Breaking up is hard to do

It's not me, it's YOU!

You have changed. You are not the same-you are no longer as reliable as you once were-you are falling apart at the seams, literally. I cannot ingore this issue anymore-

I tried to fix this. I have given you so many chances and nothing has changed.

It's time for me to cut my losses and move on.

 

So ASICS, I am breaking up with you.
 

NO. There is no one else. Not yet.

But you will be replaced...soon.

I am not sure with what as I am still seaching.  I have been out with a couple other shoes-Newtons, Brooks, Mizuno, Saucony but no one has really rocked my run.

With Regret,
ME

If you recall this post from early August, I have been having  serious quality issues with my ASICS. They keep ripping, stitching coming apart way too soon, lining ripping or coming out. I'm talking less than 100 miles on two pair and one pair falling apart at 60-something miles. Really!!

So on the advice of the very wise running moms in the RUNNING MOM's, I e-mailed ASICS with a long letter describing my many quality issues of late with Kayano's (14/15 and 16).

I got an email back from Chris (the Consumer Relations Lead) telling me to mail him my shoes and IF Asics determines that it is a quality issue then they will replace my shoes with the same or a similar model. SO...I mailed out my Kayano's ($23.00 to mail 'em!) that were ripping apart all along the toe box (right shoe) and the side of the shoe (left shoe). Note that this pair only had 93 miles on them.

Chris wrote back to me a couple weeks later suggesting that I try out the 3020's or order a size larger in the Kayano's. He also sent me a diagram of how to lace up the shoes. Ok, I'll try something new-I am open to any suggestions. Chris assures me that he will order the shoes (3020's) and get them to me very soon.

A couple weeks pass and a big brown truck pulls up one day. Oh happy dance-a big box from Asics. I am so excited I almost hugged the delivery guy. I open up the box and admire the pretty white and blue sneaks. Then I try them on.
FAIL.
Major FAIL!!
The right shoe is a different size than the left shoe. The right shoe is so tight it is pinching my big toe-the left is just fine.
Now my feet are pretty much the same size- I do not have issues with sizing. I am starting to wonder if I am crazy but NO! these shoes are two different sizes. I pull out my tape measure and sure enough! Right shoe is 1/2 inch shorter than the left shoe.
Now I am very sad and very annoyed.

I write Chris another e-mail explaining this problem and his response?
NOTHING. No answer.
I write a second e-mail to him once again asking for help to resolve this NEW issue.

I get a response about a week later telling me that he is willing to exchange the shoes ONE MORE TIME and wanted to know if I wanted to try a different pair of 3020's or Kayano's.

Excuse me.
ONE MORE TIME.
Ahhh, you sent me TWO DIFFERENT SIZED SHOES.
This is not a case of me being picky about a color. I cannot wear these sneakers.
So needless to say, this response annoyed me even more. I decided to stay with the Kayano's since I did not even get a chance to run in the 3020's. Several weeks later I got the pair of Kayano's via big brown truck (no big hug for driver dude this time) and I returned the irregular pair of sneakers to Asics. Two months to have a single pair of sneakers replaced that were defective to being with...

The whole situation left a sour taste in my mouth. I mean really...just in 2010 alone I purchased 4 pairs of Asics for running, never mind cross trainers and sneaks for my hubby (2 pair for him but who's counting?!). I spend a lot of money with Asics and I really expected a more from them in the way of customer service.

So between the quality of the shoe and the quality of the service, I am taking my hard earned dollars elsewhere.

I just don't know where yet...but when I find out I will let you know. Oh yes, I will yell it loud and proud.

My (dear) ASICS

What is more important then a good fitting pair of running sneakers? When I find a pair I LOVE then I buy several pair...just in case. I take very good care of my running gear and meticulously log my miles on each pair (on DailyMile.com), use them ONLY for running~never any cross training or daily wear. I alternate pairs between long runs, short runs, speed work, hills etc.

Last year I when I started running more and more I went from running in Asics GT 2140's to Kayano 15's and it was a great match for me. They kept my feet comfortable and happy...but there was one small problem. Not with the fit or function but with the overall construction of the body of the shoe. They kept falling apart on me!

The 2140's ripped all along the outside of the toes (where there is a lot of mesh) then one pair of K15's ripped all on the toe box...then the second pair ripped in the same spot! The stitching was coming out. None of the K15's even had many miles on them (definitely under 300) and one pair ripped the first week I had them.

Fast forward to Mother's Day~hubby and Lola got me a very generous GC to The Maine Running Company!! Since I had never been "fitted" for running shoes I was very excited to use this GC right away. Well lo and behold, guess which shoes are "perfect" for me?? Asics Kayano 16's! I was pretty happy that I had picked a good shoe all on my own. So, I got a new pair of running sneaks and some other "treats"~I was a very very happy Mom!!

The joy was short lived.

A measly 63 miles later the Kayano 16's were coming apart. The lining on BOTH shoes was lifting right out! I placed a call to the pro's at The Maine Running Company and I was assured that I could bring them in for an exchange if they were defective. Sure enough! I brought my training log from Dailymile in with me and they were perplexed as to how the shoe could be falling apart so quickly!

They replaced the blue pair with a pair of purple 16's.

After whining to the Running Moms group on CafeMom about all my troubles with my beloved Asics, another Mama suggested that I contact Asics directly. So I did just that. I fired off a lengthy email to them detailing my dilemma.

The response? Sorry you had a problem. Send us your shoes and we will see if they are defective or just worn out.

worn out?? ummmm, yeah. I understand what a beating shoes can take when you run a lot but seriously...at $140/pr I expect them to last AT LEAST 300 miles.

So I sent out my shoes (the newest pair of Kayano 15's) last week. I am down to one pair of good running shoes now (the purple k16's) and I have "retired" one pair of the 15's.

I will wait to see what happens. Stay tuned!