I bought hiking shoes for my mother, but the pair that arrived had defective stitching. I sent a picture to Vivobarefoot’s customer service, who told me I could either keep the shoes for a 30% discount or send them back for a refund. Instead, I requested a replacement. I filled an online return form, which twice required my contacting customer service again: the form wanted me to pick a city, but the only city it listed was Paris; then it asked for a return number I didn’t have. It took several days, but after that someone came to fetch the shoes; I didn’t have to pay or go to the post office. As soon as the carrier had received the shoes, Vivobarefoot sent my mother a new pair, and this one has flawless stitching. It’s a very nice model, whose only flaw is that the tongues are a little hard at the top, which can hurt my mother on one foot if she doesn’t tie the shoe a little loose on that side; but she says that, even then, these hiking shoes are more comfortable than the pair their replaced. Also, they slip less on muddy ground. Along the years, I bought four pairs of Vivobarefoot shoes for myself. I wore holes into the soles of the Aqua and Dharma; the Ultra is still going strong; and I’ve just recently bought the Flex, which are … socially flexible: they can be worn at the gym, but also at work (if you hide the small white logos on the heal counter) or at a party.