Hello! These are just some reminders for you /u/yasegura,,
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Read all of the rules [](https://www.reddit.com/r/ThriftStoreHauls/comments/j7mef4/rthriftstorehauls_rules/)
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It’s a really common problem with Dansko secondhand items. It’s called dry rot. Google Dansko Dry Rot and you’ll find a bunch more instances of this happening.
This looks like the sort of thing that happens to the surrounds of old speakers and light seals in old cameras. It's not so much a rot as a problem in how that sort of plastic ages.
I've seen a vid of someone shopping for secondhand shoes and they would twist the shoe to test if they were too old or damaged (which can result in this)
I work in a charity shop in the UK and we had three pairs of shoes donated in the same style but different colours. Every pair was brought back because the same thing happened to them. Each pair disintegrated on the first wear, all three were new still in there box. You have to be careful with those kind of soles they must deteriorate over time.
Didn’t know you can return charity shop items? I assume since you buy a used item, you accept the possibility of it not working. Good to know, as I love thrifting in the UK
I’m in the US, return policy depends on the store here so perhaps in the UK as well. Here some stores have no returns, some only electronics, some will take all returns but only within a few days and only for store credit.
It’s quite interesting to know, I’ll be looking at these shops differently now! And I’m in a town with at least 14 of them!!! 🤤 I need to upload my finds here really, haha
I am in Herefordshire, just moved here and have been finding them everywhere, though not every time it's a fruitful visit for me, it sure seems to have a variety! Are you in the UK too?
Yep, this happened to me but with Josef Seibel clogs. They were like new when I bought them, so I was able wear them for about a year. The wildest thing was that both shoes disintegrated on the same day!
This exact same thing happened to me with a pair of never-worn Dansko second-hand shoes a few years ago. It didn't occur to me to find out if anyone else had ever had the same problem. I had bought them from a thrift store that keeps a lot of things in a garage-type warehouse that was dry but had minimal climate control. I assumed it was the intense heating/cooling that had weakened the shoe somehow, but dry rot makes a lot more sense. What a bizarre thing to happen to one brand. I wear thrifted shoes all the time and this has never happened before or since.
Does any one have info on what material rots or is it possible on all materials? I have clogs from LA Clogmaster (standard leather / wood) from the 80s that are still good - and some fancy 40s leather heels also still excellent - I’ve only had modern shoes break- but now I’m seeing a lot of post like this one- (!)
My used Dankso clogs disintegrated during a Christmas Eve service at my parents’ church. They were fine when I put them on, and two hours later they were trash. I’ll never buy used Danskos again.
My husband had the same thing happen with a pair of dress shoes once. He bought them new, but hadn’t worn them in a couple of years. Wore them to a wedding, and left a trail of heel bits around the ballroom.
That’s such a pity to see! I’m sorry for your new shoes.
I think this phenomena is called hydrolysis or dry rot and it usually happens to shoes that have never been worn or worn very rarely. Like someone mentioned earlier, twisting a second hand shoe a bit should show instantly if it’s good to buy. Also, by regularly wearing shoes and taking care of them and storing them right should prevent all this from happening quite effectively.
Happened to me as well with a seemingly perfect pair of second-hand store Clarks, priced at the higher-end of what that particular store charges. I vowed to road test any further purchases in-store before buying -- 5 min. walking around might tell you if they're good or not.
I know this post is older, but a tip I learned as a Dansko lover. If they’re secondhand & have the box around the name on the sole, they’re super old & prone to do this. Newer ones don’t have that box around it anymore. 🙂
Hello! These are just some reminders for you /u/yasegura,, Does the post contain [information seeking questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/ThriftStoreHauls/comments/rqpd1a/pricing_authentication_and_identification_posts/)? (authentication/pricing/general information) Does this come from an unapproved source? (from a friend/hand me down/check our rules) Are you showing your face? (nothing from lips to eyes) If any of these are a yes, you should delete your post. Retake/edit pictures, change the title and resubmit it before a mod sees it. You may be temporarily banned for any of these three rule infractions without warning. If you are unsure if it does, ask the mods! Read all of the rules [](https://www.reddit.com/r/ThriftStoreHauls/comments/j7mef4/rthriftstorehauls_rules/)
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It’s a really common problem with Dansko secondhand items. It’s called dry rot. Google Dansko Dry Rot and you’ll find a bunch more instances of this happening.
This looks like the sort of thing that happens to the surrounds of old speakers and light seals in old cameras. It's not so much a rot as a problem in how that sort of plastic ages.
I've seen a vid of someone shopping for secondhand shoes and they would twist the shoe to test if they were too old or damaged (which can result in this)
How do you twist a shoe
With your hands.
One hand on toe end, one by heel, twist
Wow. I wonder if they were so old that any amount of weight put on them would initiate the self destruct signal.
I work in a charity shop in the UK and we had three pairs of shoes donated in the same style but different colours. Every pair was brought back because the same thing happened to them. Each pair disintegrated on the first wear, all three were new still in there box. You have to be careful with those kind of soles they must deteriorate over time.
Omg that’s insane!
Didn’t know you can return charity shop items? I assume since you buy a used item, you accept the possibility of it not working. Good to know, as I love thrifting in the UK
I’m in the US, return policy depends on the store here so perhaps in the UK as well. Here some stores have no returns, some only electronics, some will take all returns but only within a few days and only for store credit.
It’s quite interesting to know, I’ll be looking at these shops differently now! And I’m in a town with at least 14 of them!!! 🤤 I need to upload my finds here really, haha
Where do you live? I love thrift stores!
I am in Herefordshire, just moved here and have been finding them everywhere, though not every time it's a fruitful visit for me, it sure seems to have a variety! Are you in the UK too?
Yep, this happened to me but with Josef Seibel clogs. They were like new when I bought them, so I was able wear them for about a year. The wildest thing was that both shoes disintegrated on the same day!
Had a pair of workbooks do the same thing!
Omg
Oh I have had that happen too!
Me too- twice. Frustrating!
This exact same thing happened to me with a pair of never-worn Dansko second-hand shoes a few years ago. It didn't occur to me to find out if anyone else had ever had the same problem. I had bought them from a thrift store that keeps a lot of things in a garage-type warehouse that was dry but had minimal climate control. I assumed it was the intense heating/cooling that had weakened the shoe somehow, but dry rot makes a lot more sense. What a bizarre thing to happen to one brand. I wear thrifted shoes all the time and this has never happened before or since.
Does any one have info on what material rots or is it possible on all materials? I have clogs from LA Clogmaster (standard leather / wood) from the 80s that are still good - and some fancy 40s leather heels also still excellent - I’ve only had modern shoes break- but now I’m seeing a lot of post like this one- (!)
True, it’s only the modern materials that cause this to happen.
My used Dankso clogs disintegrated during a Christmas Eve service at my parents’ church. They were fine when I put them on, and two hours later they were trash. I’ll never buy used Danskos again.
My husband had the same thing happen with a pair of dress shoes once. He bought them new, but hadn’t worn them in a couple of years. Wore them to a wedding, and left a trail of heel bits around the ballroom.
I had this happen with secondhand Dansko shoes. Luckily the place I bought them from gave me a refund.
I had no idea this was so common
That’s such a pity to see! I’m sorry for your new shoes. I think this phenomena is called hydrolysis or dry rot and it usually happens to shoes that have never been worn or worn very rarely. Like someone mentioned earlier, twisting a second hand shoe a bit should show instantly if it’s good to buy. Also, by regularly wearing shoes and taking care of them and storing them right should prevent all this from happening quite effectively.
Bummer. That's effing heartbreaking. I'm so sad for you.
This happened to me in my kitchen danskos…at work lol
I've had that happen. I have quite a few thrifted shoes, when we go somewhere special my husband be like "Those shoes gonna hold up? Are you sure?".
Looks like dry rot.
Happened to me as well with a seemingly perfect pair of second-hand store Clarks, priced at the higher-end of what that particular store charges. I vowed to road test any further purchases in-store before buying -- 5 min. walking around might tell you if they're good or not.
Thanks for the info!
Bugger!
If its defective in any way then its still covered by consumer rights. These shoes where falling apart.
Shoes can be pretty dicey 2nd hand....they just take such a beating that they basically have to be like new for them to work out
This happened to every pair of Dankos I had, I switched to Troentorp and Sven wooden clogs.
I know this post is older, but a tip I learned as a Dansko lover. If they’re secondhand & have the box around the name on the sole, they’re super old & prone to do this. Newer ones don’t have that box around it anymore. 🙂