People who are unhappy with the quality or performance of a new pair of sports shoes should not be afraid to follow up with the retailer, as the consumer watchdog says there is a good chance they will be compensated. Manufacturers have also been told to do more to make sure their products live up to the increasing expectations from users, amid a steady stream of complaints against functional footwear in recent years. The Consumer Council on Monday said it received 101 complaints regarding sports shoes between January and July, compared to 227 for the whole of last year, and 257 in 2022. A complainant was refunded 80 percent of the HK$1,170 he forked out for a pair of sports shoes which claimed to be waterproof, but weren't. Water began seeping into the sneakers after he wore them about five times, and the problem persisted with a second pair that the store offered free of charge. After the shoes were sent back from the factory following an inspection, the man noticed the inner rubber trim began to peel off. But the manufacturer refused to repair the defect, triggering the complaint. The council's chief executive, Gilly Wong, offered some practical tips to consumers. "You really have to examine the product very carefully when you buy it, and if there's anything wrong, bring it forward to the retailer very promptly," she said. "Based on our experience in dealing with these kinds of complaints, the manufacturers are very willing to accommodate and settle the dispute, because they want to uphold their brand reputation." Wong also urged manufacturers to devote more resources to maintain production quality, and not to just focus on design.
