Meindl Dovre glue failure & rubbish service!!!

[NickJL]

Wondering if anyone else has had the same problem as me with Meindl Dovre.
There has been a product recall by Meindl. Not sure if just the Dovre or if it includes their other boots too.
I wore my boots 3 times before they started to come apart. I took them back where they were sent off for repair. That was 8 weeks ago!!! 3 weeks in I wrote to Meindl for an update where they pointed me straight to the retailer who would have some kind of return code. The retailer explained the whole sorry tale!!!
Meindl changed the glue on their boots.
The glue failed (what great product testing - and they are German. What happened to the Vorsprung Durk Techniq I wonder!!!).
They had loads of returns
They recalled the boots
The returns were destroyed
They can’t give me date when I will have a replacement!!!!
Cr@p boots. Cr@p service from Meindl

I’m seriously disappointed with Meindl. I’d had the last pair maybe 15 years and they never let me down. Have they started using the Harkila factory.
Throughout this the retailer have been great. They just aren’t getting updates from Meindl on when my replacements will come.
If you are buying Meindl then make sure your boots aren’t part of the product recall.

Any advice from anyone who experienced the same is welcome. Retailer have offered a refund but maybe I’m crazy because I decided to hold on for the replacement. Surely Meindl will have sorted the issue. Apparently because I’m size 10, which is Joe Average, there is shortage so I couldn’t see them elsewhere either.
Maybe they will come just after the season ends - great!!

 

[Bo Diddley]

Take the refund and forget about it all. Life is too short!

 

[Shootgun]

Take the refund and buy Hanwag

 

[Johno2486]

Had pair Bhutans last year, both boots leaked from day one, these were replaced by a pair of Dovre Extreme at end August after few outings stitching started to fray and sole came away.

Sent back , took full refund, not what they used to be, wouldn't buy another pair Meindl.

Replaced by pair Hanwag Trapper GTX , so far, I've been pretty impressed by them, my tuppence worth take the refund..

 

[Greenmist]

Like you, I have an older pair which although battered, still deliver. I saw three different pairs fail on a grouse moor on the first and second day they were worn this season. Don't make them like they used to I suppose, shame as I really like the way they fit my feet, hopefully they get it sorted before I need a new pair

 

[HonestJohn]

Cheap production avenue to capitalise on former success and to increase margins, happens all to often when companies think they’ve cemented a product into the ‘best quality’ perception of an industry. Same with Swazi, UGG boots, misc chocolate brands, BF Shitrich, you name it,

Agree with Hanwag- except, they now refuse to deal with customers directly and ask you to go to your local representative, something I f**king hate as the local rep usually tries to bat you away and convince you you’re wrong and just buy something new from them

 

[Donkey Basher]

Not a new story - had the soles fall off two pairs of Meindl boots 10+ years ago. There seem to be two types of soles - one has coloured layers & in my experience are OK (except boots aren’t goretex) & the other looks to be an injection moulded foam that breaks down internally & falls off! - the glue doesn’t fail the sole crumbles…

 

[devon deer stalker]

Why are people still buying boots off this company, they still think their name and history allow them to produce these recent poor quality boots, as for Bramwell, their customer service is a disgrace, get your refund and move on.
Cheers
Richard

 

[lochty]

#1 for the refund and Hanwag.

 

[nick100]

I’m just amazed with the amount of reviews/complaints about Meindl that any one is still buying their boots.
They were crap years ago.

 

[griff]

Mine must be the exception, had mine for the last 7yrs and they have worked hard, yes some of the rubber banding has come away but they are still waterproof and warm. I treated them after every outing with Neatsfoot, and then dubbin.
Would have to give it some thought after reading some of the reviews wether or not I would replace them with the same..

 

[RM100]

I’ve had mine around 4-5 years and they are excellent.

But….reading all the above (and personally knowing 3 people who’s new Meindl’s failed on their first trip) is worrying.

 

[paulbshooting]

Thanks for sharing. My dovre extremes have been great for 7+ years but now nearing end of life. Seems Meindl like most are in the race to the bottom on cost and price so quality will suffer. Will be looking at alternatives. A mate has just bought the latest harkila alternative and early days but very positive.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Fell into the cheap trap they have. A chap in our village had them fall apart on a works visit to a metal gridded factory floor.
Wiki = A plasticizer (UK: plasticiser) is a substance that is added to a material to make it softer and more flexible, to increase its plasticity, to decrease its viscosity, and/or to decrease friction during its handling in manufacture.
Plasticizers are commonly added to polymers such asplastic and rubber.

 

[Ratcatcher]

Mine looked exactly the same as donkey bashers but I'd had them 5 years so took it on the chin, bought some grubs stalker wellies instead took 2 pairs back before I found a pair that didn't leak

 

[User00035]

I've got a pair of Meindl. Can't remember what they are. First pair last year the glue failed within a week and the rubber started to peal away from the leather. Got them replaced and now a year on the padding has come adrift. There's a nasty lump to the inside of the heel on one boot like something shifted or got bunched up inside. Utter rubbish. Will never buy again. Hanwag Tatra GTX before next winter.
Either that or for build quality Arbotec Scafell lite chainsaw boots.

 

[eldon]

Not a new story - had the soles fall off two pairs of Meindl boots 10+ years ago. There seem to be two types of soles - one has coloured layers & in my experience are OK (except boots aren’t goretex) & the other looks to be an injection moulded foam that breaks down internally & falls off! - the glue doesn’t fail the sole crumbles…


View attachment 287203View attachment 287204

Had this on some German Para boots I bought the youngest.
Literally the sole crumbled like it was chemically eaten yet it was brand new old stock

 

[druimmuir]

I had 2 glue failure Meindl Dovre's the original ones and the replacement they sent ....one failed in a day the other a few weeks.....crap service .....go for refund why would u go Meindl again ? I got Hanwags with my refund money and so far really happy with them already lasted longer than the Meindls

 

[Monarch Country Products]

Other brands are certainly benefiting from Meindl's woes...

Last year we nearly doubled our Lowa turnover, although it caused a headache for the wholesaler forecasting demand resulting in a few weeks of "stock-out's"

 

[Mungo]

Other brands are certainly benefiting from Meindl's woes...

Last year we nearly doubled our Lowa turnover, although it caused a headache for the wholesaler forecasting demand resulting in a few weeks of "stock-out's"

I switched to Lowa 4 years ago. Incomparably better.

I really worry that they’ll end up going the same way though. It seems a pretty common trajectory for brands.