Birkenstock Physical store

I wrote this review 3 years ago, and I have a **MAJOR EDIT to make, in favour of Birkenstock…………………………… “I won’t buy Birkenstocks again! – I am now onto my third pair of the Birkenstock style Mayari and I have finally given up them (and Birkenstocks altogether). I am not hard on shoes and find that they generally last me a very long time. Not so… Read more

Birkenstocks!! I purchased my first pair five years ago and in less than 12 months, the toe strap broke away from the foot bed. I had them fixed by a shoe repairer and then the other one broke in the same place. I contacted Birkenstock Australia only to be told that it’s common with this style (so basically, suck it up!). It was a long time before I purchased another pair but I finally decided to give them another go. Again, less than 12 months and the same problem. The third and most recent pair were bought for me last Christmas (2022) and have already broken in the same place. On top of the strap issue, I also find that the cork disintegrates quickly (no, they haven’t gotten wet), compromising the entire foot bed and ultimately causing sore feet. Birkenstock may have made a name for themselves in the past, as being high quality but sadly, I think that is history. I won’t buy Birkenstocks again.”

**If you are purchasing the style ‘Mayari’, PLEASE PAY EXTRA FOR LEATHER!! I think a lot of people are confused by the term ‘BIRKOFLOR’. This is Birkenstock’s name for IMITATION LEATHER, synthetic. It’s very weak, compared to leather.

I had no idea I wasn’t buying leather until my third pair of Birkoflor sandals broke after a short time (as per the above review). Since that review, I have bought the same sandal in leather, and the toe strap outlasted the sole. I have absolutely punished these (leather) sandals and the toe strap never gave up.

Why did I try these sandals again?? Every other brand that I tried punished my feet. I went back to Birkenstocks and my feet have been thanking me ever since. I WILL continue to buy Birkenstocks, but ONLY GENUINE LEATHER.

I purchased my first pair of Birkenstock shoes based on recommendations from several friends. From the first wear they emitted a noticeable squeak with every step. After three weeks, having determined this was not a breaking-in issue, I chose to return them—particularly given the $250 price point. The returns process was unsatisfactory. I did… Read more

not receive a case number and received no communication confirming when the shoes arrived at or departed from the facility. After three weeks of no updates I contacted the store and was told only that the shoes were “somewhere in transit back,” with no estimated return date. When I finally received the shoes and visited the store to collect them, staff advised there was nothing wrong with the pair and told me there was nothing they could do.

I am very disappointed with the experience. I paid a premium for footwear that I cannot comfortably wear due to the noise, and the lack of transparency and responsiveness in the returns process compounded the issue. The shoes are now kept in my vehicle as an emergency pair and are otherwise unusable.

My best friend replaced her shoes after I did and she has reported the same issue. Its not her first pair of birkenstocks and she is also disappointed.

Incredible comfort. Live in these! – Birkenstock have been my staple shoe forever and I have not managed to wear out a single pair yet. The most comfortable open shoe, with support and grip, I can't imagine there's any terrain they can't handle. Now the world has finally caught up on how amazing these shoes are, there are so many styles and designs to choose from it's hard not to buy… Read more

multiple pairs, but one pair really will last you years and years and years. That's saying something when you're walking the equivalent of 70 marathons each year (according to my Fitbit). I could not recommend more.

Great quality – I bought my Birkenstock’s about 4 years ago. Live in them in summer every year. The leather is still great, the soles are still in good condition. Have taken them all over travelling through Europe and South America. The sizing is weird, I have a narrow pair and I wouldn’t necessarily class my foot as narrow. You need to try them on rathe than purchase online. Show details

Excellent service – My husband and I went into the Melbourne store on Saturday 30th October and a staff member greeted us immediately in a very friendly manner and asked if she could be of any assistance. I explained what I was wanting and left with a pair of thongs after many tries. The girl who served me couldn't have been more helpful. Show details

Purchased in October 2024 at Highpoint- In February 2025 the toe strap broke- Contacted Birkenstock head office because i felt 4 months was not the life span I was expecting from this brand. Had already spoken to local Birkenstock Shoe Repairer and he advised that because the straps were synthetic he could not fix them. Advised Birkenstock of his… Read more

response.They advised we could post them in to head office but it would be at our expense. There was not an offer of a replacement. Went to another shoe repairer and he offered to replace the synthetic with leather for $80 which we have accepted because the manufacturer was not really interested in helping us. I have been a Birkenstock wearer for over 30 years but this is not the company that I am used to. They had a reputation for quality and these sandals are not quality. My mistake! My cost. Lesson Learned.

I agree w many of the other reviews on this site. I will not waste another $ on buying this brand. Have attempted 3 times to use repair service and get no reply. Indicates to me they are overwhelmed with faulty product! Not a good look at all. Selling expensive shoes, offering a sustainable repair service to get more $. Not so environmentally… Read more

driven I suspect. These shoes are expensive and should last longer than 14months. The leather has actually split on both sandals at the same point. I first thought I may have done something but I have shoes from other brands 10yrs old w only heal wear down. Leather is still perfectly intact. More than disappointing! Not a brand to support.

Very Bad customer service – I have always loved Birkies..but I think I am over them as a company... I have just had the worst experience with their online shop, they sent me the same wrong sandals 3 times in a row, literally useless and made it my problem to keep returning them and reordering..very unhelpful, so 1 month after I tried to buy a pair, I have nothing, except frustration! I am done with this brand.

Dismissive customer service – Have noticed a serious dip in quality - my super Birkis would normally last 3 years - these have not even lasted 1. Sole has torn on left shoe and Birkenstock Australia just dismissed it as “wear and tear”. Been wearing the same model since 1994. Seriously underwhelming. Show details

Rubbish Quality – Less than 6 months old and they have fallen to bits. The sole has completed separated on one and partially on the other. Took them back to footgear who basically said it’s my fault for wearing them in the rain. I agreed. I had been out on a sunny day and it started to rain. I asked the sales person should I have taken them off and walked in bare… Read more

feet? Her response was Yes. That’s what she does and what I should have done.

They were sent away for repair assessment and if I pay $80 they will fix them. For close to $200 I’ll be takiNg this up with ACCC as they are clearly not fit for purpose.

Poor quality – My partner has owned 2 pairs of Birkenstocks both of which have fallen apart in less than a year, and by ‘fallen apart', I mean the glue has disintegrated and the straps have separated from the base. Not sure what’s happened to this brand but the quality is now horrendous and I would not recommend them to anybody. Show details

Birkenstock Quality Decline – I brought a pair of Birkenstocks for my wife and within 10 months the soles are almost worn through. They are not daily wear. The response from Birkenstock states below ‘ ‘Looking at the image, I’d say that shoe wearer is quite hard on their heels, and have simply worn the heels out. Even if this pair was under a year old, this is simply wear and… Read more

tear, and not a fault of the shoes themselves’

What a poor response! I could buy a pair of shoes from Kmart and they would last much longer than 10 months. Quality and customer service is appalling premium price, average quality.

Sorry it’s the fault of poor quality shoes! #birkenstockaustralia #birkenstock

I won’t buy Birkenstocks again! – I am now onto my third pair of the Birkenstock style Mayari and I have finally given up them (and Birkenstocks altogether). I am not hard on shoes and find that they generally last me a very long time. Not so Birkenstocks!! I purchased my first pair five years ago and in less than 12 months, the toe strap broke away from the foot bed. I had them… Read more

fixed by a shoe repairer and then the other one broke in the same place. I contacted Birkenstock Australia only to be told that it’s common with this style (so basically, suck it up!). It was a long time before I purchased another pair but I finally decided to give them another go. Again, less than 12 months and the same problem. The third and most recent pair were bought for me last Christmas (2022) and have already broken in the same place. On top of the strap issue, I also find that the cork disintegrates quickly (no, they haven’t gotten wet), compromising the entire foot bed and ultimately causing sore feet.

Birkenstock may have made a name for themselves in the past, as being high quality but sadly, I think that is history. I won’t buy Birkenstocks again.

Very bad customer service!will never come back again! – Vary unhappy with the customer service. My partner purchased a pair of work shoes in Mar 21 and there are two big cracks found on the bottom of the shoes in Dec. We went to Brikenstock Karrinyup on Friday morning, they told us that they will send the shoes back to their warehouse on the same day and get back to us on Monday because my partner… Read more

needed the shoes to work. However, we had to follow up on Monday since we didn’t hear anything from the store and we found out that the shoes were still sitting in the store! we got told to wait again in spite of that my partner needed the shoes to work on Tue. I went back to the store again on Tuesday after work to pick up the replacement because they told they couldn’t repair the shoes. However, they wanted me to bring back the broken shoes that my partner was wearing at work to get the replacement, even though I told that I will bring it back on Thursday because my partner was working full day in the restaurant . It’s ridiculous that they took so many days to sort out this quality issue and ignoring the customer’s needs. We will have to go to the store 4th time to get a replacement of the faulty products. Waste of time!

Poor quality and service – I purchased some Bennington black boots from them less than 5 months ago, and they have a hole in the sole. I have my receipt and original packaging. They said it wasn't the quality of the shoe-it was my walking pattern. So I showed him my 2 year old Dr Martens soles, which hardly have a dent in them and asked why these hadn't worn out-to which… Read more

he had no reply. Very poor quality and just not worth the money. I have shoes from them that are 15 years old. Clearly their quality's gone downhill.

Shoes falling apart – The straps on my Mayari are falling apart and Birkenstock offer no assistance. They even went as far as saying they were fake (they were bought at a physical store). I wouldn’t recommend. Show details

Birkenstock=Zero care factor – After wearing birkenstocks for years with rising prices I decided to try this new rubber version they were great for a few weeks but then developed a squeak every step first one the shortly after the other. Basically unwearable. So I contacted birkenstock and they couldn't blow me off quick enough claimed it's my foot that's the problem and I… Read more

should try wearing them with a pair of socks.... And that was it. For years I was under this misinterpretation that birkenstock have great customer care and they really give a dam about there customers... Not the case... They have become super expensive and sadly very poor quality. Time to start supporting other brands because this one has gone to the dogs.

It’s Been 8 Weeks And The Cork CRACKED – I purchased my Birks 8 weeks ago. I returned to where I bought them. They said that Birkenstock replied to them that it’s a Wear/Tear issue. Terrible customer service!!! Clearly not a good shoe. 8 weeks I’ve had them!!!  Show details

Birkenstock- Nurture your customers! – I love the comfort level and style of my Birkenstock shoes. Clearly they have been developed based on a love and understanding of the foot. Customers understand that this level of integrity costs more. Unfortunately Birkenstock has neglected to support the wonderful longevity of their shells by making available replacement laces and footbeds. … Read more

Just imagine how nurtured a customer would feel if on opening the box containing their gorgeous new $280 desert boots they found a set of replacement laces!

Quality no more!! – My husband and I had our last pair of Birkenstock’s for 10 years, we bought them from Germany. Finally the cork had split and we decided to buy new ones from a store in Manly, Sydney. We bought two each, thinking it’s a worthwhile investment for another ten years. Not even one year later, my husbands corks have split, he only wears them on… Read more

weekends and they’ve never been wet. Meanwhile my sandals still give me pain and blisters on the arch, even though I’ve been wearing them often for ten months! So bitterly disappointed. I will never buy again, ever.

Shame on you birkenstock Australia – My old Birk's $79 lasted thirteen years replacing the soles twice. New ones cost $169 and ten months later the cork split use only on weekends. Birkinstock Australia's Conclusion, sorry mate it's wear and tear.

Broken shoe within 3 weeks of use – Hole in the side of shoe poor quality. Has lasted well at all . Show details

Caused knee pain after wearing for a month – Sadly after wearing for a month I began to get sharp pain inside knee area when squatting and bending the knee. Show details