Helsinki 2.0 Apron Toe Leather Slip-On (Men)

Bought these shoes at Nordstrom's a few years ago. Wore them to a funeral service last weekend when much to my surprise, the heel of the right shoe disintegrated as I walked down the church aisle. Brought them back to Nordstrom and was told since I couldn't produce a receipt that would be years old by now, there is nothing they would do. So much for Nordstrom vaunted Customer Care. The shoes do not get heavy use and are carefully stored. I did an internet search on these shoes/ECCO and it is apparently a well-known issue to ECCO. In the mean time, BEWARE ECCO composite soled and heeled shoes. They may disintegrate on you too. Also, it appears there is less reason to buy stuff at Nordstrom.

I bought my husband his first pr of Helsinki's about 10 years ago (exact same style/color), and he literally is still wearing them. Every single day. His only pr of shoes besides bedroom moccasins in the house. (I'm not kidding.) These shoes will last forever! I decided the time had come to order him a new pr (in spite of his protestations). They arrived in the mail and fit perfectly. There is one new change: the little cutout at the back heel which means a shoe horn is no longer necessary. He is ecstatic!

I've been buying Ecco Helsinki lace & slip on shoes for decades at $250/pairs but the last two pairs I purchased (black & brown) 3-4 years ago have had their heels disintegrate completely. At one point Ecco discontinued this shoe from what I remember but I had never had any issues. I've noticed my older shoes which have a round red plug in the center of the heel are still rock solid but any of the ones with a purely molded, single piece sole are the ones that the heel falls apart. Oddly the rest of the sole shows no wear at all since they've only been worn a few times over the last few years. Ecco is no longer a premium brand. Evidently their soles disintegrate with time regardless if you wear them a lot or a little. They have decided to use cheap materials & construction that even a homeless man would turn down. It's so disappointing. Now the Helsinki is $160 instead of $250 but they are disposable shoes. Don't plan on keeping them as part of your shoe collection. If you get a year or two out of them before the heel falls apart consider yourself lucky. I can't even donate these to Good Will...