Customer Reviews Merrell Encore Breeze 4

I love the fit. UNFORTUNATELY, the front top collapsing. I've been buying these shoes for years and this is new for Merrell - possibly quality of materials by the manufacturer. The previous black pair collapsed and this replacement pair is collapsing. The white pair I bought last year for spring/summer wear are ALSO collapsing. This never happened before this year.

Sadly, the quality of Women's Merrill slip-on Encore shoe has changed over the years. I have purchase I think the very first pair I purchased was in Lancaster, PA, and it had a fury lined interior with a nice soft (comfortable) leather exterior with thick rubber sole. I may have been called "the slide." I loved it! Then, I purchased a very supportive shoe to wear in my house (up and down the steps). I have several iterations of Merrill's slip on design. It was so comfortable and nothing hurt. They were heavenly. Then, I purchased for an indoor / slipper like slide-in shoe, with mess uppers, trimmed with leather and thick rubber soles. It was the early version of the slide/Encore. They were very comfortable and has the mesh uppers with some leather trim/support. The early version of that show was fine. Then, the design kept changing...and not for the better. The latest iteration is so cheaply made that it does not fit to the form of my upper foot. That never happened before with a Merrill Encore Breeze. This one is the Encore Breeze 4 - J004218, color IRIS, Size 8.5. The mesh is very loose with very little shape. The shoe does not feel secure or conform to the upper part of my foot. I have not worn it, since I purchased it on Amazon, last summer. Now, I have J598436, which has a firm trim along the outer and inner opening of the shoe, into the part where you slip your feet. At the very back part (center) of that trim, the leather (or vinyl ?) trim has rippled or puckered along the inner trim, so it rubs against my Achilles tendon (on the back of my foot). I always wear moderately thick socks with my Merrill's slip-on shoes, so I should not feel that, but I do. I can't wear this pair of Merrill's because I will get a blister - if I continue to wear them. Why does Merrill keep changing the design and quality of material of your shoes slip-on shoes from a a popular style one that is poorly redesigned with cheaper synthetic materials - which fail? If you listen to your customers, you will see that they did not like the changes (as I have been reading their comments. It's not only me that notices your subtle changes that turn out to be more pronounced when you wear the shoe. Plus, I do not believe that when Merrill sends their products overseas to save money with cheaper labor, the end result will be good for customer. You may save money, but you ruin your reputation. Once lost, it is difficult to get your reputation back. The move in manufacturing is to make it in America. I'd rather pay more for a well designed, comfortable shoe than suffer in a slightly less expensive design. I feel that Merrill is ruining their good name "to save a dollar." When you have a comfortable, well designed shoe - why change it to make it worse? I have purchased many of Merrill slip on shoe shoes - in case you were going to discontinue my favorite show. Little did I realized that each iteration had changed and not for the better. I really miss the original Encore Slides (I think that was the name.) You should take to heart the feedback of your customers. I just can not spend my money on Merrill and keep getting disappointed. I'm ready to move on other more reputable brands of comfortable, supportive shoes that I can wear and do not hurt! Patricia Mattone

The Encore has been my go-to shoe for all occasions for years. The last couple of pairs have been of greatly reduced quality, particularly the trim around the opening. The heel end frayed soon after receiving the shoe. Just as frustrating is trying to deliver this feedback to improve the Encore back to its previous high quality. Coincidentally, a recently purchased Merrell hiking boot arrived in poor shape - creased in the wrong places as if packed wrong during overseas shipment. Sadly, I will be looking for a new go-to shoe company.

Having worn this and other Merrils like this, I am very disappointed to learn they company has removed the QFORM2 from the heel of the shoe. That was the exact thing that made this shoe fit perfect for me and my orthotic arch. I "chatted" with a person online, and was not pleased but understood why the change made the shoe not "feel good" at all.

Bad craftsmanship on first pair. Hoping replacements are better