Is this discoloration normal in shell cordovan shoes?

[Shoequestions]

Hello,
I recently received my first pair of shell cordovan shoes. There was a roughly quarter-sized discoloration on the toe of one shoe and a smaller discoloration on the toe of the other. There were also a few marks that I assume are stretch of scuff marks.

From both looking online and just looking at the shoes, I’m more concerned about the large discoloration than anything else.

Is this normal? Is the discoloration something that will come out in the first polish? Or is this something for which I should ask for a refund or replacement?

Thank you!

 

[sho'nuff]

1) personally I would keep as I have too many shoes. This actually implies that the issue shown isn't anything that would detrimental affect your wear of it or the longevity of it. Other than ocd and being mentally bothered by it, which you should, if this was your first few pairs of expensive shoes. Even if you have a lot of pairs, hundreds of dollars come with hard work so you're entitled to a reasonably qc-passed product.

2) instead of returning, give them lot of pictures and then ask for a partial refund. I've done this a couple of times for small defects (that don't affect wear or longevity, just cosmetic) and received 10% or 15% refunded, usually if you make a point that shipping back and forth would be too much of a hassle or can be an incentive for them to nip the issue quickly on their end.

3) although the issue looks cosmetic, there's also the possibility that is a tip of the iceberg on other issues that may be present within the shoes or manifest over time. I mean, if they can't pay close attention to providing a paying customer with a once look over to make sure it looks not like a seconds or a defect.

4) possibly a customer worn return. Most sound businesses don't allow worn merchandise back, but if they are receiving worn (or in this case, someone tried polishing or stripping the leather perhaps, or the business did it to "make pristine" a return for purpose of peddling the merchandise to you, I would send it back.


5) your pics look flash so maybe more stark than shown in person I dunno but from the pics looks not good