On 2016-02-05 2:55 PM, jmcquown wrote:

> Give up, Janet. She'll never get it.
>
> I bought a pair of sandals from a known retailer that lasted 20 years. I
> bought another pair a couple of years ago, exact same style and brand.
> They're still going strong.

You may consider yourself lucky. I used to buy a brand of boots that I
wore a lot summer and winter and they lasted for years. Over the years
they started needing more frequent replacement and soon got to the point
where they did not even last a year. I had a similar experience with
loafers. I had a brand I liked and got a couple years out of them, then
only a year. I stopped buying them after wearing out two pairs in less
than a year. I switched brands... went to Rocksport. I had one pair that
last a couple years and were always comfortable. When it came time to
repair them there was nothing of the same value.

As for sandals, I have a fondness for Birkenstocks. I bought my first
pair in Germany for $50 but when it came time to replace them they were
$150 here.... plus tax. When I questioned the price I was told it
costs a lot to ship them..... not $100. I waited until my next trip to
Germany to replace them. They have dropped in price here, and I have to
admit that they last a good long time.