Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Dear New Balance

I love your 769 shoes. I love them with a passion that I do not think you understand, because if you did, you would not have eliminated them. I am aware that you are moving forward, providing the market with new shoes, more colors, more gadgets and gizmo's. That is all fine and good when those new models work for people. They probably work for many people, but they do not work for me. I have tried every other model that can be recommend for me both in stability and neutral cushioning and both have either been not enough or too much for my feet. As a result I have had a flare up in my plantar fasciitis for the first time in 4 years in my attempt to find a replacement. This is not acceptable. I have worked too long and hard and had too many specialists appointments to have a flare up because of a shoe change.

I will say thankfully I have managed to find two pairs online. These two pairs will make a total of 6 pairs of 769's I have purchased. I love New Balance shoes, but if I cannot find a suitable replacement after I am finished with these pairs, I will be looking elsewhere.

6 comments:

  1. Hi there - Thank you for your support of the 769s. We're sorry you're having a hard time finding a replacement. Would you be interested in us tracking down some remaining 769s in your size? Alternatively, have you already tried the update to the 769, the WR760? Either way, we'd be happy to help with the search and have representatives standing by M-F 8am-8:30pm who can help you find a similar shoe (they can be reached at 800-253-7463). Please let us know if we can help!

    Best,
    Kelly Gray
    Associate Manager, Digital Brand Marketing
    New Balance

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  2. Kelly,

    Thanks for your response, however I've tried the 760 and the 759 and neither have been helpful. At this point I have tracked down two more pairs of 769's and when they bite the dust, I will return to NB and see what you have. However if I can't find a replacement for my beloved 769 I will have to go searching for a replacement elsewhere which makes me really sad.

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  3. This continues to drive me nuts. I haven't yet found a new shoe I like. The 760 followed by the 860 (and now the 860A) all feel significantly different than the 769. My forefoot no longer seemed to be very well supported.

    After wearing all my spare 769's I finally switched to Asics but still haven't found anything as nice as the 767/768/769 shoes.

    So disappointed.

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  4. I am having the same problem. I have worn new balance for years and have tried other styles since they discontinued the 769. I have not found one that I like, so I have been forced to seek other brands. I figure if I am not going to find the comfort of the 769 then I need to explore other options. Very sad to say this, I have other runners in the same dilemma.

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  5. Same situation here. Really a shame these were discontinued.

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  6. I agree with everyone here. I have done 5 Ironman and ran in at least a dozen of these shoes. The 860 does not cut it. I have one pair left in the box that I will use at Lake Placid this summer. Very sad.

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