text: I wore this model for a year and loved them. I finally said it was was time to purchase a new pair. I could have gone to the NB store down the street, but with a busy schedule and limited time. I ordered from Amazon. Shipping from Amazon was great, just as normal. I have no complaints with Amazon. I do however have an issue with New Balance. The Quality Control seems to be a little lacking on this pair. Something is not correct with the construction of the left shoe. I purchased these shoes back in June. I understand that I can not return them, they are shoes, once you wear them they are yours.What was strange was when I first put the shoes on and walked around the house I felt as if I had just come home from a long trip. I was happy to be at home again in a pair of 990's. I only wore them for a couple weeks and started to get a pain in my heel and arch. It felt as if something was in my shoe, like a high point in the middle of the heel and a second high point in close to the arch. This caused me to put more weight on the ball of my foot and in turned caused pain in the calf.  I had to do something. I knew I was stuck with the shoes after wearing them for a couple days. I bought a pair of forty-five dollar NB in-certs. The in-certs seemed to help, but that too faded. An thus is why I am writing this review as I sit at my desk with my shoes off for some relief of the pain. I have now noticed that the sole is coming apart on from the left shoe. The sole coming apart after only a few weeks of usage. The soles on my 1.5 year 990's have not  come apart. The old 990's sole is almost worn through, but never separated. I really feel that the day my shoes hit the Quality Control something happened and the person must have been distracted to let this left shoe off the line. I am just shocked how badly the left shoe feels. I will gladly pay for that MADE IN THE USA badge, but it really hurts when I am let down.Hurts my foot more than my wallet. I don't know if I will have muchfaith in NB for the next pair of shoes, which will have to be soon, since my soles on the original pair of 990's are almost worn through. Just an FYI, wear this model around the house for a couple days. Make sure there is not something wrong with either shoe.