I HATE my Der Dau's!!

[Princess Lauren]

I got semi-customs last March. I was measured for a size 8.5, with a 13" calf(interesting bc my 1/2 chaps are a 12" calf), and 20" tall. I have narrow slim feet, so because they were semi-customs, I had to immediately put an insole in the boot.

Then the soles starting coming of in May or June... and I had to PAY to get them glued back on!! Now... the stupid boots have stretched out. I now have to wear 2 pairs of socks with them. Wool knee socks, and knee length tube socks. Forget zocks or panty hose, I'd have to wear ten. The foot is so big now too. Even with the insole.

What am I supposed to do??

-Bring them back to the place I got them? I don't want to pay to have them fixed again.
-Sell them for squat.
-Watch tv with my feet in a shallow pan of water and hope the soles fall off again so I can return them, yell and scream, get a full refund..... then buy the Ariat Monaco's which fit me like a glove and were released ONE MONTH after I got my piece of sh!t Der Daus.

[heartinrye]

Do you wear covers on your boots? Or do you walk around the barn/show in them and then not clean them till the next morning? If so, the dirt/water/whatever else is on the ground is coroding the soles, so YES they will come off if you don't care for them properly.
You got measured in March, I am assuming it was warm that day, esp if it was then end of the day, you legs were bloated, now that it is the middle of winter, your legs are going to be skinnier since its so darn cold.

I'm pretty sure that the foot has not stretched so I'm guessing that my winter/coldness theory is spot on.

[LovesHorses]

Call Der Dau!

[hype]

I don't buy that the soles should be coming off in less than a year. I have seen many many people never clean their boots, walk all over the show grounds and then proceed to wear a hole through the side of the boot where it comes into contact with the horse and still have soles that look good. One of the kids got her boots used, rode in them for a year or so, handed them down to her younger sister who eventually wore the hole through the side. The boots had at least four years of really heavy wear, schooling in them, showing in them, hosing off horses etc etc. These were Bevals. Bevals usually gets a knock that their boots don't hold up. These were awesome.

These are boots with some serious wear and not much attention. I know many who love their DD's but have never heard of this before. I'd complain and have them either refund your money or worse case have them order you new DD's.

Good luck.

[Princess Lauren]

My boots have actually been too big since before it got cold. I usually have my boots on all day... Since having the soles replaced I don't let them get wet. But for the soles to come off after 2 months of wear? That's the boots.... not me. My Vogels have been soaked and the soles never budged.

So my legs bloat enough to have to wear 2 pairs of thick socks... and still be too big? This past weekend was in the 70's and they were still too big. Big enough I got sick of it and wore 1/2 chaps today.

[c.harrison1]

I have had a pair of dd customs for about 10 years. They still look pretty much brand new and yes I've ridden in them in pooring rain and walked through plenty of mud. It sounds like either the quality has gone waaaay downhill or there is something really defective about the boots. I would definitely call them about your boots and not what I would expect from a pair of dd's. Good Luck!

[Princess Lauren]

Ok, do I call Der Dau directly or the tack store I bought them through?

[c.harrison1]

Personally I would call der dau directly as it is their product. I had zippers put in my boots a few years ago and they were very nice to deal with.

[Princess Lauren]

Awesome, thanks.

[juniormom]

I would definitely call and ask them to replace them. They are too much money to not fit and to be falling apart! Good luck!

[Ritaroo]

I had the same problem with the feet in my DD's. They stretched out- it almost seemed like they used poorer quality leather on one foot. That's the one that has stretched out the most- I called them and they said that there are natural variances in the leather and wouldnt do anything. I get natural variances, but the boots were not cheap. I wont buy another pair.

[RugBug]

Do you wear covers on your boots? Or do you walk around the barn/show in them and then not clean them till the next morning? If so, the dirt/water/whatever else is on the ground is coroding the soles, so YES they will come off if you don't care for them properly.


Wow, you're really letting Der Dau off the hook. My trainer's Dehners only get cleaned before shows and they are 20 years old. I've had my custom Dehners for 6 years and they look brand new. I would be livid if the sole of my boots was coming off inside of a year.

[Van Gogh]

DON'T CALL DER DAU!!!!! They are completely worthless! I love love love my der dau's but would NEVER EVER EVER buy another pair from them. They were rude and wanted to charge me an arm and a leg when I was having the same issues. I always take mine to a luggage repair place to get any stitching work done on them and to my cleaners that does shoe repair for the soles. Love the repair work they do! I am currently ordering a new pair from Vogel. I know that I will always have trouble with my boots staying in good shape because of the number of horses I ride and I really don't mind all the repairs- just the complete disregard for customer service by Der Dau.

I'll let you know if Vogel is any better (when I get them in 16 weeks! :winkgrin:)

[JinxyFish313]

If you're getting custom or semi custom boots always get measured by someone who works for the boot maker directly. A random tack store employee doesn't necessarily know the in's and out's of a particular type of boot as well as someone who deals with them daily. So I would talk to DD directly and see what they can do for you.

[Quinn]

There is a new office manager there by the name of "Cynthia" and she is absolutely delightful. I am sending my customs back for the 6th time and the old Customer Service Rep was dreadful. Sheri has been gone since July and Cynthia told me yesterday, she is "all about making the customer happy." She immediately sent me a prepaid UPS sticker and indicated by phone and email that she would call me immediately upon receipt of the boots. These suckers were paid for and measure for in November of 2007 and then measured AGAIN in November of 2008. I got the latest pair with the left calf 12 3/4" and the right calf 13 1/4". Unbelievable. Will I ever buy another pair of customs from DerDau? Never. But, she is great to deal with and I believe she will help.

http://community.webshots.com/user/ballyduff

[Quinn]

If you're getting custom or semi custom boots always get measured by someone who works for the boot maker directly. A random tack store employee doesn't necessarily know the in's and out's of a particular type of boot as well as someone who deals with them daily. So I would talk to DD directly and see what they can do for you.


In 2007, I was measured by Joseph Der Jr. and in November 2008, I was measured by Jose Der Sr. Didn't work for me!

http://community.webshots.com/user/ballyduff

[agentdressage]

If you're getting custom or semi custom boots always get measured by someone who works for the boot maker directly. A random tack store employee doesn't necessarily know the in's and out's of a particular type of boot as well as someone who deals with them daily. So I would talk to DD directly and see what they can do for you.

Many tack stores are VERY good at measuring for custom boots. In fact, I have heard more complaints from people who were measured directly by a company rep than by a tack store employee. Der Dau is not very consistant with their quality but when they are correct they are awesome.
I would take the boots back to the store you purchased from. Have them remeasure you and compare with your old measurements. Der Dau is supposed to resole boots for you for no charge for the life of your boot. At least that is what they were offering last year. Screaming and yelling at the tack store doesn't solve anything. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. :) And I am sure that they are just as frustrated with Der Dau as you are. Good luck!

[Hunter/JumperMom]

DON'T CALL DER DAU!!!!! They are completely worthless! I love love love my der dau's but would NEVER EVER EVER buy another pair from them. They were rude and wanted to charge me an arm and a leg when I was having the same issues. I always take mine to a luggage repair place to get any stitching work done on them and to my cleaners that does shoe repair for the soles. Love the repair work they do! I am currently ordering a new pair from Vogel. I know that I will always have trouble with my boots staying in good shape because of the number of horses I ride and I really don't mind all the repairs- just the complete disregard for customer service by Der Dau.

I'll let you know if Vogel is any better (when I get them in 16 weeks! :winkgrin:)


Wow - Vogels are taking 16 weeks now? We were in the store on January 29, and they said 10 weeks but we would probably have the boots in 8!! But for an extra 200.00 they would have them done in 2 weeks!!!

[JustABay]

I just got my Der's back after having to send them back to have them taken in-Calf was about 3" too wide. They paid for the shipping, fixed them and sent them back for free, and the fit PERFECTLY now. They were so great when I called, and even said if I havd any more problems to call them and they would fix them again for me. WAY TO GO DER DAU!! Thanks for great service!!

[ForTheLoveOfHorse]

I was shocked to see this thread pop up!


DD has been nothing but a wonderful experience for me. I have Tall boots, paddock boots, and half chaps that I purchased, custom, from them all about 6 years ago. Prior to my DDs, nothing lasted more than a year. I still have my DDs and they work/look GREAT. They've needed two small fixes in the time that I've had them. I called DD direct both times, and they fixed them free of charge and quickly.

[xabbracadabra]

I have to say Der Dau has been nothing but great for me. I ordered my boots through a well known local tack store. They measured perfectly. My boots were done in about a month and they told me 6-8 weeks. I only really use them for showing becasue they are so expensive but they fit like a glove and have not streached out at all and I've had them for a while now. I think every place has its good and bad stories and you have to take everything you hear with a grain of salt.