New Balance 530 Mesh Tore After 10 Wears and They Refused to Replace It

I purchased a pair of New Balance 530 sneakers and wore them no more than 10 times—and yet, the mesh fabric already tore. I was shocked to see such a defect on shoes that are marketed as durable. I never wore them in rough weather—no rain, no mud—and most of the time they were kept safely in their box. Despite treating them with care, this expensive pair fell apart way too quickly.

I submitted the shoes for inspection through Sneaks Up, only to receive a frustrating response claiming that the issue was not related to production or material defects. How is it possible that a shoe used fewer than 10 times rips due to “user error”? That reasoning makes no sense.

This experience has completely shaken my trust in the New Balance brand. I expected long-lasting quality, but instead, I got shoes that couldn’t survive even a handful of outings. To make matters worse, New Balance has shown no willingness to stand behind their product or offer support. I am extremely disappointed and urge the company to reevaluate its inspection process and provide real solutions for customers who receive subpar products.

I am demanding a proper resolution—either a replacement pair or a refund for this clear manufacturing failure.