Has Birkenstock quality changed over the last few years?
Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like Birkenstocks aren’t quite the same value they used to be.
I still really like them and own several pairs, but with some models now easily costing €120–150+, I find myself questioning the pricing more and more. Some of my older pairs somehow felt a little more substantial too, although that might just be nostalgia.
I’ve also wondered whether anything changed after the company changed ownership a few years ago and started moving more into the premium/luxury direction.
I still buy them because I can usually get them through a friend’s employee discount, which makes the price a lot easier to justify. At those prices, I still think they’re absolutely worth it. But honestly, if I had to pay full retail every time, I’d probably own a lot fewer pairs.
Anyone here who’s been wearing Birkenstocks for a long time noticed something similar? Do you think the quality has actually changed, or have the prices just reached a point where we naturally expect more?