text: I grew up with &#34;Blundies&#34; in Australia.<br />Bought a pair n the U.S. about 2-years ago.<br />Wore them a couple of times and then put them in storage.<br />Took them out this weekend to do some gardening and noticed chunks of black stuff on the ground.<br />Turns out it was the soles coming apart.<br />I've attached pics ... as you can see the leather is virtually brand new ... which it is ... but the soles are shot.<br /><br />Spoke with a Customer Service rep from Blundstones U.S.A. and they've sent me a form to ship back the boots &#34;to be reviewed&#34;.<br />I'm assuming they are well aware of the disintegrating soles issue as they address it in the form ... see below.<br /><br />--------------------------<br />Letter from Blundstone U.S.A.<br /><br />&#34;Dear Blundstone Consumer,<br /><br />Sorry to hear about the problem with your Blundstone boots. Please be aware that Blundstone boots carry a 2-year warranty against defects.<br /><br />Blundstone boots are very durable; but will eventually wear out over time.<br /><br />The boots cannot be re-soled due to the method of construction.<br /><br />“Hydrolysis” is the breakdown of Poly Urethane, which can occur when boots are stored away for a long time. It is rare, but it does happen. When it does occur the outsole will start to deteriorate. If you feel your boots have succumbed to this, please send them back to the address below for quality inspection.  If the boots are found defective we will replace them.<br /><br />Please allow 2 weeks from receipt of boots to process your replacement.<br /><br />Please fill out the following information to help us to assist you: ...<br /><br />---------------------------<br /><br />I really hope:<br /><br />1.  They REPLACE my boots;<br /><br />2.  They've IMPROVED their quality control.<br /><br />I'll let you folks know of the outome.<br /><br />========== UPDATE July 17, 2015 ===========<br /><br />Today I received a new pair to replace my old/ defective ones from the U.S. distributors.<br /><br />Kudos to them for recognizing there is a MAJOR DEFECT in these shoes and willing to replace them ... overall an awful business model.<br /><br />Reading the WARNING (see attached) ... it states ...&#34; ...If stored for extended periods, footwear should be stored in AIR CONDITIONED PREMISES. Failure to observe these precautions can lead to premature deterioration ...&#34;<br /><br />Ummm, while they're at it, they might as well have included ... &#34;Only wear on premium, cashmere carpet ensuring the fibres are handpicked by virgins from nubile goats feasting on pristine pastures from the Kush mountain region above an altitude of 20,000 feet.&#34;<br /><br />What a crock ... I though I bought a pair of Blundstones ... the type of shoes my mates and I grew up with back in the day ... which took a heap of punishment & lasted for years ... not something work gear needs to be kept in air conditioned comfort.<br /><br />Based on that, and the fact that I also had to pay another $12 to ship back the shoes, not to mention the inconvenience & wasted time, I will definitely NOT RECOMMEND you purchase these shoes.<br /><br />I just hope the new pair don't &#34;deteriorate&#34; as the last ones did ... in which case I don't hold any hope of them being replaced again.<br /><br />Come on Blundstone ... STOP cutting corners and bring back the quality if you want to stay in business.from the U.S. distributors.<br /><br />Kudos to them for recognizing there is a MAJOR DEFECT in these shoes and willing to replace them ... overall an awful business model.<br /><br />Reading the WARNING (see attached) ... it states ...&#34; ...If stored for extended periods, footwear should be stored in AIR CONDITIONED PREMISES. Failure to observe these precautions can lead to premature deterioration ...&#34;<br /><br />Ummm, while they're at it, they might as well have included ... &#34;Only wear on premium, cashmere carpet ensuring the fibres are handpicked by virgins from nubile goats feasting on pristine pastures from the Kush mountain region above an altitude of 20,000 feet.&#34;<br /><br />What a crock ... I though I bought a pair of Blundstones ... the type of shoes my mates and I grew up with back in the day ... which took a heap of punishment & lasted for years ... not something work gear needs to be kept in air conditioned comfort.<br /><br />Based on that, and the fact that I also had to pay another $12 to ship back the shoes, not to mention the inconvenience & wasted time, I will definitely NOT RECOMMEND you purchase these shoes.<br /><br />I just hope the new pair don't &#34;deteriorate&#34; as the last ones did ... in which case I don't hold any hope of them being replaced again.<br /><br />Come on Blundstone ... STOP cutting corners and bring back the quality if you want to stay in business.