r/nps_solovair

This is a rant about DHL, but also Solovair's own mistake having been the spark to set this story ablaze.

I got my Greasy Leathers in, because I went for US sizing incorrectly, which lead me down a rabbit hole. Long story short, I found out my shoe size with the power of science. I discovered I'm about a 9.5 abouts US, and in this case, I'm an 8.5 in Solovairs sizing, supposedly. We'll see.

Well, having returned my oversized 11.5s because wow they were huge, they finally delivered the RMA shipment today! The only problem, was that there were 7.5s in the packaging. Not just in the box, but even the box said 7.5s and I ordered 8.5s. Oh well, just a wasted of time re-delivering them back to the UK, no big deal right? Right...?

So, I get the return label and all is well, tell the courier to pick it up, and begin juggling a situation about the size 11 soles I wanted to include in the return I didn't get a chance to the pass previous. Well, this got complicated, fast. When dealing with the question to support, I selected "Return" in their help section, thinking I could speak with an agent about my support inquiry. I was dead wrong. They basically shot me a "You can return your product at this link!" and directed me to the place I had already well been acquainted with. I've sent the help@nps-shoes.com mailing address follow-ups regarding a serious issue with the shipping number.

What happened? I saw the DHL site tracking the order, and since I was having so many returns with Solovair, I figured I'd open a DHL account to have a neat and organized list of the shipments. No problem right? Just whip up an account using the email that I own, and am receiving tracking information at. The link is right in my email if anything goes wrong.

Boy, was I wrong. That nullified the tracking number.

So, I get on the chat with DHL, and they give me this whole "Well, your Waybill isn't updating in my system. You should contact the person who issued it."

Basically; "My system isn't working, and I don't feel like dealing with you." energy.

Mind you, the courier had already arrived and left and I didn't even notice. They just left the "We missed you" tag on the door, because I was entirely unable to even track or contact them due to the DHL runaround I'd just been forced into.

Now I've got a missed courier, a dead waybill, no idea how to actually get a human at Solovair on the line, and a pair of boots ready to be shipped with a potentially faulty tracking number.

I *tried* to call DHL as well. They won't even let you make an inquiry without a Waybill. Good for me, because I have one, right? Well... Since it's not in their systems, voided or whatever it may be, the system doesn't recognize it, and keeps saying "Incorrect entry" and keeps hounding me for the Waybill number.

I then get on the line with another agent from DHL in chat, as none of the Solovair emails have been returned, and they schedule another courier to come grab the package tomorrow. Good for me, right?

Well........ Because it ALWAYS gets better, right???

I just got an email. My package, which is still in my possession, has somehow left the DHL facility, and will be in the UK in two days.

What in ***GODS NAME*** is going on over at DHL?? Hassle-free returns?
This has probably been the most nightmarish situation I've been in in a long time. I'm considering my blood has been cursed somewhere along the lines, the day this has become.

So, hopefully I can speak to the courier tomorrow, not that DHL has been of any *real* help up unto this point... I don't expect the courier to be able to really do too much either. The only upside would be that their system rejects the package, forcing me to dig deeper in order to solve this issue by... I don't know... Hitting "Contact Us" on Solovair's website, only to be emailed robo-response messages? It's not even a No-Reply email, either. It's just not getting a single response.

I don't know what to do at this point. So I'm going to hand off the box to to DHL pickup, and if it vanishes into the sunset never to be seen again, that's truthfully going to land in Solovair's lap if I'm responding to a bot account not properly tagged @ noreply..

What would you do in this situation? They sent little baby boots. 7.5s? Spending almost $300 on boots that I can't even force to fit was not on my bucket list of expenditures this week.

DHL's customer service by the way... Awful... Just awful... "Please send me a confirmation." they said they would. I have yet to see anything.

Absolute nightmare.

Those 11.5 boots? Returned with zero problem. This is a freak accident more or less, and I'm suffering for it.

https://preview.redd.it/uxfjzcgyg02h1.png?width=218&format=png&auto=webp&s=83fa21bd2ccf1e97e63cd4f9fc382b796b5e6b69

From what I see on the sub, there’s been an increase in sole splitting after just a few uses and other general quality issues. Is it just a case of “you see more people willing to offer complaints than positives” as with most things or is it a new trend with Solovair? Just worried now I’ve bought them, especially as seconds, they won’t last long.

Let me know, thanks :)

I had chronic back and foot pain. Couldn't walk at the end of the day after wearing docs.

Was recommended the shanked Soloviar Gibson shoe.

Within three days of wear ALL MY PAIN WENT. It's like my walking and posture improved. No pain.

It's like wearing slippers with great arch support (shout out to the foam insoles).

10/10 I can forgive the rub off leather treatment flaking, I don't care.

End.

It is not the most gripping video, but he shows how he cuts off the old sole, sands it down to the welt, glues on the new sole, and then finishes it. I guess in theory if you had a sanding belt and some PVA glue you could DIY it at home.

I have two pairs of steel toed Grinders, but unfortunately my black pair have cracked so badly that I think it’s time to get new boots. I’ve noticed in my grinders that I struggle to walk significantly more in them than in my dr martens(getting tired easier, aching quicker, though I do have arthritis so this is a factor.).

I don’t know if this is due to the sole being heavier or due to the steel toe. I know the toe cap will add a slight bit of weight on vs the astronauts, but I’d like feedback from someone who has owned both steel cap Gripfast & astronauts if the weight difference is significant enough for me to avoid the steel capped ones.

Is it just me or does solovair leather scrape and cut ridiculously easy? I walk around even in places like shopping centres and even just walks in parks and the smallest bumps and trips gash,cut and graze my boots. Always treated my docs the exact same and do nothing physically intensive in them or these but the solovairs just simply dont hold up at all in terms of durability is this just a fault with my boots or is this normal?

Basically what is saying in the title, what's the difference between the leather and foam insoles if there is one? Is there a benefit to one over the other?

I've seen people here say that I should rest my boots for twice as long as I've worn them, and also that I should leave them for a full day after wearing them. If I've only worn them for a couple of hours do I need to leave them for a full day to dry out?