Poor service

I wish to express my dissatisfaction with the way I was handled at your store regarding a pair of Toughees school shoes purchased at Jet Eerste River in September last year. The buckle on the shoe has broken. When I returned the shoe to the store, I was told that I could not bring it back after five months, despite the fact that the warranty period is clearly six months. This was both confusing and frustrating. Furthermore, the shoes were not worn for the entire month of December, which strongly indicates that this is a manufacturing defect rather than wear and tear. To make matters worse, I was asked where the broken buckle was, as if it is unusual for a buckle to break, and as though my daughter was expected to retrieve and keep a broken piece. I found this response unreasonable and inappropriate. This experience raises a serious concern: does this mean that families like ours are now expected to purchase new school shoes every six months? We make sacrifices and choose Toughees specifically because we are paying for quality and durability, not disposable footwear. I expected better service and a more professional approach, especially given the warranty terms and the reputation of the Toughees brand. I would appreciate this matter being reviewed and a fair resolution provided.