? about L. L. Bean return policy.

Yes, you could return them to LLBean. And yes, they would exchange them. Once maybe. -- I have a friend who worked at LLBean over the Christmas season last year (poor woman...   She's going to be a substitute teacher this year and she says she's sure that will be easier than working retail during Christmas...) -- But I digress. She said that LLBean tags those people who are "problem" returners, i.e., those who try to return something like shoes that have been around the block for several years, or anything that's just old. Of course they also keep track of all our purchases. So if someone who buys a lot and never returns anything comes in once or twice with something that's obviously just been used a lot and tries to return it, they'll let that go. But if it's someone who's only ever bought one or two things, then tries to return them after they're old, LLBean will take it back once. But then that person gets a red flag near their name. And, thanks to computers, a dishonest person can't try this in a store in Vermont and then try it again in Virginia and get away with it. Our history follows us. 

Said perfectly, you probably could return them, but that doesn't always mean you should.  You've said yourself the shoes ds is wearing aren't defective, he's hard on them. 

How old are the shoes? I agree with the difference between "could" return them and "should". I know you said he's hard on shoes, but if they're six months old, I'd probably return them. But if they're a year old and his everyday shoes, nope.

If you'd only had the shoes for a couple months and there are already holes in the top, then yes I would return them. If he's had them a while and this is normal wear and tear, then no.

I returned a backpack to LL Bean when the zipper broke. They replaced it no questions asked.

Am I the only person who would never think of returning something, after six months?! I had no idea you even could...

I think you are lucky to get 8 months out of any gym shoe, regardless of what you pay, especially if someone is hard on them and doing something that wears his toes. Is he a skateboarder or something? I bought my teen sons shoes every few months just from daily wear and PE at school. No being hard on them. Whether I spend 30 or 120 dollars does not seem to matter.

Maybe your son needs a specialized shoe or maybe he should get the cheaper Wal Mart type shoes so they can be replaced more often. LL bean may be made better, but they are not indestructible. It sounds like whatever your son is doing is beyond even their shoes. That would not be a defect. That may be your son using the wrong shoe for his activities. Maybe go to a sporting goods store to learn about what shoes are best for his needs?

Shoes seem to be the most expensive part of parenting!

How long are his toe nails? I once had a pair of running shoes that developed a hole over the big toe. I needed a pedicure, but was too busy to get one.

Seems like a stupid question, but are they the right size? The only time my son has worn a hole over his big toe (barring the Nike's this summer that really were defective) was when they were too small and his toes didn't have anywhere else to go.