New Balance shoes

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made May 26, 2015 · , sent to the company Jun 3, 2015 · , published by CPSC Jun 17, 2015

   The product, in the report: New Balance NB sneakers model MT3010BK

   Sneakers are extremely slick and pose serious chance of causing slips and falls. New sneakers are very prone to slipping on slick tile and wet treated lumber decks. Sneakers get better with age but still slipping hazard.

   They are NB model MT3010BK sold by Academy sports. Manufactured in Viet Nam. Contacted manufacturer and they told me to return them to store and not interested in details.

   Several near incidents of near falls so far in both public and private places. Like walking on wet ice on ceramic tile if any water present.

   have had several near falls since I have owned these in both public and private places.

   Qualifications of complaint. Age 67 good health, fairly agile. Degrees in Chemical and Mechanical engineering. Served on ANSI Z124 sanitary ware committee and am very familiar with coefficient of friction studies in ceramic and acrylic bathtubs. Know what constitutes slipping issues and these are off chart.

   Model

   MT3010BK

   Bought from

   Academy Sports

   Bought

   Mar 1, 2015, about then

   Where

   Bartlett, Tennessee: Other

   Who was involved

   Age 67, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand New Balance Service mark is stylized NB, made or sold by NEW BALANCE ATHLETIC SHOE, INC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

2. Emergency room

   Made Feb 11, 2014 · , sent to the company Oct 21, 2014 · , published by CPSC Nov 4, 2014

   The product, in the report: womens’ dress shoe with heel (black in color)

   11/28/12- The consumer stated that she was taking her trash can inside her home, the pavement was wet and when she put pressure on the heel cap of the shoe this created a “Ski jump effect”, she slipped and fell on her right arm and fractured her right wrist. Immediately afterwards, she called an ambulance. 3 minutes later an aid car came and immobilized her right arm. Fifteen minutes later, an ambulance arrived and transported her to Overlake Hospital Emergency Room. The physician ordered X-rays and applied a cast to the consumer’s arm. The physician prescribed pain medication and referred her to a surgeon.

   12/3/12- The consumer visited a surgeon that suggested that she continue to wear the cast 7 more days and then come back for re-evaluation.

   12/10/12- The consumer was re-evaluated by the surgeon. The surgeon informed her that the wrist bones shifted and that she would have undergo surgery. She was scheduled for surgery a week later.

   12/17/12- The consumer had surgery to install a titanium plate and pins and a cast in her right wrist. The consumer was discharged that same day and schedule for re-evaluation every other week.

   1/17/13- The consumer was re-evaluated. The surgeon removed the cast and scheduled her for hand therapy for the next 6 months.

   On 1/22/13 when I returned to the retailer to advise them of my accident in the shoe and the falling risk, I was told the shoe is not to blame and they continued to sell the shoe.

   5/8/13 while beginning to wear the shoe again in dry weather I slipped again but was able to catch myself and avoid a fall.

   06/17/13- The consumer ended her hand therapy sessions and was diagnosed with arthritis in the finger on right hand.

   06/18/13- The consumer contacted the retailer and requested them to remove the wedge in the heel cap of the shoe. The retailer removed the wedge heel cap in the consumer’s. The consumer continued the use of the shoe. After the heel was changed to a flat heal and not a rocker heel the shoe has been worn many times without further incident.

   07/18/13- The consumer contacted the manufacturer and left a voice message with her contact information including a small narrative of the incident. The consumer was approached by the manufacturer’s insurance company. They requested a copy of her medical records, medical expenses and signed releases allowing them to speak with her physicians. The insurance company provided her a claim number and advised her to wait for a response.

   08/1/13- The consumer received a letter from the manufacturer’s insurance company stating that since her incident was an isolated event, she was not eligible for financial compensation.

   01/6/14- The consumer posted a review on the manufacturer’s website informing the users of the hazard that this shoes poses. The consumer visited the website two weeks after and noticed that the manufacturer had removed her review. My review praised the shoe but stated that for safety reasons to avoid a fall the rocker heal must be changed to a flat heel as I had done.

   2/10/14-The consumer contacted CPSC because he thinks this product poses a safety hazard to the consumers.

   Model

   W5A05BK

   Bought from

   Chick’s Shoes & Service, Washington

   Bought

   Sep 15, 2012

   Where

   Mercer Island, Washington: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 59, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand New Balance, made or sold by NEW BALANCE ATHLETIC SHOE, INC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received

3. Not said

   Made Jan 8, 2014 · , sent to the company Jan 16, 2014 · , published by CPSC Feb 3, 2014

   The product, in the report: New Balance WT411GP2 Size 8

   On 11/21/2013 I purchased a new pair of New Balance tennis shoes at Shoe Carnival model # WT411GP2. I wore them for quite a while without incident and then one day I wore them to town and it began to rain. I went into a store with the shoes being wet and it was like walking on wet ice! I thought maybe it was just that store’s floor but it was like that in every store’s floors. I finally had to give up trying to shop and go home to change shoes. I tried emailing the company about the problem but they did not contact me. I’m not the only person having this problem either. I have talked to other people on Facebook who have recently bought New Balance tennis shoes that are having the same problem. To look at the shoes--they have great tread--you wouldn’t think they would be a problem, but just try to walk on when they are wet!

   Model

   WT411GP2

   Bought from

   Shoe Carnival

   Bought

   Nov 21, 2013

   Where

   New London, North Carolina: Other Public Property/Office

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand New Balance, made or sold by NEW BALANCE ATHLETIC SHOE, INC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Unspecified

4. Hurt, care not known

   Made Jul 18, 2012 · , sent to the company Aug 30, 2012 · , published by CPSC Sep 14, 2012

   The product, in the report: Sneakers

   The caller stated that he received this pair of sneakers in replacement for another shoe he had sent in approximately 2 months ago. However, he received minor open blisters on his pinky toes after wearing it for 2 days. He wore these sneakers for a period of 14 hours per day. He did not receive medical attention.

   The caller stated that he had never experienced any incidents with the previous model 811 he had before. 5/2012 - He was advised by the firm that the 812 model was similar to the 811.

   7/17/12 The manufacturer was contacted and he was advised that they would be offering an option to choose a replacement from other models.

   The caller feels that the sneakers are unsafe and should be reported.

   UPDATE: Regarding the new model 812 New Balance shoes: I purchased the supposedly similar 811 model for many years. New Balance did away with the 811 model and has stated many times that their model 812 is a direct replacement. It is not. After only two 14 hours days of wearing a new pair of 812 model shoes I had blisters on the tops of both of my pinky toes. I stopped wearing the 812 model shoes and went back to an older 811 pair I happened to have. I cannot wear the 812 model shoes and will not wear them in the future. Only two 14 hours days of wear resulted in open blisters on my feet. The 811 model shoes never did this -and I have purchased many pairs of 811 shoes. I called New Balance to report the open blisters on my feet. In response a supervisor called me back. He expressed tonal and verbal irritation that I had made an injury report in the first place. While it’s true that New Balance has offered to replace the current pair of 812 shoes, they were also irritated that I called them to report product related injuries. The 812 is not a replacement for the 811. The claims of New Balance in this regard are not only unfounded, their recommendations are resulting in product related injuries.

   Model

   812

   Serial number

   n/a

   Bought from

   New balance

   Bought

   May 31, 2012, about then

   Where

   Salt Lake City, Utah: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 45, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand New Balance, made or sold by NEW BALANCE ATHLETIC SHOE, INC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Level of care not known

5. Seen by a doctor or nurse

   Made Jan 4, 2012 · , sent to the company Jan 12, 2012 · , published by CPSC Feb 3, 2012

   The product, in the report: New Balance Rock and Tone Sneakers

   I am writing about New Balance Rock and Tone and [REDACTED] sneakers. I purchased 1 pair of New Balance in July and 1 pair in August. I also purchased 1 pair of [REDACTED] in August. I wore all 3 pairs daily. I did wear the New Balance more frequently than the [REDACTED]. I am a full-time student and wore the sneaks on campus which I walked across and back 5 days a week. I also walked 3-5 miles at night wearing one of the 3 pairs. I wore one of the 3 pairs 7 days a week from late July until mid-November. I was walking in the New Balance in August, lost my balance and fell. I have never lost my balance and fallen I was a little stunned when it happened because it seemed so odd. It happened once more a few weeks later and again I thought what the heck how did I just fall. I started having severe pain in my buttock bones I thought it must be from the fall although I fell forward on my knee not on my butt. I couldn’t figure out why I had such severe pain in the buttocks. I went to the Dr. in late Sept and had an x-ray because I was experiencing such pain. It got to the point that I could not bend over or go up a flight of stairs without extreme pain. The xray did not show any type of break. The Dr. said maybe hairline fracture. Nothing I could do. By Nov I was in agony, still am, so I [REDACTED] butt bone pain. I came across a lot of info on the [REDACTED] and New Balance toning, shaping shoes. I saw that people were complaining of the same simptoms as I was having. I realized that it was the sneaks. I thought it was the fall but then realized that the shoes are what made me fall. It all made sense. I immediately stopped wearing the shoes but I am still in such pain almost 2 months later. Going up a flight of stairs is agony. Bending over is just as bad. I have always been very active. I have never had a hip, foot, leg, back, buttock bone, or tailbone problem in my life. Now I am in pain all the time. I cannot move in bed at night. I have to sit up to move from one side to the other and then I cannot stay on my side for very long because my hip bones hurt so badly. I am a person that was very active. I do a lot around the house for myself and also for others. Not anymore. This pain has severely limited my activities and it is actually very depressing. Something needs to be done to make these shoe companies pull these shoes off the shelf. I am afraid that I am in for this pain for the rest of my life and it is making me ill just thinking about this. I never dreamed that a shoe could do so much damage but I am living proof that it has. Please tell me what recourse I may have againest these two companies. My insurance does not cover physical therapy or chiropractor services. I don’t even know if they would help but I just want the pain to go away so I can get back to normal. Thank you!

   Model

   Rock and Tone Sneakers

   Bought from

   Marshalls, New York

   Bought

   Jul 22, 2011, about then

   Where

   Oswego, New York: Other

   Who was involved

   Age 51, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand New Balance, made or sold by NEW BALANCE ATHLETIC SHOE, INC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

6. Emergency room

   Made Jun 29, 2011 · , published by CPSC Jul 22, 2011

   The product, in the report: New Balance Rock and Tone 1442 Toning Shoes-Women’s Silve with a light blue “N”

   As I stepped off my porch my right foot touched down on the ground but the shoe caused my weight to lean to the outside of my foot. As my foot rolled under me I heard my ankle pop and I fell to the ground. I was taken to an emergency care facility and then later to a foot/ankle surgeon who diagnoised me with an ankle fracture and a 3rd degree sprain. I have been put in a fracture boot for several weeks and may still have to have surgery depending on how well my body heals.

   My concern is that people are getting hurt and the shoe manufactures are not removing these toning shoes from the market place.

   This injury has caused me to not be able to drive, or do many of my regular duties as a mother and a wife. My marriage has been strand by the pressure of my husband not only helping to take care of me but also having to do my normal responsibilities like grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of our child. Within the first 2 weeks after my injury my parents had to make 2 separeate drives from NJ to MD to take care of my children while my husband was at work because I was not able to look after my children. No one should have to go through this because of a shoe.

   Model

   WW1442SB

   UPC

   I don’t know

   Serial number

   I don’t know

   Bought from

   famous footwear

   Bought

   Jan 7, 2011, about then

   Where

   Upper Marlboro, Maryland: Mobile/Manufactured Home

   Who was involved

   Age 31, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand New Balance, made or sold by NEW BALANCE ATHLETIC SHOE, INC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources