DO NOT buy K-Way products from Cape Union Mart

My warranty is not being honoured. I an avid hiker and was very happy with my old K-Way boots that lasted nearly 4 years. When the leather hardened and they got worn through, I replaced them with the exact same ones. One month in and the stitching on the ends started coming loose rendering them unwearable and no longer water proof. I returned them in the original box, in the original bag, with the original tags and with the receipt to the same Cape Union Mart that I bought them at. I was told replacement wasn't an option and they were sent to be repaired.

I have now been told that they are "not the same boots that I bought" and they are being returned without repair. It was explained to them that I do a fair amount of hiking across mountainous terrain in the Waterberg (the boot is described as "designed to withstand volatile terrain") but I am being accused of lying and returning old boots. This is COMPLETELY unacceptable. I purchased them knowing that there is a one-year warranty and that my previous boots lasted me 4 years. K-Way boots are clearly not designed to actually be hiked in if 1 month of usage makes them "old boots". I take great exception to being accused of lying as a result of using a product as described.

If you actually use outdoor gear for outdoor purposes and are a frequent hiker, DO NOT buy boots from Cape Union Mart. Do not trust that, as a consumer with consumer rights, a warranty will be honoured. I wasted R1600 (plus an extra R1000 for boots in the interim while those are being repaired) on unusable boots. If these boots aren't designed to withstand "volatile terrain", do not describe them as such. If you rely on products having a valid warranty, DO NOT buy K-Way products.