A woman from Florida claims to have purchased some flip flops from Walmart, put them on her feet… only to suffer some sort of severe chemical burn along the lines where the straps of the flip flop met her feet.
She’s been documenting the process as the chemical burns get worse and worse… and oh my god. It’s horrible. First it’s just a red angry burn, but soon blisters appear and then break open. It’s just getting worse and worse.
Kerry writes:
Well, after wearing them my feet would be red and sort of tingly, but I figured that it was just because it was first flip flops of the year so my feet need to get used to them. Blabity blabity… Well I have now had this chemical burn for 11 days, (As of July 3rd) I really thought it would just go away on it’s own. It is absolutely going away very well at all…this started on June 22nd 2007 and has just gotten worse basically. I have only worn those shoes 15 minutes here, half an hour there, hour there…and so on, NOT enough time to burn my feet like this!
She’s tried to contact Walmart to ask them to stop selling the flip flops, but their response was to tell her to contact the manufacturer in China.
Kerry describes her attempts to warn Walmart about the shoes:
I called the home office and nicely explained that I used to be an employee, and I bought the shoes, and I just want to make sure that no kids were hurt…bla bla. The home office was pretty decent about the entire thing. Then the store in Summerfield called, July 2nd 1:44 pm and left a voicemail, They told me I had to come in. The GM (Richard) told me who to talk with the training manager (Mike Sidel) and
when he would be in. He (Richard) seems to be a nice guy. I went in 15 minutes to a half an hour after getting the voicemail. I thought it was important to go in there.
I couldn’t believe how rude and mean, and obnoxious Mike was to me, he acted like I was making it all up, I tried to show him my injuries so he would take it a bit more seriously
& he turned his head away so that he could say he never saw it. Infact, everyone in the office was acting as if I were the “bad guy” I told him the details and he filled out a report. He asked me,
“well, what do you want me to do about this?” I told him that “if there was infact a problem with the shoes that I wanted to make sure someone knows so this doesn’t happen to anyone else” .
He told me “well, nothing will come of this because you bought them in April and you are just now reporting this?”
When I tried to explain the timeline to him he didn’t want to listen and turned his back on me so I just quit talking.
Here’s the letter Walmart sent:
And here’s a photo of Kerry’s feet. The entire progression of the burn is documented on her site.
If this is a hoax it’s the most crazy, painful, scary hoax ever. Kerry is asking that people help her get the flip flops recalled and we don’t blame her.
Has this happened to anyone else? Kerry says another woman emailed her to say she also had chemical burns on her feet from the flip flops. Anyone else? Both woman supposedly bought the flip flops from Walmart in April.
Please let us know.
YET ANOTHER ONE OF MY FOOT STORIES [LeMana Photography]
UPDATE: Kerry’s site went down, so we mirrored her photos here.
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Wal-Mart is a monster that cares only for its own survival and could care less about its customers, and as long as people continue to shop there they will continue to not care.
I sympathize with the woman BUT I understand the manager’s reaction no matter how cold/cruel it may have seemed. He likely interpreted her complaint as a threat to sue and because of corporate policy (in most companies) he did not acknowledge that he saw the rash and that it could have possibly occurred due to the slippers. It’s called covering their ass.
STOP SHOPPING AT WAL-MART.
Where do people keep going with their comments? Good lord. There is an overwhelming amount of evidence stated in the comments that this is contact dermatitis caused by an allergic reaction. I think we know it’s not a chemical burn.
Now, this is one persons report, if these shoes were sold at thousands of Wal-Marts to the millions of trash that shop there and they were using a chemical not fit for contact with human flesh don’t you think there would be more reports?
So, we are left with this. She had an allergic reaction, her personal situation in life delayed appropriate medical treatment. She’s mad that Wal-mart did not handle it properly (surprise). Wal-mart is not liable for you being allergic to somethind and still purchasing it (even if you did not know). The only thing they are guilty of here is being insensitive to her situation, which, honestly is simply her word and one that has been proven to be just a tad on the ignorant side to begin with.
So, why do we persist in posting comments that have been clearly countered already?
My vote? Contact dermatitis and stupidity ftw!
I’m not a lawyer, but my understanding is, in the abstract, WalMart, as a seller of the product, is strictly liable for this. Any agreement they have with the manufacturer has zero to do with the customer’s right against them. And any bullcrap they shovel your way to the contrary should be ignored. Get a lawyer, file a claim, make it their problem ASAP instead of yours….the law is there to protect everyone, not just the big companies…
I’m just confused as to why everyone’s freaking out over this lady’s ugly feet. They’re feet, people. Feet aren’t made to be pretty. It’s not like these feet are filthy, or riddled with nail fungus, or anything — so what’s the deal?
@suburbancowboy: So that’s how I grew these tits!
@Groovymarlin: Of course not. This is the Internet where it’s always the victim’s fault. I got yelled at by a moderator on another website, which remains nameless, for actually daring to not give in to “blame the victim” crap… I got violence threatened on me several times for posting things people didn’t like, which is just plain unacceptable even if it’s “just how the internet is” and I was the one who got blamed for refusing to just take it.
So yeah. Don’t be shocked when people blame the victim. Or if you get the same treatment. But don’t give in, either.
@SOhp101: It’s called sympathy for your fellow human. How would this jerk feel if he ran off the road, were trapped in his car, someone came by, and when he called for help getting out, the person turned away and then spewed bland BS and walked away? I have no sympathy for this guy.
The woman explicitly stated that she just didn’t want anyone else hurt.
Should have tagged it with “Chinese toxic chemicals train” or something like that… eh?
@LTS!: Are you her doctor? No. I suggest you and everyone else stop trying to diagnose other peoples’ maladies unless you are qualified to do so and have examined her. You aren’t qualified, so I suggest you lay off it.
“Doctor it hurts when I wear these flip flops!”
“Well, stop wearing the flip-flops!”
@buckwheaton: I don’t think Walmart is liable for allergic reactions that an individual consumer may suffer after wearing a product they are allergic to. If you check the standards for product liability law (you did, didn’t you?) I don’t even think they could be liable by the “defects in marketing” standard, let alone any other standard, considering it’s a defect with the consumer’s immune system that caused the problem. Hmm, unless you want warnings on everything (“Caution: Don’t use this if you’re allergic to it, dumbass”)…?
It’s easy to blame Wal-Mart for problems that could have been avoided by using more common sense (and a better physician). That doesn’t make it Wal-Mart’s fault in the slightest.
Granted, it’s a sad (and painful-sounding) tale, but human error is human error, and this time I’d say it lies with the consumer.
@bravo369: no actually if you look at the tag on them it will say : Distributed By The Walmart Cooperation, or something similar to that and as the distributer it is their Responsibility to recall the item and to notify the CPSC of the recall.
@Ncisfan: * Corporation
@ Kimsama: That is exactly where we are headed. Warining: you may be hurt by this product in one way or another.
I’ve said it before: I bought a thermos and it had a warning on it that the contents may be hot. It was an empty, packaged thermos that I would be filling. Way to litigious these days.
BTW, the contents were hot and yummy.
@bnuk013: Maybe I missed something, but where did you get that the shoes were made with something that was not approved for human contact?
@Buran: It appears that you have never worked in a customer service/management position that involves dealing with customers that hint at potential lawsuits.
Blame whoever you want, but whenever a customer requests compensation for damage to health or threatens to sue, you are required to immediately cease any communication with the customer because what you say can make the company liable. You represent the company and you can unknowingly admit fault on behalf of the company.
She should have contacted a lawyer specializing in product safety so he/she could judge the situation and, if the manufacturer/retailer appears to be at fault, arrange to obtain a chemical analysis to see if there were any hazardous chemicals on the slipper, or she could have attempted to get an analysis at a lab herself.
I bought flip flops at Wal-Mart in Honolulu (not the same kind as the ones mentioned). I found the uncomfortable the first time I wore them. I stopped wearing them, but I was too busy to return them while enjoying my vacation. So, when I returned to California I returned them to Wal-Mart where I was given a refund with no problems.
The bottom line is that people need to use common sense and take responsibility for their own actions. For any shoes, if they feel uncomfortable, STOP wearing them and return them. Don’t try to shift the blame on some other party. For most people peanuts are perfectly safe. Does that mean that if you find you are allergic to peanuts you keep eating them you sue the retailer or the grower? I don’t think so.
Flip flops are bad for feet if worn regularly-PERIOD. See this article
[www.usatoday.com]
@BONZOMBIEKITTY
That’s fine if one has the experise to know that the doctor is wrong. The point is not that people shouldn’t question the validity of the doctor’s assessment, but rather that people should not tear her apart for trusting a doctor’s opinion – that’s why we go to them.
The manager was an asshole. No surprise to me. Walmart is the asshole of america.
@Buran,
I am an MD as I stated before. Her pictures and description of her symptomatology (tingling, redness, cracking, continued & worsening condition in light of her continued wearing of the flip-flops) make it plain to me that this is Allergic Contact Dermatitis as much as a knife sticking out of her would lead anyone to say she suffered a stab wound.
Before her site went down I saw that she claimed that this is no rash since it was limited to the area of the straps. This in itself is one of the hallmarks of ACD since it is the only the exposed areas that are affected.
Also, I seriously question the decision of the doctor that she consulted to give her antibiotics. Antibiotics should only be given in cases of proven or suspected bacterial infection. Looks like in this case, her MD just gave them out wily-nily. (And once again, bacterial resistance to antibiotics has moved another stop forward unfortunately)
@kimsama:
(CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP)
@Bnik013:
I agree with bonzombiekitty. Just because a person developed contact dermatitis (which all of her signs & symptoms, and her pictures point me to) doesn’t necessarily mean it was caused by a chemical not fit for human contact. It could be a chemical that is otherwise safe or inert to nonsensitized humans that is causing this, such as a dye or other ingredient in the straps.
@Buran: You’re “suggesting” we all do a lot of things. I suggest instead you stop telling us what the hell to do.
The sandals were probably made by grinding up and re-forming the melamine dog food. Chinese foiled again!
I cannot BELIEVE that everyone is complaining about her feet. If you want to bitch about someone’s feet, go to the Sally Hansen website, for crying out loud. This is the Consumerist. I have a seriously hard time believing that all of your feet are so much more attractive. If you care that much, send her a gift certificate to a pedicurist.
@CumaeanSibyl: Not that I’m complaining about her feet, but at least one nail, the right big toe, is yellow. Looks like fungus to me.
A story recently surfaced about a Florida woman who bought a pair of flip-flops at Wal-Mart. She bought them a few months ago, but when she started wearing them for the first time recently they began to burn her feet quite badly. You can read her story on her website.
My mom has the same pair of flip flops and has blisters appearing on her feet. She believed that it was poison ivy, but is now going to the doctor for a chemical burn as well.
It is rapidly coming to light that Chinese manufacturers are only interested in the bottom line… think dog food. Since the US Government remains content to import Chinese products, regardless of their lack of safety controls, I’ve decided to police my purchases more carefully. It stops being a bargain when you incur medical or funeral expenses.
HMM and shes the ONLY one who made this claim. I smell a scam.
@suburbancowboy:
You do realize leather has just as many chemicals as plastic does right?
I definately feel bad for this girls hurting feet. I think the comments regarding “getting what you pay for” are ridiculous. I can hardly believe this poor girl and others went to Walmart saying I think I’ll buy a chemical burn, reaction, what ever may cause these markings for this bargain price of under $3! It is the responsiblity of the company and business selling these items to provide safe products. Her intentions are good, she wants to protect others. I hope she gets what she deserves, respect and compensation! There’s no excuse for the way she has been treated throughout this ordeal!
It’s not surprising that this Florida woman could have a serious reaction to the straps on the sandals (flip-flops) she got from Walmart. We’ve all smelled the odor from certain vinyl or soft PVC plastics. Plastics are made from hundreds of different chemicals. They contain chemical plasticizers to keep them flexible. They all “off-gas”. This means they release toxic chemicals into the environment. Since virtually all plastics are made from petro-chemicals, they can (to varying degrees) release certain carcinogenic VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). It seems that some of the cheaper Chinese imports exhibit the worst off-gassing. Ever gone into a 99 Cents Only Store and seen the cheap vinyl-covered cable locks for bikes? The smell of the off-gassing is unbearable. This type of smell is common in Chinese imported car steering wheel covers, flip-flops, sandals, vinyl binders, and numerous other plastic products.
Use your nose! A product with no odor is no guarantee that it’s not off-gassing, but you should avoid products with strong “chemical” odors.
Wait, China wouldn’t put out something that would be bad for you. Just look at all the great dog food and doggie treats they sent the US. Didn’t do nothing bad, just killed a lot of pets. I think if I bought anything from China (and I do) then first thing would be to sterilize them if at all possible. I believe the poor girl, and she isn’t a high level scientist but of normal people and this needs to be addressed. She definitely contacted something, so if nothing else people need to be forewarned about the proper processes one should do before putting on goods made by a foreign country especially China, god only knows who handled them before finally getting on the shelves.
Looks like Wal-Mart is not being forthright with consumers, again. As if customers would not notice if their usual dog treats were no longer on the shelves. Why is it that this is happening again and again and again and again?
I am an RN and a shoe allergy sufferer. I am not allergic to latex. This lady has written back to me and seems stuck on the “I’m not allergic to latex though!” train. Well, neither am I. But a lot of shoes will break me out terribly – cheap or not.
This looks like my first severe contact dermatitis from shoes – it happened all at once. I am allergic to a resin that is in many shoes – it is not that common. There are about 4 common shoe allergies, although shoe allergies themselves are not common.
When I wear shoes with PTBP used to make them – I do the same thing – and the pattern will only be where the shoes touch my feet.
What this lady is missing is that a severe allergy contact dermatitis can look exactly LIKE a chemical burn. For the allergy sufferer, they are the same – but that doesn’t mean that everyone that wears the shoes will have this happen, or that anyone is at fault.
It would be very nice though – for those few of us that do have severe allergies like this – if the use of this or the 4 or 5 other common allergens involved in shoe allergies would be listed on the label.
She should not have kept wearing the shoes after the redness and rash started. Big mistake.
The website I received about this is [www.lamanaphotography.com]
I can understand complaining for something expensive. Walmart gave me a hard time about my glasses and my sons contact lenses. After arguing with them for over a month, they gave me a new pair of glasses. My glasses at Walmart’s were almost $200.00. For a pair of thongs, the Cleveland word for flipflops, for $2.49, get real. Throw them out, or just give them the sandals back. $2.50 is not $250.00. If you want to get a pair of Sandals with a guarantee, you are going to have to pay for it. It sounds to me, you are asking for a free ride. Excuse me a ride for $2.49 plus tax. That looks like an allergic reaction. Next time you want cheap sandals,the more expensive stores like Kohls and Penny’s have their name brands on sale for no more than $5.00 a pair. Then you will get what you paid for.
Okay everybody. Enough is enough. Didn’t she say in the beginning she was just telling Wal-mart so no one else would be hurt by this. Weather it is a chemical burn or allergic reaction, so be it. Give the girl a break. This isn’t about how her feet look. It’s the principal of the situation. She isn’t out to file a law suit. If it is due to the flip flops, at least she did her part by telling Wal-mart. I agree, go the maufacturer and let them document your reaction. Get medical attention and always wash flip flops before you put them on your bare feet. Everyone is guilty of thhis. Who knows who tried them on before you. Good luck and I hope your feet heal soon.
Ok, I’ve purchased shoes from different stores in different price ranges. I have a few pair of flip-flops/thongs, two of which came from good ol’ Wallyworld. One pair is pretty reliable, but I can’t wear it long-term because the pair would start irritating the area between my toes. The other pair I can’t wear at all because it caused a friction burn in the first wear, which cleared up within a week.
The pair I wear most frequently are Sketchers…they are very comfortable and worth the extra cost. I never plan to buy anymore flip-flops from Wal-Mart since I discovered how much more comfortable the name-brand pair was.
This is a strange deal. I had purchased a pair of painted flip flops from Eddie Bauer Outlet (not WalMart). Both the strap area and the bottoms of my feet got bright red and burned like you wouldn’t believe. At first, I thought I had walked in some sort of fertilized area or something. I washed them really well and put them on again for a day. Same thing happened. I tried to call the Eddie Bauer store, but they said because I had worn them, they couldn’t take them back. No biggie, I thought because they weren’t that expensive. However, I feel this must have come from the same place. This could be a problem.
@7livesleft: LET ME SAY SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE HERE THAT GOT THIS. I have also been affected by these shoes. I wore my shoes for awhile. I thought maybe i got bit by fireants and my feet looked like this womans but actually worse. I live in florida and have owned several dozen of “rubber” flip flops and this never happened to me. When i got this problem i continued to wear the flip flops because when i put on socks or wore tennis shoes my feet sores would stick to the shoe or sock and not heal. I ended up most days putting a bandage on my foot with lots of hydrocortizone but it took over two months to heal but only after my customer gave me some maryjane shoes (open foot). The day she did that i threw my flip flops in my trunk and did not wear them again until 6 days ago. Still not knowing that my shoes caused this condition i put them on and again i got severe blisters on my feet within hours of wearing them. My friend looked at my feet and said stop wearing those shoes and forwarded me an email on Kerry’s condition. THANK GOD! I immediately went to the emergency room wear I was prescribed steroids and also medicine to stop me from itching. I have not worn the shoes since and i am continue to blister worse and worse by the day. Today i went to the dermatologist and was told whatever was in the shoe destroyed my melanites so even when i do heal i will have 2 hedious strap mark scars on my feet. I am very upset by peoples response on here. No one goes to buy shoes even if they are cheap and thinks oh i am taking a chance at being hideously scarred if i buy these cheap shoes. I am not addicted to rubber or latex. I have tons of other rubber flip flops and this did not happen with them. Also, walmart supposibly pulled the shoes in an involuntary recall. Well, i went to the store the other day and they are now selling the shoes under a new label “no boundaries”. So really they dont care that much. Meanwhile, unsuspecting people like me continue to rack up doctor bills from these shoes. Let me also mention i took a picture of the inside of the strap and it looks as if their is bubbles protruding out of the shoe of some chemical trying to make its way out of my shoe. Along with this is some sort of white chemical which looks like acid. Also, my dermatologist stated i do have dermatitius. He said i am allergic to the chemical used to make the shoe. How is walmart not responsible. Its is total products liablility.If the product you are selling is making people sick you should pull it from the shelf permanently. Not put it back on the shelf and rename it a differnt brand name. I am scarred 4 life because of shoes this should never have happenend to to me and its gross.Here is a picgture of my foot.
[www.imageno.com] spare me that my feet are ugly.I am now to embarrassd to go in and get my regular pedicures.