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Deja Vu All Over Again: Burning Flip-Flops Before, Burning Work Boots Now

One and a half years after Kelly Stiles reported being chemically burned by a pair of flip flops purchased at Wal-Mart, a Texas man is making a similar complaint about a pair of work boots.

According to KTRK-TV in Texas, Jay Kowolski suffered chemical burns while working in the Bhrama boots, an in-house Wal-Mart brand, after the shoes got wet in the rain. Kowolski’s wife investigated and found similar experiences had happened to at least two other people. In 2007, Wal-Mart eventually pulled the flip flops from its shelves after receiving multiple complaints about chemical burns from customers, though the retailer never responded directly to Stiles’ complaint. In this case, Kowolski’s wife has sent a letter to Bentonville explaining about the Brahma boots, but just like last time, the company hasn’t responded.

How long until Brahma boots go the way of the flip flops?

Man claims work boots cause painful burns [ABC-13 (Texas)]:

A man has painful burns on his feet and he claims they’re from chemicals in the work boots that he bought. The man from Magnolia says he picked up some work boots at a Wal-Mart store, and he says the shoes have given him some major problems. He wants to know why.
It’s the last thing Jay Kowolski thought would ever happen. He bought a new pair of work boots and almost immediately his feet began to itch, then burn. It wasn’t until he took off the boots that he realized the extent of the damage to his feet in just one day. He took pictures to show the severity of the reaction.
“It’s a real lightweight suede boot, sued leather work boot,” said Kowolski.
Kowolski bought at the boots at a Wal-Mart in Tomball. They are the Brahma brand; a popular, reasonably priced boot. Kowolski wears boots at his job and on a rainy day, the new boots got wet, and that’s when he says his feet began to have a burning sensation.
“When I got home and pulled my boots off, my toes were all covered in red, just literally started eating into the skin,” he said.
The next day Kowolski could barely walk. His wife took him to a doctor.
“‘They said it was an allergic reaction to something in the boot, from the water going through the boots creating some sort of chemical reaction and had burned his feet,” said Jay’s wife, Kandie Kowolski.
Kowolski spent the next three weeks off his feet and on antibiotics. His skin eventually grew back, however he says the tips of his toes remain slightly red.
Kowolski’s wife, meanwhile, began researching the boots and found similar experiences had happened to at least two other people. Kandie Kowolski sent a certified letter to Wal-Mart’s president and CEO in Arkansas. She says she’s upset the company has not responded.
“Actually, I am because they seem to, you know, they portray that they care so much about the American people but you get a letter like this and you don’t even respond?” she said.
She is worried the problem could happen again.
“I would like for them to take these boots off the shelf,” said Kandie. “Don’t put the rest of these American people at risk because of something like that.”
Because of the holiday weekend, a Wal-Mart spokesperson was unable to speak specifically about the boots, but offers this general statement.
“The safety of our customers and associates is a top priority. Wal-Mart is committed to the highest standard of quality and safety with the merchandize that is available in its stores. We take every claim seriously and investigate each and every one.”
As for the Kowolskis, they tell Eyewitness News they have stopped buying any type of shoes at Wal-Mart until their complaint is resolved.
In 2007, about 10 customers claimed they received burns and blisters from flip-flop sandals they bought at Wal-Marts across the country. It’s a different brand from the boots. After learning about the problem, Wal-Mart pulled the sandals off store shelves.

Posted by Media Team on Monday, January 05, 2009

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COMMENTS

You got to be kidding!

Any wife or woman that would let their hubby or significant other buy and wear a pair of work boots from wallyworld doesnt care to much about them.

A mans feet and their comfort are important, work boots should protect and provide comfort, you wont find any of those qualities in anything walmart sells.

A Union recommended boot the “Ariat” Cobalt Technology, Wolverines, Red Wings or the like are quality that protects & provides comfort for hours on end.

You cant find these quality boots that PROTECT the American worker at wallyword. The concept of caring and providing for your workers is NOT in wallyworlds vocabulary!

Most Unions have a Safety Shoe Program for their employees, usually paying up to 85% sometimes 100% of the cost of a QUALITY boot for their workers, These quality boots last for years and wont Chemically burn feet!

After the flip flop fiasco Walmart should be banned by the Department of Health from EVER selling any form of foot wear, EVER again!

Michelle in
Monday, January 05 at 10:03 PM

““It’s a real lightweight suede boot, sued leather work boot,” said Kowolski.”

“(sued) leather work boot”? Could that be a Freudian Slip? LAWSUIT a-coming!! Wonder WHY nobody else has complained of this problem or was that the ONLY pair of those boots ever sold? But, if this guy starts a ‘class action’ suit, people by the thousands will start having the same problems with their boots!! WooHoo, FREE money!!

My brother, a die-hard union man’, says that Brahma Boots are ‘great’ and the only work boots he will buy!!

RDS in
Tuesday, January 06 at 01:21 AM

RDS-

He will change his mind after buying and wearing (I am on year 3) a good pair of Red Wings.

I like them so much I bought a pair of Irish Setters to wear when I am not working.

Coming from somebody who spends 12 hours a day on his feet in work boots, I would not even compare the two.

For the record, when I thought I couldn’t afford Red Wings I bought the Brahma’s. But I had to replace them every 3 months. At $30 a pair that would relate to $360 over the life of my $170 Red Wings. And I will probably wear out the soles before the leather.

Wal-Mart start paying your way! in Baraboo, WI
Tuesday, January 06 at 09:32 AM

Basically what we’re seeing here is the direct result of quality fade. By demanding lowers costs, Wal-Mart forces it’s supplier to use inferior, more toxic chemicals in the processing of the boots. Image what it must be doing to the poor snooks that handle that material everyday.

<n>quality fade:</b> the deliberate and secret habit of widening profit margins through a reduction in the quality of materials.

Ken V in Texas
Tuesday, January 06 at 10:31 AM

Wal-Mart start paying,

I was just stating what my brother told me, he’s a welder!! I myself wear Redwings and have a pair that I wear everyday and they are 6 years old and I would bet they will last another 3 years!! The problem is, some people just can’t lay out $170.00 for a pair of work boots, especially if they have been out of work for awhile, so the Brahma’s are a good temporary solution!!

“For the record, when I thought I couldn’t afford Red Wings I bought the Brahma’s. But I had to replace them every 3 months.”

But, if you wore them for 3 months, didn’t they make your feet itch and burn them badly the first day, like in the story? If they didn’t, doesn’t that make the story, kind of unusual?

RDS in
Wednesday, January 07 at 12:04 AM

RDS-

“But, if you wore them for 3 months, didn’t they make your feet itch and burn them badly the first day, like in the story? If they didn’t, doesn’t that make the story, kind of unusual?”

If a toy has lead paint and poisons a kid here and there should you not have to recall it?

Same kind of logic. If it is a problem, fix it!

Maybe if they lined them with rabbit fur they wouldn’t burn and itch feet.

Wal-Mart start paying your way! in Baraboo, WI
Wednesday, January 07 at 05:35 AM

oh michele dont buy all the bs on here because the same items were sold at all your favorite high cost stores too how is it walmarts fault when the same dam items are sold at all your favorite expensive stores too?why are you idiots too lazy and afraid to hold your favorite stores that sell the same crap that wm does to the same accountability standards?.

MATT IN in gresham,oregon
Wednesday, January 07 at 06:54 AM

hey idiots wm has no control over this stuff.well you say ban wm from ever selling footwear again huh?get real people.well according to that logic we might as well ban all shoe stores and retailers like k-mart target,volume shoes and etc from selling footwear too.

MATT IN in gresham,oregon
Wednesday, January 07 at 06:58 AM

MATT in gresham,

“.........the same items were sold at all your favorite high cost stores too how is it walmarts fault........”

No you can’t, thats the point Brahma is a boot made exclusively for Wal-mart.

Wal-Mart start paying your way! in Baraboo, WI
Wednesday, January 07 at 01:24 PM

Wal-Mart start paying,

“Same kind of logic. If it is a problem, fix it!”

But, is ONE case, a problem? Maybe this person is just allergic to one of the materials!! Are you saying that everytime one person has a problem with something, they should institute a multi-million dollar recall and a change in manufacturing? Can ANYTHING be made 100% safe for EVERYBODY?

“Maybe if they lined them with rabbit fur they wouldn’t burn and itch feet.”

But, if they did that, the animal rights groups would complain to high heaven!! First, they complain about using NATURAL products, then they complain about using MAN-MADE products!! There is always some GROUP who will find SOMETHING to complain about!!

RDS in
Wednesday, January 07 at 01:35 PM

Now rabbit fur is good for a lot of things. Heck I trap beaver, coon, fox coyote and bob cat the furs provide a good living and make good outdoor wear.

I had me a pair of gloves made out of beaver hide, there water proof and warm- the best damn gloves I ever had!

The animal rights groups can kiss my ass!

The only reason there isnt a market on their hides is cause there worthless!

Hill Billy Deluxe in
Wednesday, January 07 at 07:43 PM

walmart start paying sorry to burst your bubble but i have seen the same exact boots sold at k-mart and target as well.

MATT IN in gresham,oregon
Friday, January 09 at 06:48 AM

K-Mart and Target do not sell the Brahma boot line you lying asshole.

Dave in
Friday, January 09 at 06:59 PM

bs dave yes they do because i have worked for k-mart before dumbass and seen k-mart sell the same boots for years.i have shopped at target and sorry to burst your bubble dave target sold the same boots so zip your lip about wm selling them because your favorite stores sell the same boots and you dont bitch them out for it so shut up

MATT IN in gresham,oregon
Sunday, January 11 at 05:52 AM

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