karhu.com

Beware of predatory return policies and bad customer service

I was a first time Karhu buyer, so I didn't know what size or style shoes would fit me best. For that reason I made a large order of multiple sizes/styles with plans to return anything that didn't fit. Before I purchased, I read the return policy and was aware that I would be charged a $10 restocking fee. After receiving the shoes there were two pairs that I could keep. When I went to request a return via the shopify link provided, 7 of the 9 pairs were designated as "final sale" and not eligible for return. There was absolutely no indication during the purchase process that these were "final sale" items. After failed attempts to talk with an actual Karhu representative via the chat tool on the website, I sent an email. The response was delayed, but I was finally told that I could return these items, but because they were purchased at a discounted price, I would have to pay for my own return shipping. I did go back and see that this policy is detailed on their website, but it's way down on the page past where most people would read. Additionally, its just a really odd policy that I've never seen from any other online vendor. You place items on sale, ostensibly to encourage poeple to purchase, then penalize them if something doesn't fit? At best this feels misleading, and at worst its predatory. This was obviously a large package and I knew return shipping would cost a fortune, so I asked if Karhu could provide a prepaid label or help in any way. No response from Karhu. I tried a couple more emails after that, but still no response. I was out of options and tired of dealing with it, so I bit the bullet and mailed the package back for a cost of $176; that was the cheapest option even after I split it into two smaller packages. So now I'm out the original cost of the two pairs of shoes I kept, plus $176. Now I have to hope that they are actually able to process my return correctly and in a timely manner so I can wash my hands of this awful experience. My advice? Buy your Karhu from a more reputable website with a reasonable return policy...I wouldn't dare roll the dice on a purchase directly from their website unless you have some deep connection with a shipping service.

Date of experience: Feb 05, 2026