I never thought I'd be writing a review…
I never thought I'd be writing a review like this because I've been a Nike customer for most of my life. I've owned multiple pairs of Nike basketball and athletic shoes over the years, and I've always believed I was paying more because of the quality and the company's reputation. In October 2025, at 19 years old, I spent $235 CAD on a pair of Air Max Plus shoes. That isn't a small purchase for me. I work hard for my money, and I bought them specifically for walking, expecting them to last. Instead, the sole has started separating because the glue has failed. For a premium-priced shoe that's covered by a two-year warranty, I expected much better. What disappointed me even more than the shoes themselves was how Nike handled the situation. I spent hours on hold trying to speak with customer service, only to be told to ship the shoes to Nike headquarters for assessment. I paid out of pocket to send them in, then had to pay again to have them shipped back after Nike concluded the issue was "not the result of manufacturing or design." Apparently, a sole separating from the shoe after normal walking doesn't qualify. That explanation is incredibly difficult to understand. If the adhesive holding the sole to the shoe fails during normal use, what exactly does the warranty cover? The experience left me feeling like my loyalty as a customer didn't matter. I've supported Nike for years because I believed in the brand, but when I needed that support returned, I was met with long wait times, extra costs, and a disappointing refusal to stand behind a product that simply didn't hold up. It's hard not to feel that everyday customers come second. Nike invests heavily in high-profile athletes and celebrity endorsements, yet someone who has faithfully bought their products for years struggles to get help with what seems like a legitimate warranty concern. This wasn't just about a pair of shoes. It was about trust. I expected a company with Nike's reputation to stand behind a $235 product. Instead, I was left with a defective pair of shoes, additional shipping costs, and the feeling that customer loyalty only matters until something goes wrong. I'm not looking for special treatment, I'm simply asking Nike to stand behind a premium product that failed under normal use. I hope someone at Nike takes the time to review my case again and restore the confidence I've had in this brand for years. After years of choosing Nike, this experience has genuinely made me decide to never buy another pair. That's something I never thought I'd say.