retailers have been asked to use some discretion in assessing whether boots that are returned suffer from this particular problem, or are just old boots with the smells naturally associated over time with any shoe used for sport."
Nike says that the affected trainers and boots can be returned to wherever they were purchased, including independent stores. If it is not possible to get to the original retailer they can be taken to any of the following Nike stores:
NikeTown London
Oxford Circus
London
W1R 1AB
Nike White City
Unit 2137/2138 Westfield Shopping Centre
London
W12 7GF
Nike Covent Garden
14/16 Neal Street
London
WC2H 9LY
Nike Liverpool
24 Paradise St
Liverpool
L1 8JF
Nike Manchester
39 Market St
Manchester
M11WR
Nike Bluewater
UNit U118 Upper Guild
Bluewater
Kent
Nike Factory Store Ashford
Ashford Designer Outlet Village
Kimberly Way
Ashford
Kent
TN25 0TD
Nike Factory Store Astle Park
Unit 5
Astle Outlet Park
West Bromwich
Birmingham
B70 8NS
Nike Factory Store Braintree
Freeport Braintree Designer Outlet Village
Charter Way
Chapel Hill
Essex
CM7 OYH
Nike Factory Store Bridgend
Welsh Designer Outlet Village
The Derwen
Bridgend
South Wales
CF32 9SU
Nike Factory Store Bridgewater Park
The Outlet at Bridgewater
Banbridge
Co Down
Northern Ireland
BT32 4GJ
Nike Factory Store Cheshire Oaks
Cheshire Oaks Outlet Village
Unit 31
Kinsey Road
Ellesmere Port
South Wirral
CH65 9JJ
Nike Factory Store Castleford
Castleford Designer Outlet Village
Carrwood Road
Glasshoughton
Castleford
West Yorkshire
WF10 4PS
Nike Factory Store Dalton Park
Dalton Park Outlet Centre
Muton
Co Durham
SR7 9HU
Nike Factory Store Hatfield
The Galleria
Comet Way
Hatfield
Hertfordshire
AL10 0XR
Nike Factory Store Junction 1
Junction 1 Retail Park
Antrim Road
Antrim
Northern Ireland
BT41 4LL
Nike Factory Store Kildare
Kildare Village
Nurney Road
Kildare Town
County Kildare
Ireland
Nike Factory Store Killarney
Killarney Outlet Centre
Fair Hill
Killarney
Co Kerry
Ireland
Nike Factory Store Livingston
Livingston Designer Outlet
Livingston
Scotland
EH54 6QX
Nike Factory Store Portsmouth
Gunwharf Quays
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO1 3TA
Nike Factory Store Royal Quays
Royal Quays Outlet Centre
Unit 7 Coble Dean
North Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE29 6DW
Nike Factory Store Salford Quays
The Lowry Outlet Mall
Manchester
M5 2WZ
Nike Factory Store Street
Clarkes Village
Farm Road
Somerset
BA16 0BB
Nike Factory Store Swindon
Great Western Outlet Village
Unit 69 Kemble Drive
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN2 2DZ
Nike Factory Store Tillicoultry
Unit 28
Sterling Mills Outlet
Tillicoultry
Clackmannanshire
FK13 3HN
Nike Factory Store York
Killarney Outlet Centre
Fair Hill
Killarney
Co Kerry
Watchdog update Monday 22 December 2008
By far the biggest stink we've kicked up over the past three months has been about those smelly Nike trainers. Up and down the country hundreds of families were blaming cats or pongy feet for a strange odour coming from some of their Nike Total 90 and Mercurial trainers.
Nike admitted that there was a fault with the materials used in some of the trainers and offered a full refund to anyone whose Total 90s and Mercurials gave off a very distinctive smell. The result has been mostly positive, and most of you have been able to get full refunds and let your cats back in the house.
We're still hearing from some of you who say that some high street stores are very reluctant to accept the trainers. We've spoken to Nike who say that customers with the correct trainers who are unhappy with the smell should take them back to the store in which they bought them and that stores should offer a refund without a receipt if the retailer agrees that they are smelly enough.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~24~RS~)
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my 3 sons have had problems with nike trainers over the past 4 years some makes smell like cat pee other don't its not just the football boots we have found that the worst ones have been nike tn's they all smell like this so i think nike have always had a major problem and they need to find what material it is that makes there trainers and football boots smell so bad
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will take them back and will let you know if the costomer service is satisfactory.
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We bought our Total 90's in July of this year from JJB sports. Yes they have the offending smell so as advised by Nike I returned them to the retailer. We did not have the original receipt but did have the original box with all barcodes intact.
We did not want a refund as we still required fotball boots for the remaining part of the season so were looking for a replacement pair. HOWEVER BEWARE - the replacement was offered BUT only to the value of what they are currently selling the Total 90's at now which is £10 less than we paid for them as this is their store & company policy...... I feel that we have been dealt a harsh blow as Nike have said a full refund or replacement would be provided and we have ended up with another pair of boot of lesser value and probably lesser quality although no smell.
Does this break consumer rights when the goods are faulty as acknowledged by the manufacturer????
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I have bought three pairs of 90 astros and all three stink after wearing a couple times, the cat has been blamed on each occasion. It got to the point where I would not let my son have anymore of these. I now only have one pair in the house the smell of three would be too much even for a healthcare worker! I did complain at Sports World when we purchased the last pair and they simple respnded "Oh yes they do do that" so not exactly a few pairs I think with the problem! But no offer of refund was made at that time. So while I'm left with one pair how do I get refunded for the two previous?
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I have a pair of nike trainers and i am not aloud to wear them in the house not even for a second.As soon as i enter the house my mum knows im wearing my "Mercurials" and i have to put them out side! If i leave them in my room,the whole house starts to smell REALY BAD.
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I have now bought two pairs of these trainers for my son and both pairs I have not been able to have in the house. I am also very embarassed when my son goes to other peoples houses as they absolutely stink. I have just telephoned where he bought one pair from and they are not taking them back.
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I've just tried to return my 11 year old son's boots to Exsports where they were purchased for cash using his birthday money and they refused to exchange because I couldn't prove they were purchased from there!
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Its not just Nike.
I have a pair of another popular worldwide known brand of football boots which smell like cat's.
I had some smelly Nike's but I threw them away after visiting the retailers (got nowhere as not faulty) and emails to Nike (automated responses only)
So its another brand too !!
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my son has total 90 football boots and they stunk my house out so after watching last week took back however they will not refund without proof of purchase ie till receipt or bank statement really bad customer service feel sorry for people who would have paid cash for them
CAN WE SEND THEM IN THE POST FOR A REFUND!!! IF SO WILL WE BE REMBURSED POSTAGE COSTS
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I have jest tried to take a pair of nike football (mercury)boots back. they refused to return them despite being aware nike had agreed to accept without proof of purchase. The manager informed me they had been informed by head office not to accept without a reciept.
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I bought my girlfriends nephews a pair each of the Total 90 trainers last year. Being avid footballers, they used them straight away. First game was in the rain. A few days later, they started to give off that now well known smell.
I now have to apologise to two kids for having ribbed them RE their standard of foot hygene.
Wonder if Nike will do something in lieu of hurt feelings too???
Hope they don't give me grief in Nike Town, Oxford Street. Think I will go armed with a print out of the press release above.
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i tried to return my sons to the store where I bought them, but they said they had an email from their head office, stating shoes would not be repaced or refued without a receipt. I do not live near a NIKE store so I guess I am stuck with them
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My green Mercurials stank. I took them back to the shop and they said we had to have a receipt to have proof that we bought them from that shop. I thought we didn't have to have a reciept.
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I tried to return my sons faulty Mercurial boots in Cambridge and although the manager admitted that they did smell he would not exchange them because he said they had the wrong type of bad smell.Could someone advise me of my next step?
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I bought some Nike Boots from a well known website I have the same problem as everybody else! they smell sooo bad!!!
the recipt/invoice was on the plastic bag the boots were sent in. (which i put in the bin) can i still send the boots back without a recipt?? i still have the original box.. if i can send them back.. how??
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My son has the Nike Mercurial, we too thought it was cats pee, after watching last night (24/11) my Son took his boots (£95 worth) to the store where we bought them tonight (25/11), he was told he needed the receipt, I told him to go back in the store at look at this website whereby Nike say we can have a refund without a receipt, he did just that and again they refused without the receipt, now what do I do, I suppose it means I've got to visit a Nike store to get a refund, anyone else have this problem?
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I tried to return my 13yr old son total 90 football boots tonight and they refused to exchange or refund me anything on these boots because I never had my receipt.They said the only way I would get a refund is to take in my bank statment and they can check up through head office what was purchased on that day. I must have been into this shop at least 10 times in the last 3 months what a nightmare. My son's previous red total 90 boots smelled the same they were only 5 or 6 months old and were binned when he bought his new ones in sept. He has always bought nike boots and thinking back he has had a few pairs of total 90's that have smelt like that.We put it down do him playing on the grass outside never thinking that it would be a fault with the boots.
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I have had a nightmare today trying to return two pairs of my sons football boots. They would not give me a full refund as I didn't have a receipt, they said I could have a straight swap but they didn't have any of these boots and would not be getting anymore in!!! Work that one out!! I spoke to their Head Office who said that this was there policy that they had to do exchanges if there wasn't a receipt, I did however have my credit card statement, but as I had purchased more than one item they couldn't work out the cost of the boots!!!!! I have written a long letter of complaint as the "Supervisor" was extremely rude and the "Manager" wasn't in today. How convenient. I have since been to the Nike "outlet" store in Hatfield, the said they couldn't give me a cash or credit card refund as I didn't have the receipt but would give me vouchers to be used in the Nike store, the price was different in this store, therefore I have lost out on money as well. How stressfull can a day be over football boots. I must agree though, my husband blamed the cats!!!!
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After watching the watchdog programme last night i was amazed as I had been complaining to my son about his trainers for a few months on the awful smell, they were so bad I woudnt allow them in the house and always left them on the doorstep privately hoping someone would take them away!So pleased to find out last night that it wasnt my sons feet after all but a huge problem which belonged to Nike! I bundled up his trainers today, called where I purchased them in April 08 and they asked me to bring in a bank statement to prove I had purchased them from this store.The young assistant made a comment this is the fourth pair today, opened the bag, smelt them, pulled a face and went to get a manager, the area manager appeared and said he could not take them back as he couldnt smell anything???The pairs that had come back that day were alot worse than mine so he couldnt take them back, he then made a comment that I hadnt even washed them! I replied whats the point of washing them cos you wouldnt be able to smell them, he than said well lots of people are going to bing them back after watching that programme to try and get a free pair of trainers, I was getting very annoyed at this point and clearly stated i couldnt even have these in my house because of the stench and i certainly wouldnt bring them back unless there was a problem, he then said well if there was a problem why didnt you bring them back 5 months ago, I said if you bought a pair of shoes and they smelt would you bring them back to the shop for a refund??The problem has been highlighted on watchdog so thats why I have brought them back its a manufacturer error not a I asked for his name which he refused to give me because of security reasons, I then asked for the head office number which he refused to give me.I informed him that he has now lost a valuable customer because of his condesending attitude making me out to be on the scrounge! i am just an honest mum of 4 kids asking for compensation from a retailer whose product was at fault. I am very cross that I have had to be put through this making me feel like a liar.I am now going to put in a complaint to [the retailer's] head office and also write to Nike to see if I can get this resolved.Any help offered will be gladly received!
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Just wanted to advise the nation that thanks to both the BBC Watchdog programme, and the very helpful staff members of JJB Sports in Norwich I was able to replace my 'scented boots' with nice new ones, without a receipt as advised. My car no longer smells like a cats toilet, and my boots and I are once more allowed in my girlfriends house!!
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I have just been to [Retailer's details removed by Moderator] to change my grandsons stinky trainers which were purchased in April. The refused to exchange them or refund the cost without a receipt. We were assured on Watchdog by the Nike representative that an exchange would be made without receipts but the retailers are not honouring this.
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I took my green mercurials back in Basildon for the 2nd time, and they went to the manager. The Manager then said it was also the wrong type of smell. They gave me a complaint form. They said that the boots went back to [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]. I thought it went back to nike? What shall we do next?
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Like other people who are "proud?" owners of very smelly Nike sports shoes. I too have been in contact with the original independent retail outlet who supplied them. No deal without a receipt. Nike Consumer affairs say they will investigate the product and refund my postage if they agree the shoes are "faulty"(no reference to the watchdog interview)and , provided the shoes have not been tampered with. Well, I have replaced the insoles in the vain hope of alleviating the smell. So, does this mean I am stuck with a defective product and a very upset little boy?? And it all sounded so positive on the show this week!!!
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I just went to another sports direct shop and they were so helpful. They just told me to get the boots I want and take them and the smelly ones to the till. I got a refund and got Adidas f30's instead!
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I tried to take my boots back to [Retailer's details removed by Moderator], but they refused as I didn't have the reciept. They admitted they had the smell, but as I couldn't prove I bought them for there, they would not take them back without a receipt, which I don't have as I bought them in June. I asked the manager to read this blog, but yet still she refused. Surely Nike are paying the stores for the boots they return so I don't understand why she wouldn't take them. I also couldn't understand how she said I could of bought them from JJB or JD sports. They are more expensive in those shops, so if I did, surely I'm not taking them back to somewhere where I'd get a cheap price back on my affected footwear. Sort it out Watchdog!
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I bought two pairs of the Nike Mercurial Vapour 4 football boots. Within weeks they both stank of the smell detailed in watchdog. I took them both back to [Retailer's removed by Moderator]who refused to take them back without a receipt. I understood where they are coming from but if Nike have promised for a full refund or replacement then that should be honoured. Also Nike should of cleared it with all retailers which they didnt as I found out. The closest Nike store to me is 150 miles away!! In the end i managed to speak to a nice lady @ Nike who took all my details and told me I should send them directly back to nike for investigation. Im still waiting for the email on how Im supposed to do this. PLEASE IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME??????
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My son has had numerous Total 90 Football boots and Astro Turf Trainers. The trainers bought last December had, the now famous 'smell'. In June & September two more pairs were bought, again the 'smell' developed. After the Watchdog programme, as suggested, I took two pairs back to [Reatailer's details removed by Moderator],but, although smelling of ammonia,I was told that it was the wrong kind of smell according to their interpretation of NIKE's guidelines. Now what do I do, I miles from a NIKE store!
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After the Watchdog programme, as suggested, I took two pairs of NIKE trainers back to [Retailer's details removed by Moderator],but, although smelling of ammonia,I was told that it was the wrong kind of smell according to their interpretation of NIKE's guidelines. Now what do I do, I miles from a NIKE store!
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I have also tried to obtain a refund and I do have the receipt, however I was told that the smell was a grass smell dispite the fact that they are astro turfs and my son trains on astro turf & not grass ! What do I do now as they have refused to give me a refund and the nike store is too far away. Any Advise from Nike ???
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My two son's have Nike boots, total 90's and mecurials. Went to my local [Reatailer's details removed by Moderator]shop tonight and was told that they did not smell enough for an exchange/refund. I understand the shop asistants are working to there companys instructions, but what is the definative answer to what boot has to smell more, they commented that the boots do have a cat wee type smell, but not enough to change the boots.They advised that I send them back to Nike to deal with, which also give's me a headache if i send them back my son's will be without boots to wear at training and on match days. So in the mean time my house smells like cat wee, I don't have cats. Please could you advise on any course of action I may be able to take
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I tried to return my sons trainers and football boots to [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]! but the manager would not refund or exchange without a receipt, and gave me customer services number ...yet my sister-in-law was asked no questions at jjb and was told to choose new trainers ...so i will no longer be giving [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]! n my custom ...(TOTAL 90)...
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I'll add my name to list of people these trainers have affected. I bought some Total 90s for my son in May and after only a couple of wears they were stinking to high heaven. thinking it was his feet re-acting I did as everyone else and kept them locked away at all times. In the end he was due to go away and I couldn't have him stinking out the room he'd be staying in with others so was forced to buy a new pair- not Nike I hasten to add. The "stinkers" as we call them were banished to the shed and used only for PE lessons. Hearing it's a fault with the shoe and that many others are suffering is welcome news. I'm not convinced that people will be able to get an exchange or refund without a receipt as Nike promise. I have just called the shop where I purchased them from and although I do think they will take them back it's only because I've got a receipt and they were reluctant even then. Nike need to sort this problem out NOW. I will not be purchasing Nike boots again.
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in the middle of a nightmare, trying to exchange boots... firstly, went to the nike store in hatfield. Initially, they were happy to exchange the boots. However, they had no computer code for the boots. Gave me a number for their consumer affairs - the line is out of order! The store is obviously stressed with calls, but have told me they are not prepared to do anything to help until i have spoken with consumer affairs! aaarrghh
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Hi I have had the same problem, my sons total 90 gold nike trainers were fine until last night when they started to pong. We woke up this morning and the smell made me sick. Having seen the watchdog programme I knew immediatly what was wrong and I took them back to [Retailer's details removed by Moderator], who refused to take them, saying they need to smell strong enough to smell at the back of the shop and I told them I disagreed, They had been in my corridor all night and stank this morning but they had only been in the shop for two minutes, and that it is a distinctive smell of amonia or cats pee, but she said she disagreed and I should buy a deodariser. I can tell the difference between smelly feet and cats wee! I phoned their customer services line and they said I need to go back or to another [Retailer's details removed by Moderator],Sports shop and ask for a second inspection, all of which is costing me time and Money.
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I and the rest of my family have been driven mad by the smell that arrives when my eldest son visits. He recently moved in to his first flat and I was concerned that he wasn't looking after himself due to the odour of cats pee. I washed all his clothes and his trainers as they appeared to be the main culprit!! He left smelling sweet only to return the next day with his usual cat smell. We stuck the trainers outside and the smell vanished. My mum watched the programme about nike trainers and I took my sons back to the shop but unfortunatly they are not either of the styles that have been mentioned. they are Nike [Product details removed by Moderator]. Surely this is no coincedense?? Your help would be greatly appreciated.
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We bought our son Nike T90 trainers in sept 08, soon after a s mell emerged like cat pee, firstly we thought a cat had gotten into the house, as we dont have one and then we realised it was our sons trainers. Thinking he had a problem with his feet we have been purchasing LOTS of feet sprays and washing them every other week but the smell still stays. Last night we took them to the shop we bought them from and they had a quick sniff at them to be told they werent wiffy enough to be honest they werent as bad as usual, so i washed them again and sure enough the smells back. Seems to be any moisture makes them wiff badly. This is the second pair of Nike that my son had had and both pairs sadly for us smell the same. Gladly we now know our sons feet arent the problem....nike sort it out!!
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Hi, just to add comment to stinky trainers issue. After hearing about the Watchdog report from a friend I took 4 pairs of smelly trainers to NikeStore Bluewater last night. It seemed so completely right that the fault must be with the trainer as none of the other brands or shoes my boys have smell. The assistant manager explained he couldn't help as he couldn't exchange the trainers as it was 'not the right smell'. We debated the validality of an individuals sense of smell and he produced a pair from out back for me to have a whiff of, he also showed me the 2 page guidnance note from Nike to staff. He simply and very politely refused to offer anything. Protecting himself against making a error of judgement I think. We had a discussion about brand imagine and how I felt let down by Nike. I really didnt have a major issue with the smell, they just stayed outside, but now that I had dragged the trainers and myself out on a cold night I was annoyed to be rejected. I'd love to say we wouldnt buy Nike again, but that probably wont happen, but I think it has made me think twice about Nike corporate and it's customer service.
Whether the rotton smell is right or wrong for Nike, it's an unusual thing for shoes belonging to a 6 & 8 year old to smell so bad. It's only the Nike ones that do, not school shoes, Addias, Puma etc
Regards..
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I TOOK MY SONS SMELLY FOOTBALL BOOTS BACK TO JJB BUT DID NOT HAVE THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT BUT I HAD A CREDIT CARD STATEMENT WHICH THEY ACCEPTED. I HAD BOUGHT A NEW PAIR THE DAY BEFORE SO THEY CREDITED ME THE SMELLY BOOTS AT FULL PRICE AGAINST MY NEW ONES.
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I am also a victim of the smelly boots, and i shall be returning them to where i got them from tomorrow. Hopefully all will be well, as i have no recipt.
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This is HORRIBLE! Our son was SO looking forward to his new pair of Nike Mercurial football boots, he'd been dropping hints for WEEKS about having them early as they were a Christmas present.
Finally, we gave in and gave them to him, this was only 2 weeks ago, and they smell SO horrible I've had to put them outside, I could actually smell them through his BAG! He's only worn these 2 or 3 times, tops. It's shocking how putrid they smell. It could actually make you vomit!
Children are wearing these things on their bodies!!! What is Nike thinking??? Why don't they just recall the whole lot? They're allowing children (and adults) to wear this rotting, stinking, horrible material and the only thing they'll offer is more of the same in an exchange??
What was supposed to be a nice, early Christmas surprise for our son has turned into a smelly and disgusting hassle.
A 12 year old boy has been disappointed and a Christmas gift spoiled, RECALL THEM, before god forbid they give some poor kid with a cut or a scratch on their foot a horrible infection!
SHAME ON YOU NIKE!
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I have both Trainers & Football boots that have to be keft in a sealed contained in the shed !!..I did go to the [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]where I purchased them, so that I could exchange the items
The duty Manger said that there was nothing wrong with the items, even though we have to sore them in a Sealed contained in the shed ?.as the smell is so bad....I though it was too good to be true WatchDog..These shops don't want to exchange anything!
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We tried to take these boots back today, now mind you we still had the receipt as well, and he's only worn them 3 times tops... he's had them about 2 weeks now. The person at the counter at [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]smelled them and said it was a "wet grass" smell. Now, let me tell you this was THE most wretched smell you could ever smell. It smelled like a combination of urine and death. People walking by stopped to look because you could smell it at a CONSIDERABLE distance!! What has Nike done? Did they bring trainers to every shop and teach the till operators the difference between smells? Is this a trained nose??? Because this was a foul and obnoxious odour, there's NO way it was wet grass! This is BRITAIN! There's nothing but grass and rain here! If that's what wet grass smelled like every kids shoes would smell that way!!
In the end, they REFUSED to return or exchange them, although the Nike store did happily. The problem is, that's not where we bought them, and exchanging them in a Nike shop obligated us to yet another pair of Nike's which we didn't want. If we could have exchanged them where we bought them we could have gotten another make.
This could all be solved if Nike would just recall this product and all retailers would have to take them back (without having to subject everyone to a sniff test). It's a defective product, it has no place either on the shelves or on kids feet! RECALL THEM!
I've never been more shocked and appauled. My next letter will be to trading standards. Again, SHAME ON YOU NIKE!
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I bought my daughter a pair of Nike trainers from a never knowingly undersold department store back in May. They were not a pair mentioned on Watchdog but they absolutely STINK!!! I still have the receipt and I emailed the store concerned, but because they were not a model specifically mentioned I can not return them. They have referred me back to Nike - guess I will have no luck there, as someone said earlier sounded too good to be true that it could be as easy as just returning to the store.
No more Nike in this house, and I will be informing anyone I know about the unfortunate side effect of buying Nike trainers.!
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despite reassurances to the contrary on Watchdog , [Retailer details removed by Moderator] would not exchange offending trainers without a receipt , as this is a
against company policy.What recourse do I have now?
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Today I did exactly as instructed. I returned the offensive boots belonging to my son to [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]in Norwich. The assistant sniffed the bag and agreed that they smelled of cat's wee. He took them to his manager who refused to change them or enter into any conversation regarding Nike's promise to replace. she told me to "take it up with Nike" as, in her opinion they didn't mell of cats wee! I asked several other members of the public to smell and they all agreed - cat's wee. The manager was completely unmoved and rudely dismissed me protestations. She managed to lose several customers including ourselves and the many who had gathered around to witness this amazing exercise in how not to treat customers. I have since complained to head office and Nike direct. I will wait 48 hours and then commence legal action.
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In Nike's statement they said: "Retailers have been asked to use some discretion in assessing whether boots that are returned suffer from this particular problem, or are just old boots with the smells naturally associated over time with any shoe used for sport."
The retailer I tried to return my son's boots to today used this "discretion" to try to convince me that boots that were only 2 weeks old, and only worn 3 times smelled that horrible from "wet grass and sweat!" Sure, because all 12 year olds sweat that much right??? His school shoes don't smell that way and they're 2 YEARS old!
In my opinion, unless they're going to go around to every shop with 2 shoes, one with urine smell and one without and train these people I don't know how they can profess to know the difference.
Children's shoes just DON'T smell that way, I don't care how old the shoes are! Better still, why don't they just recall the affected pairs? Surely they have batch numbers or serial numbers that they can trace this problem to and make consumers and retailers aware and spare all of us the SNIFF TEST!!
As much as we all, myself included, want to blame the retailers, this ALL boils down to Nike. They put out a product that is substandard, and now they KNOW it is substandard.. and GUESS WHAT?? They're STILL on the shelves of any store you walk in to!! I said it once, I said it twice, I'll say it again...
SHAME ON YOU NIKE!!
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My son has the Mercurial Velocity and they have stunk since day 1 of purchase back in September. I also blamed our cats until my son told me to tune into Watchdog to see the report on Monday. I have since tried to return the football boots to [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]and was refused a replacement/refund. Why, because I had washed them out with a sponge and hot soapy water, and although they stunk to high heaven, the manager told me all "she" could smell was soap. Some soap she uses!! I told her as we had "no" idea what had been causing the stench when we bought them, obviously we would try anything to get rid of such a smell. She didn't want to know. So we are stuck with one pair of vile smelling boots!!
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I can't believe just how many people are actually having problems getting this issue sorted out!!
I know full well it's the football boots, as neither my sons' school shoes or trainers, which he wears on a daily basis, stink our home out!!
I feel most stores just "don't" want to be involved in replacing/refunding as I was "also" told to take it up with Nike!!
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As the man from Nike stated "take the offending trainers and boots back to the retailer for a full refund", and quoted Mercurial and Total 90 range from June 2007.
Today I have tried to take back a pair of Mercurial trainers which I bought in August from [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]and a pair of Total 90 football boots which I bought last year. The boots due to the smell have been in the garage.
JJB have told me that Nike are not taking back Total 90's and I could only swap the trainer for what they are selling them now, unfortunately no cash or credit note. The mercurial trainers are now in the "sale"!!!!
What do we do now????
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I am a sister of a brother who owns one very stinky pair of trainers, now I hadn?t actually smelt the football boots till this evening when I got home, as they have been in the shed for the past few weeks, demanded by my mother because she couldn?t stand the stench of cat wee any longer. The reason for there re-entry into the house was because my brother had taken them into town today to try and exchange them, however he was turned away and told that they just smelt damp, believe me when I say that when I got home this evening the boots were all I could smell, there not even in the house now and I can still smell the cat stench they have left.
I have had one angry mother on the phone to the shop questioning why my brother was turned away and has told them she is going into the shop herself tomorrow so hopefully they will be exchanged, if not I?m sorry watchdog but we will be sending you another pair of stinky trainers with the hope you can help us. either way them trainers have to go!.
Emma
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have tryed to take my sons total 90s back today to a retailer in plymouth only to be told yes they smell awful but no we wont refund or replace. WHAT A DISGRACE
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As a major Nike man, i was gutted about my Mecurial vapours stinking. The missus was well unimpressed about her car smelling of cats. So today i returned my brilliant boots to the NIKE outlet in Portsmouth. I have to say the guy i spoke to (Paul) was first class, took my credit card statement with me just in case. He was quality, he explained about the boots being sent away for research and even though it could have been a load of twaddle, i was given the opportunity to purchase another pair of boots or have a full refund of £119.99. I took the opportunity to have a look at what they had in, but went for the refund after there was nothing that took my fancy. I can do nothing but compliment NIKE in Portsmouth. I will still buy NIKE products in the future. At the end of the day they have made a mistake and are taking steps to resolve it, fair play to them. I hope they sort the problem because i loved my Mecurials.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
[Retailer name removed by Moderator], also refused to refund, the fact that "Trainers had wear, or that we had no receipt was NOT the problem" no "the problem is that they don't have that distinctive odour" How the chap stuck his nose in them and kept a straight face I will never know! but I promised to return and let him smell them EVERY week until I have a refund! PS IF they dont have that smell then wht did 3 members of my family phone me to tell me about the watchdog report!!!???
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I took my sons Nike Total 90 trainers to [retailer's details removed by Moderator] Kings Lynn for a refund or exchange. The Manager looked at them and said he would exchange them for a new pair. He went to get a new pair saying the new batch don't have the skink problem. He came back with an print out of an email dated 25/11/8 saying only refunds or exchanges with receipts can be accepted. I was given a number to call for Nike and left with the smelly trainers. I made a 90 min round trip because the guy frim Nike came on Watch Dog and said all Nike retailers would refund / exchange without the receipt. I am really disappointed and think Nike have gone back on their word.Very angry about this!!!
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I wouls just like to say Thank you to both Nike and Watchdog. I returned my sons Total 90 trainers to the Nike store at the Lowry Outlet in Manchester. I bought tha trainers almost a year ago and didn't have the receipt. I paid £27.00 for them and, was today given a refund of £20.00 with no quibble.
I think Nike have acted very responibly in this matter and I am pleased with the outcome.
Thanks again.
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After watching the programe i decided to take my sons trainers back to where i brought them.Unfortunatly i didnt have the receipt,but thought that didnt matter.But it does and they would not give me a refund.They wanted to send my sons trainers off,but he doesnt have a pair to wear in their place.It was the first time i have been able to afford to buy my son named trainers.Which i had to buy adults,more expensive.It will be the last time as well.So Nike telling everyone to take trainers back to the stores where they brought and not needing receipt is false.So my son is still having to walk about in trainers that stink.
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I find it strange that the BBC are employing unfair editorial practices on consumers legitimate complaints on this blog where they remove the retailers name when the consumer gets a negative response. What are you scared of BBC? Name and shame them. Isn't that what Watchdog is supposed to be about? Or do you have some conflicting interests?
We consumers should stick together and where we have received a negative, and often rude and condescending response from the "store manager" then we should vote with our money and boycott their stores.
Other high street retailers have recently got into trouble, probably because of their debt, but let these sports retailers be the architect of their own demise from loosing sales brought about by their mis-management of customer care.
[Note from Watchdog web team: Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately we can't publish these comments because they are making allegations about a company that we need to put to the company before publishing.
Best wishes,
Mariam Abu-Hejleh, web team]
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Reference comment number 34 on this blog - it is interesting to see that the BBC have not edited out the retailers name because they actually followed the advice of Watchdog and the consumer got a favourable outcome. Whereas we went to the same retailer (albeit at a different store) and all we got was a condescending, rude and negative response and the BBC decided to edit out the retailers name in my original comment on this blog - much like they have with everyone else who got a negative response.
If this retailer has a policy on this problem then they must apply it fairly and consistently - otherwise don't bother having a policy at all.
And shame on Watchdog for not allowing us all to see the names of retailers who have poor customer care policies.
[Note from Watchdog web team: Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately we can't publish these comments because they are making allegations about a company that we need to put to the company before publishing.
Best wishes,
Mariam Abu-Hejleh, web team]
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We bought my nephews trainers from [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]Darlington approx 8 weeks ago. We took them back but they are refusing to refund the full price £45 that we paid originally, unless we have the receipt. [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]have offered us only £30 as they have now put the trainers in the sale at a reduced price. Asked for the manager and they refused to speak to us.
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i watched your program last week about the totoal 90 trainners and the smell that they had. now i bought my step son a pair only a month ago and he only managed to wear them about 4 times b4 the horrible smell of cat wee arrived. i have tried everything to get rid of the smell but nothing worked. i was about to throw them out when i watched your show and found out that i could infact take them back to the shop were i got them from for a refund even though i didnt have the recite. so the day after i took them back to the shop were i got them from thinking that all was well to be told that i couldnt have a refund the only thing they could do was to offer me an exchange for the same pair of trainners no other options or 25 pound in vouchers even though the trainners themselves cost 46, when i argued the point of what your show had said they told me that they were not taking part in the refunding of peoples money even though they knew the trainners had a problem! so now i have to fork out more money for yet more trainers as i wasnt helped in the shop what so ever, im really not happy.
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Tried to take my sons total 90s back today,they said i had to have my receipt which i havent got! thought nike said we could return them without a reciept! my son had bought them out of his birthday money in october and now he hasnt got any football trainers for football training! they are still selling the trainers,they are now on sale!!!!!!!!! dont know what to do next! can u help?
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Hi again i posted comment 64. Just to say we finaly managed to exchange the boots! Hoorrah!!
However it took some difficulty. Even tho other shoppers were commenting how awful the boots smelled and also two of the shop assistants. The manager, even when putting his nose right into the boot, said he couldn't smell anything, really!
We got a credit note for the price of the boots after threatening contating you again and naming names.
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I bought my son a pair of the T90 astro boots in September. The boots had to be kept outside due to the smell and finally I gave up trying to keep the odour under control and bought him a new pair of the boots a couple of weeks ago. On finding out about the fault I returned the T90 boots to the store only to be told they would not accept the boots as they have been worn!!! I am now even more concerned as the new boots he got were the Nike Mercurial boots. Please advise
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My grandson has a pair of stinky nike football boots.Which he loves.Despite the fact they have been repeatedly washed and sprayed with deodorant they still stink of tom cat pee!!!
Can't find receipt but I have taken them to the shop that I bought them from.I was told they don't smell bad enough and that they have taken back too many boots that don't smell that bad!I explained that they were washed and sprayed last night but still smell but no they would not help.The boots are in very good condition so it's not a case of trying to get a new pair for a pair that have been trashed.I don't want my money back I am not trying to get a bigger size.I just want the same boots same size and colour without the smell!!I have been told by the staff that I can come back every day if I want and they will smell them again!What I would like to know is how much of my time and deisel I have got to waste to get this sorted.Is this happening to any one else?I do not have a NIKE store nearby.
PLEASE HELP!!!
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Both of my sons have Total 90's purchased at the beginning of the summer. After reading your report, I returned them to JD Sports in Weston Favell, Northampton, on Saturday. They said they would need a receipt before they would consider an exchange. I showed them your report and they said they needed a receipt or a copy of the charge on my bank statemet. They gave me a copy of a memo dated 25th Nov, that states "With regards to the recent Watchdog program shown yesterday, please note that we are NOT to accept any returns with out proof of purchase. If the customer wishes to pursue the matter please refer them to Nike Consumer Direct on 0800 056 1640 or Nike Town." I returned on Sunday to JD with a copy of the transaction in hand, to be told they would have to check as they didnt realise I had purchased so long ago, and said they would have to speak with someone else and would phone me on monday, I have just received the phonecall and told they need to verify my bank transaction with their accounts dept, and then they would return the trainers for analysis and then a decision would be made in 7 days. I have tried to phone the number they gave me but this is temporarily out of order !!! Very convenient !! My children wear the trainers for PE lessons at school and playing out, so to return them would be impossible and given that NIKE said they would accept them without a receipt and I have had to put up with trainers that smell like cat wee for the last 6 months - I am not amused JD or NIKE !!
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I have just taken my 11 year-old's trainers back to the place of purchase, in Colchester High Street. The shop assistants all agreed that they smelt rather badly of 'cat's business'. However, the manager (who wouldn't come down to see me) declined that they smelt, and had stated that they couldn't be changed as they weren't 'even one of the makes that Nike says smell'. The trainers are in good condition and only a few months old. My son can't wear them anywhere as the smell is so rancid. If Nike refuse to change/refund I will make sure that my family, colleagues and friends are aware, and hopefully a small boycott of potential purchases will ensue. I don't want to gain anything, I just want to be able to get some valueable use out of my purchase! (PS he also has comfortable but smelly boots that should be replaced - consumer's rights, and brand loyalty obviously carry no threat to Nike)
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My son paid £120 for his Total 90 football boots from his very first paypacket when they first came out about a year ago. They smelt really bad from the first time they were used. Of course, the cat was blamed!
Now, we've had Nike boots which have smelt terrible before and always blamed the cat...this time we thought it must be the boots themselves, so were relieved when we saw this article.
We had no receipt, so went to the Nike shop in Cheshire Oaks. Unfortunately, the labels on the tongue had recently come off. However, the manager was very helpful. We explained that we hadn't even gone back to [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]as we knew they would not take them back without a receipt. The manager confirmed that some sports shops aren't being very helpful, but that as Nike had our interests at heart. Apparently, our boots were one of the worst smelling they'd had so far and they confirmed they'd had a number back. We were given another pair of boots as a straight replacement. We were reassured these wouldn't smell as they had identified only certain batches affected. Apparently the manufacturers in China had changed the materials used without authorisation from Nike.
I hope this problem is now resolved, if not, I'll be making another visit.
For anyone who doesn't live near a Nike shop,I would call the nearest store and speak to the store manager. I would see if I could post the offending boots to them...also, if I had boots not identified as a type which is affected, I would offer to send off my boots to Nike for testing to help them identify any further affected batches.
Lastly, I feel that Nike have taken responsibility for the problems with their product...a fact which gives me confidence to continue being a customer of theirs. I hope this helps others - good luck!
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My son brought a pair of mercurials back in August, after a couple of weeks we threw the receipt away. His boots smelt awful, but after watching Watchdog, I took them back to the store where they were brought and spoke to the Manager and mentioned Watchdog.We remembered the day and time that we brought them
and the till and asked the
manager to track back the purchase on the system which was successful.
He was not too happy but my son now has a new fresh pair of boots - not nike!
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I am so annoyed about this, it's the first i've heard about it. I bought my 8year old son a pair of T90's for his christmas last year - he is a total nike nut, he won't wear anything else. Not long into the new year his feet started really smelling, his gran commented that they smelt like cat pee but i didn't think anything of it other than a little boy growing up - maybe hormones! My son started really taking this to heart, so much so he'd cry whenever i asked him to wear them. I washed them, used the feet talc you get, sprayed his feet with odour remover stuff. I had to buy him new trainers and the problem disappeared! I STILL didn't think it would be the trainers until i saw the show tonight. I will be taking them back for my refund or replacement!!
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Took our stinking sons' 2 month old T90s back on the 22nd Nov to be told that they knew nothing of the issue and no refund would be given until it could be proved that they had a problem. They have supposedly sent the shoes to Nike for "evaluation" and we had to buy another pair to replace these.
Not quite the straight forward refund procedure that Nike are promoting...
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I took my sons pair of Mercurials Trainers back to JJB sports and had no problems at all exchanging them without the original receipt, very helpful.
I also tried to take back his Total 90 trainers to out local sports shop which we purchased in June 08 with the receipt but they claimed they were not taking back this range of boots despite the smell.
What is the problem if they are going to get the money back from Nike??
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my son has a pair of 90 football boots which stunk so i bought him a pair of [Brand name removed by Moderator]boots which have the same cat pee smell. He is 18 now and had had football boots since he was at least 10 and i have never smelt this before in either his football boots or regular trainers or shoes. after seeing your program i am going to take them back, i can only hope for a good response, from what i read here i doubt it!! wish me luck!
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After reading comments 75 and 76 i totally agree with watchdog. Why should they publish it and give the company a bad name. I believe you should see it from the employees points of view and not slate them or have ago at them. Obviously your angry and believe you should get a refund but go to the people who's fault it is. It is not our place to replace them as it is not our fault it is Nikes. Everyone in the company has to do what the owners want others people will lose jobs. At management have been told only to except ones back that coinside with our policy.
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what happens if i take them back and they are in the sale or not worth what i paid for them? do i have to accept less than they are worth to me, even without a receipt they should know when each batch number was up for sale shouldnt they?
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i have just taken my son's trainers back to Sports Direct, they gave me a credit voucher with no problems, but they would only give me the sale value of the boots as i didn't have the recipt,i really felt this was unfair.I did have the original box with the name of the sales person and date of purchase
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My son's mercurial football boots have this destinctive smell, i went to [Retailer name removed] where i purchased them and they refused me a refund or exchange.They said it wasn't the smell they were looking for and brought out another pair of boots which smelt exactly the same!We went to another sports retailers who confirmed it was the deffinatly the smell but obviously we couldn't change them there. The only way we can get hold of head office is by writing, there is no phone number! I am now having to drive to nike world to exchange these boots so who's going to compensate my petrol? I can only suggest to people not to bother taking them back but to go straight to nike world.
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Unfortunately my 8 year old son is the proud owner of 3 pairs of Nike Mecurials all purchased this year, which all smell like cats pee (we dont own a cat!!). After seeing your reports I attempted to take them back with my receipts only to be told that 'they are not the smell we are looking for!!' I was then told that a pair were returned the day before that burnt his nose and that is the smell he is looking for!!! I have not imagined a smell of cat pee so why is it that certain retailers are refusing to assist even with receipts. Our nearest Nike store is miles away so it looks like we're stuck with them!!
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i to brought my son a pair of total 90s just a few months ago and omg they do stink. as my husband pointed it out to me just tonight and not noticing the stinky smell before, because he usually leaves them at school.
everytime my living room door is opened we get this horrible wiff. i dont think we will have any joy getting a refund as the store we got them from are very funny about refunds as we have tried to take a coat back before anfd they would not refund us on that.
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Both my sons have had Mercurials since the beginning of the year. Both are football mad and have gone through many trainers and boots over the years - all have smelt disgusting (as have their shinepads!) but these Mercurial's really smelt unbearable, so much that my younger son stopped wearing his trainers altogether because of the embarrassment at school. Having seen the Watchdog report I took my older son's Mercurial football boots back to JJB, I didn't have the receipt but they found the code on their computer with the original price of £54.99 - they were happy to replace them with whatever my son chose and even gave me £20 gift voucher as the boots he chose were only £34.99. I couldn't fault the attitude of the staff and the Manager, they were more than helpful. My younger son's Mercurial trainers were from so I thought there would be no problem as the date they were purchased and price was on my account history. However after I emailed them, the reponse I got was that I can certainly send them back and get a replacement pair but if their inspection failed and they were not faulty they would charge me! I thought I must be reading this wrong so emailed them again and sure enough got told it was their 'policy'. So I suppose if I do send them back and the smell isn't, in their opinion, the right smell they will charge me for reaching that decision!! I certainly won't be buying anything from the again!!
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Tried to return my son's smelly T90's receipt included they did'nt want to know.
[The retailer] have now lost me as a customer as have Nike.
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I bought my son's mercurial football boots at the begining of september, sinc this time my husband and myself have given our two cats a lot of blame for weeing in my son's togs,as the smell has been rancid at times, after watching watchdog, to find out it was a fault with the togs I was so relived in one way but really cross in another, that I had put all blame on my cats. I took the the togs back to where i bought them, she agreed the smell was awfull, and did smell of cats wee but explained she could not do anything about it as i did not have my receipt or proof of purchase, she showed me the letter she had stating this, and explained if i could bring in a bank statement she would then be able to act on it. I explained I lived 50 miles away, she told me this was no problem take them to the nearest store, I did this two weeks after with proof of purchase, the shoe manager was very adamant he was not going to change the togs and they did not smell, he told me he had another pair that were smelling of the correct smell and mine did not smell like those, i was astonished, i stated that the togs had not been worn for over three weeks, i asked if i could smell the togs he had, they did smell of the same smell as mine, but mine were not as strong as they were dry, he was extremely rude and had big attitude which shocked me even more with the way he spoke. I explained I had been to another store and explained the outcome, he was having none of it, he started becoming aggressive in attitude to my son, who tried to explain that if they got wet the smell became 100 times worse, at this stage, I asked for their complaints procedure, he got me a form to complete. This has caused me so much distress as I was polite the whole time i spoke to him and felt belittled by his attitude, all through no fault of my own.
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Why don't all of us here who've had it with Nike go on with a class action lawsuit??? There's certainly enough of us here! That'd get their attention... A bunch of ratty parents, and a room full of stinky shoes! They'd settle QUICK!
SHAME ON YOU NIKE!
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I have tried to take my sons green nike boots back, but the shop would not accept them without a receipt to prove where we had them from, as the nike store in birmingham city centre is not one of the stores on list i must be stuck with them come on nike do something about this we are good enough to buy your products you help us now.
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I took a pair of these and had no problem in exchanging them for another pair of trainers,i had no box and no receipt,i did pop in a day before and asked what the situation was with them before i turned up with them, and they were helpful and said just bring in the trainers and let us smell them! and if they have the smell they can be exchanged,no problem.
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my son has 2 pairs of nike mecurials "smell terribe" 1 pair of green boots were boughts for a european tour to prague in september for the ireland u18 rugby league team only worn for this event as when he returned he had to buy some more nike boots as one pair were soft ground and the other were hard ground they both smell so bad .have to keep them in the shed watched the watchdog program i thought thank go it isnt my sense of smell plying tricks with me. thats when the fun started no reciept took one pair back to [retailer A] very helpfull full refund so replaced the boots asked them about the green boots said they would replace them as they had the same bad smell but they have never sold them i said ok and took them back to [retailer B] where we got them from they said they were the wrong boots as the date inside said they were made in may 2007 i said i only bought them in september after a lot of trouble backward and forward to the store 10miles away they said they had got that bit wrong thats the american date so that was fine but they dont smell like they should had to argue for 20min and told them i would go to the papers they got very cross when i said i would do a smell test in store finally gave me a gift token for the boots at the price they are now which is fair enough but will not buy nike anymore or go in that store anymore
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We took my son's trainers back to JJB Sport with the receipt and received a full refund even though the trainers were now reduced by £10. The trainers were bought in June but I had bought him another pair as the NIKE ones smelt so badly. The staff were extremely pleasant and helpful. Thank you watchdog.
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Im FUMING!!! I bought my daughter some nike total 90 at the begining of the season September 08 and yes they stink! So, I followed what Watchdog and Nike had suggested we do , which was to take them back to [Retailers details removed by Moderator]bournemouth (where we purchased them, to be told by not only the manger but the assistant manager that basically he would NOT replce them as they didnt SMELL stronge enough for his nose, and to bring them back another day , at my expense hoping they would SMell to his liking.What frustrates me more is that we contacted the Poole store the day before to hear what they suggested we do and they advised us to do exactally what Watchdog and Nike had.So as you imagine i have an angry husband, an upset daughter and a fuming mother who has lost all faith in Nike.We pay good money for these trainers and feel totally let down by the retail sector!!! All we want is a replacement , not the money , the shoes reeeeek, my daughters gets name called for having cat wee smelling trainers.
So what happens next?? whos going to solve this one?? Or do I just have to wait that bit longer before they smell the sweet smell of cat urine and not cash in the till!
The assistant wasnt to bothered by the fact that he had ONE dissapponted customer he didnt see it as being a problem.
On the way out of the shop an over hearing memeber of the public said to my husband "Its disgusting i bought some back the other day after having them for 6 weeks and the same shop gave her the same reply " The shoes dont smell stronge enough for our noses!!!! HELP "
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Today I decided to take my sons disgustingly smelly Nike Mercurial blades which cost 119.00 in June 2008 back to the store from where purchased as I did have a receipt. I did check over the phone with the companies customer services first to make sure they understood the Nike problem. The store, [Retailers details removed by Moderator]in Enfield said they totally understood Nike's commitment, however someone forgot to mention this to the footwear manager instore, as he totally refused to refund or offer anything for my sons boots. One reason did not smell enough - the shop assistants wouldnt go near them and that they were 6 months old. Nike had said they would look at shoes purchased from June 2007. Whats going on? I think Nike need to go back to their distributors because unless this is settled I can assure Nike I will not purchase any more boots from them if thats how they treat customers.
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I took my stinky mercurial blades back to a nike store today and got an exchange no problem! The boots were even valued more than when i bought them. Also i picked a slightly more expensive pair of football boots and got them at no extra charge!! very happy!!
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Also i forgot to add that i bought them from another outlet other than nike, had no recipt or box!!
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I work for JJB Sports mainly on the tills we have had a few of these boots back but some people can be very nasty about it for instance one woman came in with a pair of Total 90 Astros without the reciept and without the original box infact she brought them in in an Asda carrier bag so there was absolutly no proof of if she had bought them from JJB and exactly how much she paid for them and demanded a full refund! so i called my supervisor and as we have been told by Nike we have to smell them first to make sure they do actully smell of the "Cat Pee" smell and they didnt at all! all they smelt of was sweaty feet! the woman was very angry that me and my supervisor couldnt smell the cat wee and that we said it smells like feet and she was very abusive about this fact (swearing and saying there must of been something wrong with our noses, which it wasnt our noses at fault it was hers!)we were also told by Nike that if they do not have the reciept or box we CAN NOT give a full refund because of the fact we dont know if they were bought from JJB and we dont know how much they paid.if the woman had bought them in the orignal box we would of known when she bought them without the reciept because when our footwear staff serve a customer with a pair of shoes they are to write the date and their intails on the box so if they do come back without the reciept at least we know when the shoes were bought and can work out how much was paid for the shoes on the particular date.has we have the sale on now most of our football boots have been reduced! so without any date of purchase we do not know how much was paid. i can fully understand why people would be annoyed with them because i would be! its just the fact that if the customers cant follow our company policies how can we give them the customer service they expect back! And please anyone reading this wanting to return the boots please remember it isnt JJBs fault we only sell them for Nike we dont make them. dont get mad at the staff
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I took 2 pairs of my son's T90 football boots back today for a refund as advised by Nike on your recent programme. Like others, I was told that they did not smell bad enough, apparently a directive given to them by their Head Office. They compared them to a pair of adult boots that were over twice the size of my son's boots and of course would smell worse given the area of material in each. Believe you me, his boots smell terrible and are definitely affected by this manufacturing defect. I find this is just a way of avoiding refunds. Given their quite clear statement on your programme, I think Nike should reiterate to the retailers that all of these boots appear to be affected and should be refunded without question. I for one, will not be shopping in Sports World again or buying Nike boots which you pay more for expecting better quality. The promises given on your programme appear to be very shallow. [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]
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I bought my son the total 90 trainers and we have had to store them outside dur to the terrible smell. My father rang when watchdog was on tv saying you could return the trainers. I have just been to [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]manchester and the store Manager refused to exchange or re-fund money for trainers his excuse was you need a reciept but on return i logged onto this site to read that you don't need the recipt. Confused on where to go with this.
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i recently watched the show and saw about the trainers. i immedietly got my mother to watch it on i player and we realised thats why they stunk so bad (i have to keep them in the garage because the smell is so bad) a few days ago i went to my local [Retailer's details removed by Moderator] store and they said they didnt smell. me and my mum were shocked at this, escecially as when we walked in the store people were commenting on the stink. then after we had got the message through that they did smell they decided to make up another story, "these aren't the correct type of trainer" the man behind the till said. this made me very annoyed as we had only brought them about 2 months back. at this point i told them about how my friend had come in the weeek before with a pair of football boots he got for LAST CHRISTMAS! and they gave him a full refund. why is this?
if mine are outdated, how arent the ones he got a year ago!?
i am taking this further as i believe the way they have handled this is appauling. they have had so many people ask for a refund they are just making excuses. [Retailer's details removed by Moderator]X
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A friend of mine wrote this poem after having a bad experience at school with accusations of smelling like cat pee!
Was it Jack or was it Gizzy? Climbed in the schoolbag and done a bizzy.
It offends our noses, cor what a smell - enough to send your soul to hell.
Does it matter, not a bit - at least she didn't do a s**t.
Poor old Gizzy she's so clean and we're always asking 'have you been?'
Someones smelly, who can it be? Not I says Gizzy, I didn't need a pee, must be Jack he looks really sneaky.
Well goodness me Could he be that leaky?There's sniffing here and sniffing there, I'll find the culprit so beware.
Someones cat is doing the dirty, perhaps its aim has gone all squirty.
Things could be worse, I'll tell you how, Our Gizzy could have been a cow. So be thankful it was just new shoes. That smell of a chemical that Nike use.
Our cats are clean and so are we, we're all house trained on where to pee.
Our cats disgusted on being accused, says she resents being used.
Our cats forgiving, she's been through a lot. She's only got 3 legs but knows how to squat. And not in a school bag to offend poor noses but out in the garden under the roses!
Jack and Gizzy are INNOCENT!!
Oh crikey Nike what have you done?
Your trainers are great but they smell like bum.
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My daughter just returned her football boots to the Nike store in Manchester, although they were purchesed elsewhere we had no problems at all a full refund was given there and then.One of the pairs we returned were purchesed over a year ago but the poor girl on the till took one smell in the bag and full refund given lol( no company could pay me enough money to keep smelling these returned boots)
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My son has just returned his smelly boots to the local store (not Nike) that he purchased them from. Full marks to them - refund of CURRENT value given no questions asked - just one problem - my son paid £10 more for them and has lost the receipt (15 year olds for you). He was told that if he could bring in a bank/credit card statement they may look into it further for him but he paid cash with his birthday money. Congratulations Nike - he has now had to spend £15 of his Christmas money making up the difference to buy the equivalent boots!
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I bought a pair of Nike Total 90s astroturf trainers just a week ago, unaware of the problem. I haven't even worn them yet. I phoned the store where I bought them and spoke to the footwear manager. She said that she was prepared to give me a refund if I wore them and found there to be a problem. I said that I would be happier to have a pair of trainers that did not have a potential problem and she indicated that I could return them unworn as unsuitable and be refunded. I questioned why her company was still selling this product when there was a known problem. She replied that the problem was only with certain batches and Nike had not been able to tell them which batches were affected. In that case, I asked, why does her company not warn customers of the potential problem so that they can make an informed choice before buying potentially smelly footwear? She did not agree that this was their responsibility and became aggressive when I suggested that my time had been wasted by having to return goods which she knew to have a potential problem. No-one more senior in the store was available to speak to so I intend to call again tomorrow. In my view, Nike should be recalling all of the products concerned and, at the very least, retailers should be acting responsibly by warning customers of the problem. I am unlikely to deal with either Nike or the store concerned again.
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I have just taken my son's Nike Total 90 trainers which he bought in October back after reading this article only to be told "they do not smell bad enough (just sweaty)"! the fact that I have banned them to the garage and now my husband wants to ban them from there tells us the smell is unbearable(cat pee)but aparently some teenage shop assistant knows better. I have 3 teenage boys and this is the only pair of trainers I have had to ban. I am taking this further but do not live close to a Nike outlet.One angry mother.
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This comment has been referred to the moderators. Explain.
My son's Mercurials famously live in a bag in the outhouse as that hideous smell was driving us all crazy. I was delighted to see Watchdog took up the cause partly because I thought it was just my darling offspring's smelly feet!
I happily took them to [Retailers details removed by Moderator]Truro, a 40 mile round trip, thinking that they would be helpful as when they sold them to us, but no, they were anything but. Initially the lad at the till told me they didn't smell (ha, ha!) to which I honestly responded that he really must have no sense of smell at all.
"You'll have to wait for a manager."
After a protracted wait one appeared, winced at the stench and told us that he'd follow us to the trainer section to find replacements. He appeared ten minutes hence and told me that the trainers didn't come from JJB. How on earth did he work that one out?? No labels remain on the offending articles as I've washed them so many times.
Explaining that I was certain that they were indeed bought in the store and that they would be refunded by Nike anyway, I was completely blanked!!
My son had tokens to spend there and on paying for his shopping I noticed a similarly unimpressed mum and son to my side looking bored and exasperated. On approaching her outside I found that she too had been turned away with the same attitude for, of course, the same complaint.
Needless to say we won't be shopping there again.;#
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Just read No. 113 so an addendum- The company you mention on initially accepting that my son's shoes stank simply offered my son an exchange, not a refund, and only to the present price for Mercurials which was a sale price, which we would have been happy to accept. I think it is important to realise that it should be Nike picking up the tab, and while prices vary a little is that not just good customer service for possibly a small cut in profit?
No excuse for rudeness though.
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Today I tried to return my sons Nike Mercurials Astro boots for a refund, which was to no avail the assistant, said they smelt the wrong sort of smell, to me they obviously smelt like cat pee. I even presented them in the original box and with the receipt. She was very rude..... So what do I do now, we live to far away from a Nike Store?
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Our son's T90's had the cat wee phenomenon. We were most disappointed with the manager of the store who refused to accept either pair of trainers ( astro turf and stud models)citing store policy - despite this being a product recall as opposed to a return. We are very disappointed and no where near a nike factory store and would like to know if we can post these defective trainers to a Nike store for some renumeration for these defective products.
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Does anybody know what Nike is doing about fixing this smelly Mercurial boot problem? My son had his new for Xmas and after 2 games in the rain the boots really stink! I am about to take them back to a Nike store for a refund; does this mean that Nike don't yet have a Mercurial Talaria boot that is free from this fault?
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I returned my son's stinky boots directly to Nike, in the post at the end of November 08 as the store where i bought them had closed down. i am happy to say that I have just received a cheque in the post for £40. Thank you Nike. And many thanks to Watchdog...
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Have only found out about nike trainers being the cause of my sons rotten feet (smell like cats spray). Have been blaming him and am onto second pair of total 90's, and umpteenth foot and shoe deodouriser. Took the recent pair back to store, with receipt to be told shoes are not smelly enought - subjective or what! Thought nike had made a decision about this problem. Sad thing is won't be using the sports shop anymore, or purchasing nike trainers, have always thought they were great quality but this has become a point of principle. Resent the implication from the store that I am a liar.
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I am disgusted. I am 13 years old lad and i have been to [a sprts retailer] brought some blue and yellow nike mercurials, which were a replacement for another pair that i brought from the same shop.
This is the second time this has happened i took them back to the shop to find out that the lady on the till said they did not smell. She then took the boots to the manager who also said they did not smell. I really did think that they couldn't be botherd to help with this situation. Anyone smelling the bag or trainers would know they smell of cat wee. My mum and dads hall way stinks of cat wee, but the lady and the manager said they didnt....had they got no sense of smell!!!!!!!!!! I will not be purchasing any more goods from [retailer name removed] ever again. I am now stuck with a pair of trainers that stink, i cannot take them in the house and am embarrised by the smell if i go to a friends house....Thanks Nike for Nothing!!!!!!!!!
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I bought the "stinky" trainers from JJB and following all instructions took them back to the store tonight. I went through a very humiliating experience whereby the shops "manager" with her experts skills in amonia detection, was unable to smell anything and told me to take it up with Nike, as though I was trying to cash in. I was and am furious, surely JJB should be able to tell from batch numbers which ones are the faulty ones. !!
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I am so fed up with stinky nike "cats wee" trainers. We changed a pair of my son's astroturf JR mercurial velocity TF trainers just before Christmas at JJB's before Christmas - no hassle. I have also had to change a pair of football boots at sportsworld his aunt bought him for Christmas- some hassle. But lo and behold the smell is starting again in both. I took the traners to a different JJB store in the box they came in but the store manager said they did not smell how he would expect. I know that they have some discretion and I am not unreasonble. But I know the smell (you can smell it when you walk into the room the trainers are in)and I know that if I leave them another week or so they will really reek. Is it me or has the reduced publicity and the economical climate affected the stores' attitudes to this problem. I refuse now to let my son have any more nike footwear - it is not cheap and this problem is no joke. Are they of mechantable quality? I do not think I am the only one who thinks like this - surely this is bad news for nike (good news for Addidas!)
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Can someone please HELP, my son spent most of his Christmas money on a pair of [brand removed] trainers when we visited the states in February, he was so proud of them and won't part with them, but unfortunately they have the same problem as the Nike, THEY STINK OF CATS URINE.....I believe [this brand] used to be made by Nike, but I'm not sure if they still are, the trainers are so bad they make me feel sick and as you can imagine really embarrassing, I didn't think a pair of trainers would cause this much agro....we obviously can't take them back, does anyone have any ideas
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My son recently bought a pair of Total 90's and sure enough a few weeks later they stink, the annoying thing is that I swore we'd never buy them again. All, yes all previous purchases of these have had the same problem, all of them.
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