Thread: Good cobbler in Auckland? And a whinge about Vivo Barefoot shoes

So I finally shelled out $470 for a fancy pair of Vivobarefoot boots (https://vivobarefoot.nz/collections/...41995466932375) after much review reading and research.
Not my top pick in colour, but that's all they had so OK.
Received them, and they seemed great.
Super good grip in the shitty clay mud where I am, kept my feet dry and warm, comfy, no complaints.
Then a couple days ago (about 2 weeks after getting them) I felt a pain in back of heel, and the leather inside has torn and bunched up.
Bugger!
Got in touch with the distributor in Aussie, sent them pics etc and they say yes, that's a genuine warranty issue.
Their solution?
Send the shoes back to us in Aus, they'll pay maximum $22 towards the cost.
But they don't have much in stock in my size, and the only other pair the same model is in a hideous grey colour with black and white soles, like a gangsta rapper crossed with a zebra.
No thanks I said, how about you pay me a partial refund and I'll get the them fixed locally myself?

They said yep, we'd rather do that than chuck them in the landfill.

They offered a maximum of $40 to cover the repair! $40 to repair $470 boots?

Alternatively I can send them back to them in Aus and they'll get them repaired over there and send back. But this will take "weeks", and no doubt they won't cover full postage costs back to Aus. Plus I've got no boots for weeks on end, and I use them every bloody day.
So anyway, now I'm going to find a good cobbler locally and get a quote to repair it, send it to them, and ask them to pay the full cost. It'll be more than $40 obviously!
If they don't agree, I'll complain to head office in London and ask them to send me a new pair.

Anyone know a cobbler in Auckland who's any good?
I don't fancy trying the key cutting joint down at the local mall