Dr Martens woes

[DrFishnets]

I bought a pair of classic Dr Marten 1460 boots four months ago and have been wearing them daily with my skirt, kilt and dress outfits. However, I am gutted and disappointed to find that the sole is coming away from the boot.

I took them back to the shop and they told me that they will return them back to the manufacturer as a defect. I asked for an exchange but unfortunately they don’t have a pair in my size in stock. My only option is a full refund or wait until they are back in stock.

I am really disappointed considering they were nearly £200. For that price I’d expect them to last longer than just four months. I did some research and apparently they don’t make Dr Martens to the same quality and standards anymore. I’m not amused.

Do any other fellow skirters on skirtcafe own a pair of Dr Martens and how long did they last with you?

[Mouse]

Do any other fellow skirters on skirtcafe own a pair of Dr Martens and how long did they last with you?

I have over the years picked up 6 pairs of Dr Martens and all 6 are still in operation. My longest serving DMs are my tall boots. My only 1460 boots are bright purple, so are not worn everyday, so probably have not seen as much action as yours.

I think it is true that standard DMs are not as hard wearing as they use to be, but this is probably true of most brands. I did have some problem with my tall black Uggs, with the zips failing. This was covered in the guarantee and I got them replaced.

This guy https://www.youtube.com/@RoseAnvil has a whole channel where he cuts boots in half and tells you how they are made. He doesn't have a high regard of DM, but there again many other brands are also found wanting. I still buy DM, because I love their look.

I hope your replacement set, are better.

[DrFishnets]

I still buy DM, because I love their look.

I hope your replacement set, are better.

Yeah, I do too love the look of Dr Martens. I think they look good with tights and leggings and when I’m in a daring mood they good and edgy with fishnets and the boots give me the goth girl/rock chick look that I’m trying to achieve.

I do hope the replacements are better but somehow this experience has kind of lost my trust with Dr Marten boots as I’ve only worn them daily for four months and now the soles are coming away. I have a second pair of Dr Martens 1460 boots in burgundy red that I haven’t worn yet.

[Mouse]

I love boots and I have too many boots, however it does mean that each pair get used in rotation so wear on one pair is slower. That's my logic and I am sticking to it.

[DrFishnets]

I love boots and I have too many boots, however it does mean that each pair get used in rotation so wear on one pair is slower.

I love boots too. I’ve been searching for tall knee length DM boots but they don’t make them for men. They are only available in women’s shoe sizes. It woukd be great if I could find a pair in UK size 11.

[Coder]

From what I've read about DM's, their quality has declined greatly. Either the leather cracking/peeling, soles separating or cracking. It's sad because it's a sign of the times... although I suppose if we were to look back at historical times, people said the same things about quality declining.

[DrFishnets]

From what I've read about DM's, their quality has declined greatly. Either the leather cracking/peeling, soles separating or cracking. It's sad because it's a sign of the times... although I suppose if we were to look back at historical times, people said the same things about quality declining.

Yeah their quality definitely has declined greatly yet they still charge top dollar for their boots. I read that the DM boots made in England are great quality but the boots made is Vietnam are not so great quality. The DM’s I sent back were made in Vietnam.

[Mouse]

They make a thing of the Made in England boots and charge more for them. https://www.drmartens.com/uk/en_gb/unis ... c/04310000

The Rose Anvil guy tests England Made Docs here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GynkH-6IHrc

[Seb]

I've only ever had one pair of DM's, the black Mary Janes I've shown elsewhere and I've not work them enough to comment on the durability yet. But I have to say I am very impressed with the grip they provide on ice, the rubber in the sole is good quality at least!

[Jerevo]

I bought a couple of pairs of 20-eyelet Solovairs with side zip (made where they used to make DMs) from the British Boot Company in Camden a decade ago, and they're still going. I have had to replace the zips though, an involved but doable operation.
Sadly, since the UK decided to commit economic harakiri followed up with a side-order of mass murder, they don't make anything comparable any more and what they do make is insanely expensive.
Sigh.
J

[Midas]

I bought a couple of pairs of 20-eyelet Solovairs with side zip (made where they used to make DMs) from the British Boot Company in Camden a decade ago, and they're still going. I have had to replace the zips though, an involved but doable operation.
Sadly, since the UK decided to commit economic harakiri followed up with a side-order of mass murder, they don't make anything comparable any more and what they do make is insanely expensive.
Sigh.
J

The reference to Brexit is clear enough, although this remains a complex and divisive topic. It probably wouldn’t have happened had either Cameron been a half decent negotiator, or the EU had been less arrogant and given him a decent deal to put to the British public.

I don’t understand the reference to mass murder, but coming from (I assume because of location) a German I think it’s more than a bit rich.

[Coder]

I haven't followed Dr Marten's quality decline a lot - but I think this is typical of any system. Over time, quality is lost, a sort of increase of entropy (I know this isn't the right concept, but how I internalize it). Companies can actively fight against this (ie, Apple), but that's a rare sort of situation.

[DrFishnets]

I’ve just received my replacement Dr Marten boots and I’m a bit unhappy with them. The rubber bit that goes round the boot on the right boot between the sole and the leather of the boot has a noticeable join in it. I don’t see a join on the rubber bit that goes round the boot on the left boot.

I’ve just looked again and there is a join on the other boot at the same place but less noticeable so it must be normal.

[rode_kater]

the EU had been less arrogant and given him a decent deal to put to the British public.

By "EU" you mean "the other member states" who didn't really understand why the UK should be treated any different from anyone else. Cameron did have some good points, but his strategy of claiming British-exceptionalism just didn't work. If he wanted certain changes, he should have worked to get other members on-side who had similar qualms. Saying "give me what I want or I'll leave" just leads to the door hitting you on the way out.

The freedom of movement one was especially galling. He wanted additional controls while the UK wasn't even using the ones already available. How they thought to win that argument I'll never understand.

[Fieldsay]

I’ve had a few pairs of Dr. Martens over the years, and I’ve definitely noticed a drop in quality compared to the older ones. My last pair of 1460s lasted about a year before the sole started separating, and I wasn’t even wearing them daily. It’s frustrating because they used to be nearly indestructible. If you really love the style, you might want to look into the Made in England line—those seem to hold up better, but they’re even pricier. Lately, I’ve been leaning towards Solovair instead; they have the same classic look but seem to be built more like the old Docs.