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Report: #693422

Complaint Review: The Good Feet Store - Brookline Massachusetts

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  • Reported By: Guster25 — Boston Massachusetts United States of America
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  • The Good Feet Store 275 Harvard Street Brookline, Massachusetts United States of America

The Good Feet Store Deceiving, Hard-Sell Practices, Horrible Customer Service, Only Gain was Pain! Brookline, Massachusetts

*Consumer Suggestion: Thats

*UPDATE Employee: Good Feet Store Brookline is a reputable honest customer service store which has provided over 1200 satisfied customers with pain relief.

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My complaint with the store is on numerous levels. I am very unhappy with the misleading claims regarding the product and particularly the service I received. I was experiencing excessive metatarsal foot pain at the top of the foot and the arch of my left foot was flat.

When I entered the Brookline store on January 13, 2011, Jennifer assisted me with a personal "fitting," which consisted of asking me my shoe sizing and bringing out various pre-fabricated insoles to match against my feet.  She kept touting how she is certain from personal experience and from all the customers that the product works for everyone and all foot pain conditions and will fix the alignment of my feet.  She declared how doctors, chiropractors, and podiatrists all highly recommend the product line and refer their patients to the store and that the product is especially reliable because it was designed by a foot doctor.

She really made the product, simply a pre-fabricated, hard, and cheap mold of plastic, sound like a cure-all for foot pain, promising that the 3-step system will work and fix my pain guaranteed. She explained how all the arch supports have a life-long guarantee and can be refitted and exchanged within 30 days.   When asked about my lifestyle needs for shoes, I clearly made her aware that I have very flat feet with fallen arches and that I lead an active lifestyle, running outdoors in particular.

I was told that the most appropriate arch support for my arch fitting, condition and perfect for placing into my athletic running shoes was the Classic Alzner, which became part of my purchase. I was also fitted for a Flex 3 Arch support, which was part of my purchase as well.    I was told that the system only works if purchased as part of the 3-step system/3 insoles (Exerciser, Maintainer, Relaxer).  I explained that I was a student on an Americorps living stipend and could not afford much to which Jennifer stated that from her experience, most insurance companies do cover the costs of the orthotics but possibly not all. When I asked if I could place my personalized fitted insoles on hold so I can think about my purchase, Jennifer told me it was store policy that items could not be placed on hold.

Then, I was told that it is possible to work out a payment plan for me and that the system could in fact work with just the 2 most recommended arch supports of the 3. Jennifer added that the Exerciser insole, or the Alzner in my case, required a soft cushion insole to be placed on top when inserted in the shoes.  She placed a bag of the cushioned insoles in a bag along with the 2 other insoles. I was told I needed to pay $131.71 up front as a deposit and first payment and that the rest of the total of $658.59 would be charged on my debit card in 4 monthly installments.  I did not realize until I went home and opened the bag that I was being charged an extra $29.95 for a cheap cushion I could have purchased for $5 at the local pharmacy.

After my purchase, I felt rather doubtful but hopeful about whether the product will work as promised because I was so pressured into making the purchase since it would “guarantee fix my problem and remove the pain” and Jennifer’s explanations came across as overly practiced, robotic hard-sell pitches intent on making a sale rather than taking into deep consideration the unique needs of various foot conditions and pain. 
 
I conducted some further research on the store and found an overwhelming amount of horrible reviews and testimonies regarding the scam and unethical antics of the company and how most people experienced more pain, deformities, and injuries as a result of prolonged use of Good Feet arch supports. I also found that the company's website  http://www.bostonfootpain.com/   states that the store will provide "Free Foot Print & Arch Support Fitting."   During my visit, there were no accurate measurements or foot print completed as advertised either.  

Still, I decided to give the system a try and Jennifer the benefit of the doubt.  I also found out that my health insurance company would not cover Good Feet insoles, but I figured that health was a worthwhile investment especially if my foot pain can really go away. I abided by the break-in schedule enclosed in my package for about 3 weeks. The uncomfortable “golf ball” feel of the Exerciser insole was supposed to subside as my feet became “properly aligned” after breaking them in, but I was experiencing more pain than ever. The top of my left foot by the metatarsals was looking quite swollen, and I was experiencing pain in my left ankle.   

At this point, I tried to conduct more research into the products and found item descriptions and uses of the particular insoles I purchased. I found that the Alzer is most appropriate for “arches of average height and flexibility” and are for “non-running” shoes.  However, I had been walking and running with the Alzner’s for weeks. At this point, I realized that Jennifer really had no idea what she was talking about and inaccurately “fitted” me with the Alzner when I clearly reminded her several times that I had flat feet and fallen arches and that I needed something for my running sneakers.    

Of course, I was frustrated at this point and really felt shammed and deceived like those hundreds of unhappy customers I read about.  My foot pain had not gone away but in fact became worse, and I had been fitted for insoles that were completely inappropriate for my needs. Most of all, I was upset at the fact that I spent an obscene amount of money on a product that could not be returned for a refund.  

I tried calling the Goodfeet store and was told my Jennifer that she could not authorize any returns or refunds. When I asked if there was a store manager or owner I could speak to, she said the store did not have a manager and that I couldn’t be provided with any contact information of the owner.  She did promise that she would leave a message for the owner and that he would call me back soon. After a week, without a response, I called the store several times, only to receive busy signals or answering machines.  

I then looked up and called the Good Feet Corporate Customer Service line and spoke with Sandy, who explained that customer satisfaction is very important to the company but because the stores are franchises owned by unique business owners, the matter could only be resolved with the individual store owner of the store I purchased from. She said all she could do was call the store to leave a message for the owner to contact me.

I was in desperate foot pain and felt victimized by the hard-sell, aggressive and even unethical pressure I was placed under by the sales representative. I found it frustrating that there was no operating manager for the store and that the seemingly non-existent owner who does not respond to customer service issues could be the only decision-maker.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 02/10/2011 02:14 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/the-good-feet-store/brookline-massachusetts-02446/the-good-feet-store-deceiving-hard-sell-practices-horrible-customer-service-only-gain-693422. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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#2 Consumer Suggestion

Thats

AUTHOR: mr rik - (USA)

POSTED: Thursday, April 21, 2011

Thats what they all say.

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#1 UPDATE Employee

Good Feet Store Brookline is a reputable honest customer service store which has provided over 1200 satisfied customers with pain relief.

AUTHOR: 12205 - (United States of America)

POSTED: Thursday, April 21, 2011

If you feel that you have been misled contact the following:
Sandy KesslerFranchise Support/Customer Service Director
Dr's Own, Inc/Good Feet Worldwide, LLC
2270 Cosmos Ct.
Carlsbad, CA 92011
Phone: 760.804.0751 ext: 219
Fax: 760.804.0998

In addition here is a brief tutorial on the Good Feet arch supports which have been fitted and sold to over 250,000 customers in the past 15 years. Good Feets Three Step System; A personal fit for any activity, any time.What Is Good Feets Revolutionary Three Step System? Your feet behave differently when you are standing than they do when you are walking, and everything changes completely when you break into a run. No matter what you do, your foot is adapting to your activity, the surface on which youre walking, and the shoes youre wearing, all at once! Doesnt it make sense to have arch supports that adjust to the changing needs of your adaptable feet?While satisfying customers all across the nation over the last fifteen years, we have developed a solution to suit even the busiest feet. We call it the Good Feet Three Step System.The Good Feet Three Step System is designed to provide todays active individual the support they need for ALL of the things they do, in practically any shoe. Rather than try to engineer just one support that can do everything, weve designed versatile support styles that can work together as members of a system, to meet all the arch support needs of the twenty-first century person. All of our arch supports function as either Exercisers, Maintainers, or Relaxers. Each category of arch support performs a unique function in the system.Exercisers: Improving Foot Alignment

Exercisers are Step 1 in the Three Step System, and they are designed to Exercise the foot. They are engineered to re-position the foot into a more Ideal weight-distribution pattern. The Exerciser is the only support in a Good Feet Three Step System that is designed to change the way the foot is functioning in order to improve total-body alignment.The Exerciser support is designed to put the foot into the Ideal Foot position, in which all of the bodys weight is evenly distributed throughout the entire foot, so that no single part of the foot takes on more pressure than it is supposed to. But an Exerciser support doesnt stop there. Exercisers are designed and named for the effect they have on the foots composition they exercise the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the feet into a more Ideal alignment. Wearing an Exerciser is like a workout for your feet, except the goal isnt a slim physique- its Ideal skeletal alignment for the whole body.The Exerciser supports are aggressive, because it takes a lot of support to get the feet to realign themselves. It is important to remember that when you are wearing your Exercisers, they are strengthening your feet- so you should never run or play sports in them. Instead, the Exercisers are perfect for walking, standing, or other activities which allow the body to remain upright.Because the Exercisers work so hard to re-align the feet, you must be very careful to break them in according to the schedule provided by your Certified Arch Support Fitter. These arch supports are designed to cause heavy-duty changes to the way your feet behave, so be careful and take your break-in period one step at a time, but take noteyour Exercisers should never cause you pain. The good news is that, just like any good workout program, you should eventually get used to your Exercisers, and theyll become just another part of your active life!The Exercisers come in many different sizes, shapes and flexibilities, so we can fit feet of practically any size and composition. To find out which Exerciser fits your feet and your lifestyle, schedule a personal fitting with a Good Feet Certified Arch Support Fitter today!Maintainers: Maintaining Foot Alignment Maintainers are Step Two in the Three Step System, and they are designed to preserve any of the changes your arches go through when you are wearing your Exerciser supports. During your initial break-in period, your Maintainers are designed to provide comfortable support every day after you wear your Exercisers.The Maintainers have much lower profiles and less aggressive arch structures than the Exercisers. This is because their job is not to change the alignment of the feet, but to prevent the feet from falling out of any alignment they may have achieved while wearing the Exercisers.The Maintainers are slimmer than the Exercisers, and fit easily into most fashion shoes. You can even use Velcro to wear your Maintainers in open-heeled shoes, sandals, slippers or flip-flopsand theyre pretty much invisible! No one will even know you have them on. Your Certified Arch Support Fitter will show you how to use your Maintainers in different shoes.For athletes, the Maintainer can be a healthy performance enhancer. Exercisers are not designed for use during sports activity, but the Maintainers are flexible enough that they can provide just enough support to the active foot during even the highest-impact sports. When all four arches are supported and the skeleton is ideally aligned, the body can perform far more efficiently during sports. Wearing your Maintainers on the course, court and field may help to reduce fatigue and injury.The Maintainers come in many different sizes, shapes and flexibilities, so we can fit feet of practically any size, composition and activity level. Your Certified Arch Support Fitter will help you find Maintainers that suit your needs in the shoes you love to wear!Relaxers: Foot Freedom, The Healthy Way Relaxers are designed to support three out of four arches to prevent the feet from flattening, while still letting the feet relax. Your Relaxers arent designed to change or re-align your feet or your body, because their job is to help you take a break from the other arch supports, shoes and activities that make up your lifestyle.Relaxers are the thinnest, most accommodating arch supports we offer. We designed them to fit in even the tightest dress shoes, sandals and slippers, so they can follow you anywhere. With their low-profile arch, flexible construction and slim silhouette, your Relaxers should feel great- no matter what youre doing. You can even use Velcro to fit your Relaxers in high heels, custom-fit boots and flip-flops. When you have a Relaxer, you dont have an excuse to go without wearing one of your arch supports.During the break-in period, your Relaxers are essential. The most important benefit of the Relaxers is that they are designed to relax the feet without allowing them to lose their alignment. While youre working to re-align your body during the first weeks with your new Arch Support System, youll use your Relaxers after you are done wearing your Exercisers and Maintainers.Our Relaxers come in various styles, each with its own unique benefits. Your Certified Arch Support Fitter will help you find Relaxers that fit your needs, and your difficult shoes!Good Feet is a retail establishment and not a medical provider. We do not diagnose or prescribe in our stores. For serious foot-related issues, please consult your physician. You cant by these reusable long lasting washable cushions in any cheap chain drugstore.
Athletic Antimicrobial CushionsSuper Athletic cushions with anti-microbial technology are our most shock-absorbent cushions. These natural sponge rubber cushions help to reduce step shock and provide greater comfort in more roomy shoes. Finished with an anti-microbial fabric, Good Feets Super Athletic Cushions are designed to wick away moisture, keeping the feet dry and ventilated. The fabric finish, made with green safe ingredients, is enhanced with antibacterial and antifungal agents, helping to reduce both fungus and odor.
Good luck h
ese products have changed many peoples lives over the past 16 years.

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