FastFreddy2

To high heels? I can't make that claim. In fact I would even go so far as to say my interest in heels (and stockings) has shaped my life. Not that it has been a bad thing. A great motivator, and believe me, I've needed motivating.

The irony is, I did actually marry someone who (at the time) smoked. In my defence, it was seldom more than 3 a day, though 'nights out on the town' might induce a higher count. In her defence (of the habit), it was nearly always done outside and away from me (except in a club probably), and thanks to strong mints/gum/breath freshener, I never once tasted the after-effects, nor experienced any smell from her clothes. Her smoking the 'menthol' variety may have helped too. A particularly nasty bought of flu' got her off the habit, and she is now, almost as virulently ant-smoking as I am. 50 years ago, smoking was more usual than unusual, so it would surprise no-one that a juvenile might think smoking was then part of their passage to adulthood. No longer ..... We know it kills/harms. It is frighteningly expensive. Why would anyone start smoking these days, or continue? I'm sure every smoker could give me 3 good reasons why they do. (No need to though, if you are a smoker. )

Me too .... Which feels a bit like putting the nails in my own coffin. The consolation - if it is one - is that I can spend as much time wearing a 5-6 inch heel, as I can tolerate.

Just to confirm .... I did mention the prospect of around 30 of them (might be a tad more, likely a tad less), and I did say "I" haven't met any of them... Those not met would include both your ex and someone who has a business interest in selling their wares.... That said, I would (respectfully) doubt your GF wore 140mm heels "easily", especially as she needed practice to wear them, indicating two things: (i) She didn't wear them before you came on the scene, which likely means (ii) she likely doesn't wear them any longer. Many of us here, will be very very very jealous of your (then) position. There was a time I could and did wear (Covergirl) shoes with that height heel easily, but I was in my early thirties at the time....No longer possible - at least easily. though I have a pair that are both very high and moderately comfortable to wear for short periods. Mrs Freddy used to wear heels every time we went out. She has a history of being a heel wearer for social activity, unlike the two friends I mention from time to time who wore them to work too, and who now have severely crippled feet. Mrs Freddy doesn't get the social opportunities she once had to wear a heel, so she almost never wears them. A very disappointing situation for me, especially when I think back to 'certain situations' when she too might have been in a 5 or 6 inch heel for an hour or so. And while I think of it, I remember a girlfriend from Harlow .... Who was also into heels. (There were 3 criteria for my girlfriends back then. An interest in dance music. Not ugly, nor fat. And an interest in shoe styles - with any sort of a heel. And in pretty much that order too.) So this girl from Harlow, once showed up to meet me for a date wearing a pair of black patent 6" Covergirl shoes bought to entertain her boyfriend. (Yay!) What a night I had, that night. Having my head up my arse (typical of me during those years), I didn't marry her because she was a smoker. Another in a long list of 'youthful' mistakes made by myself... Lovely girl. Lovely figure.

If the young woman** you are with has parts of her (firm) body that need a little shaking to announce their presence, what better footwear then? I have in mind a subtly buxom woman walking toward or across my field of vision, wearing a close to uncomfortably high heeled shoe. Her gait such that each step produces a forward thrust of her upper body. Time to lie down, I think... **I have my doubts there are 30 women in their middle years living in the, UK that could wear 130mm heels while walking, and I've yet to see one of them - if any exist.

Is there an update on the shoes being returned? Hopefully, back with the seller and refund completed.

No harm done. I only made the suggestion because it avoided you opening another case. Mindful the value of the goods, I would not send them any other way. You get fully insured, next day delivery (by 1pm) and a signature. It's worth the extra for peace of mind. The seller doesn't seem to be the 'full ticket'. Agreeing a return and not providing a good address. One mistake after another. As you've opened a case (with her already agreeing a return) you will be sure to get your money back. Put it all down to experience? I would have been happy to be in your position, just to have a 'fondle' of those shoes TBH.

You can ask Ebay for a returns address. There is a procedure for this, once the return has been agreed. I would recommend contacting Ebay, as there is now some auditable conversation (messages) between yourselves, with the seller agreeing to the return. You don't have to open a case, but contact Ebay via their 'chat' function perhaps? They will guide you through, and probably confirm a return address. The package should have been sent with a "Returns Address" anyway, in case it was undelivered. (Royal Mail insist this is on the outside of the package, as you probably know.) One of the other couriers, might be Hermes, gives the seller a slip to include with the package. That is quite a valuable purchase. You will need to ensure you have adequate postage, like Royal Mail Special Delivery. It costs, but insurance starts at £250 if I remember. it can be topped up to whatever you consider the value of the goods. While it might be slightly pushing your luck, you might also ask about her covering return carriage? Or that might be another thing you could ask Ebay. While you are undoubtedly in the right here, a gently-gently approach might be best for you getting all your costs covered. Only if the seller gets to be a problem, need you "raise a case"? that said, it might be Ebay says it's the best way forward. I know for sure they will provide a 'pukka' return address from the sellers PayPal account (I think).

Surely you had a response today?

You might have to make 5 posts to publish photo's. Only one more to go.

I suppose they got something right, and the colour too. Any response from the seller yet?

Well the size is completely wrong, by an enormous margin. I don't think you are expected to know the difference by taking a good look at pictures. The sizing is SIGNIFICANTLY different: UK 6½ vs UK10. Not even close. Add to that, the heel height. 120mm (claimed EXACT height) and mentioned twice, vs your measured height of 130mm. It may be, that since the 'model' of the shoe and the height they come in (120mm) doesn't match what you have, it may be they have the model of the shoe wrong too?. I would be inclined to ask the seller for a return and refund based on these two differences. If they refuse, THEN open a case. I doubt you'll lose it, especially since you will have tried to resolve it yourself "amicably". (Shows you still have 'goodwill' toward the seller.) Shame they are a 40 and not a 41, otherwise I might be making a proposal about them ....

How stupid am I? Didn't even think to look. (It was late. ) The seller has completely screwed up the listing. An EU40 is a UK 6½ (W) according to the makers. They would have to be an EU42 to even qualify as a US10. They would have to be an EU44 to qualify as a womans 9½, according to the makers sizing table. If they have been posted already, they can go back as SNAD. If not maybe advise the seller of their mistake and get a refund?

Found them. Given your 'usual' budget, it never occurred to me you might spend that sort of money on a pair of shoes. Well done, you've got bigger cojones than me. Not sure there is a happy ending here though ... I think the biggest womens size they do is a 42. I am going to be amazed if the ones you have bought are a UK10. I think the seller is confused and they are a US10 (UK8.) All that aside, they are a beautiful shoe. Good choice!

Why the secrecy?

So you don't know what brand? (Yet?) I hope there is one 'cos I wanna a pair! 120mm is under 5 inches, and they look waaaay over that. If they photo's haven't been mucked about with I'd be hopeful those heels were 130mm and some. Especially if the picture is of a UK9. They might look a bit more like this with (only) a 120mm heel... But still look elegant.

Tell us more... Brand, cost, and are they a size 9? That has got to be a 6 inch heel, surely?

A brand new pair of mens loafers in size 10. And not a style she or I would wear even if they were the right size. I'm sure the charity shop will be happy to see them though.

That would have been my first suggestion to her, but there was absolutely no other detail on the package at all. The wrong name, right street address, though the postcode was wrong (referred to another part of town - well over a mile away). No return address, no senders details .... To the sender, these may have been 'solicited' (bought), but surely to the recipient they were 'unsolicited'? Since the package has been hanging around for a month with no-one sending a letter or knocking on the door, at what stage might she be free to 'dump' the goods? While doing so wouldn't be completely honest; as the package was thrown over a fence (next to a busy road) there is a 'plausible deniability' the package was ever received....

As I remember, they were VERY high, and sold out quickly, which explains why I don't own a pair .... Since you won so quickly, could Ebay have refunded on the sellers behalf? Looks like the seller refunded, but PayPal/Ebay used the sellers account on their behalf. (I think when you sign up to PayPal you agree to let them do this - for just such an event.) That "returns" label could be in the post. I'd suggest holding on to the shoes for a while before doing anything with them. If you want to bin them, I would also suggest letting the seller know, and give them 7 days (or 14) to make arrangements to have them collected. The shoes aren't yours to dispose of, so some care might be needed. My walking friend, who has lived in her home for quite some time, got a parcel delivered to her street address, but to a fella who has (obviously) never lived there. The parcel wasn't handed over, it was thrown over a fence... Not only that, but on the delivery day it rained quite heavily. The package was bagged, but that hardly authorises a parcel to be thrown over a fence and left in the rain .... It's been a month, and there's been no further contact, from anyone. Weird on many levels ....

They are set to "High" (3-4.5") and 'Black' as colour. I too have used the automated search function in the past and have had some good results from using it, but .... I've also found their search engine to be less than 100% reliable. I still get the occasional interesting item from the "this might interest you" link from the site while I'm looking at something similar. It's how this pair popped up. (I'm fairly sure I've tried a 7 in these, and needed an 8. All sold at the time.) A couple of weeks ago, I listed some 18v batteries for cordless DIY equipment. I had to alter the details 3 times before the batteries would appear in the search for those specific batteries ... Was a PITA but I got there in the end. Was a case of shuffling the title around a bit, and I may have moved one of the 'details' to another field. But the brand, voltage, and word "battery" were all in every version I created.

@Heels, saw these, thought of you.... New look uk 9 eu 43 Black ankle strapped sandals Listing #121987332690 if you haven't spotted them already.

It might be can do something with them at his end - like get a refund from whoever supplied him, but on the face of it, doesn't seem to make sense. I bought a bike last year, was in perfect nick at the time it was sold. Seller didn't pack it very well, and it got a bit wrecked in transit. Not only did I "help the seller" by writing a 2 page document for R.M. with pictures for him to make a claim, I had to pack it up so he could have it collected. What did I get out of it? "Thanks". You are right about the shoes, look very attractive. I nearly bought and kept a similar pair from ALDO. Might even have a piccy here somewhere. Sadly, nowhere to wear them, so they were returned. They were a very good fit too.

Another 'candid' from the streets .... The diminutive and lovely Penelope Cruz in very high Zanotti sandals. From >> here <<