There's no denying the allure of a good bargain, especially when it comes to fashion. We at the Seniors Discount Club are all too familiar with the joy sparked by an affordable and stylish piece of clothing that can make us feel a million dollars. Yet, there are times when these budget purchases can lead to unexpected downfalls, as many Kmart shoppers have recently discovered with one of their popular bestsellers.

Let's dive in deeper and reveal the embarrassing flaw that has left a significant number of Kmart consumers… well, say we say, a little red-cheeked.

Under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons are Kmart's Boot Mid Rise jeans. Sure, they're stylish, your posterior looks nothing short of stunning, and the fit has you doing double-takes in the mirror. But many shoppers have flooded social media platforms to lament a recurrent defect that has them questioning the durability of these fan favourites.

A customer took to a popular Facebook group to voice her dismay after not one, but two pairs of these jeans met an unfortunate end with a rip down the buttocks seam after only a few wears. The frazzled seam split into an inappropriately revealing rip, making for an awkward situation we'd all rather avoid.

These Kmart jeans ripped in a rather unflattering fashion. Credit: Kmart Hacks & Decor/Facebook

The consequent outpour of solidarity from fellow Kmart shoppers revealed that this was not an isolated incident, but a more common problem than one would expect for a popular clothing item. Some even dared to use the term ‘horror’, which, for a pair of innocuous jeans, seemed quite dramatic yet understandable considering the unexpectedly revealing nature of the defect.

An employee allegedly disclosed that around 15 pairs were returned within one week for the same embarrassing seam split defect, sending a strong signal that there could be a considerable problem to address for the budget retailer. Unfortunately, Kmart has yet to comment on the issue, leaving many customers hanging by a thread (quite literally).

One shopper humorously revealed she was too ‘nervous’ to exchange her defective jeans for a second time, fearing a repeat performance would leave her more than just red-faced. Others expressed their shared sentiment, leaving lighthearted comments about their own unfortunate experiences.

Interestingly, many shoppers admitted to loving the style and fit of the offending jeans, despite the unfortunate flaw. They hoped to find replacements from other sources that offered the same style without the feared seam split.

Under Australian consumer law, faulty products can be returned for a refund or replacement. Credit: Kmart Hacks & Decor/Facebook

Some shoppers offered workarounds to circumvent the problem, ranging from upsizing for a more accommodating fit to opting for different style alternatives. These anecdotes offer hope for those who are still hopelessly smitten by these genuine but sadly flawed jeans.

As such, if you're planning to buy online or visit your local Kmart anytime soon, we'd suggest practising the age-old adage of 'buyer beware'. Remember, it's not just the price tag that determines a bargain; quality and durability are equally important.

To those already owning a pair of these notoriously fragile jeans, please don't wait for an embarrassing moment if you find a seam starting to fray. Take them right back to your store for a refund or an exchange. Meanwhile, our SDC community will keep a hopeful eye out for any official response from Kmart on this rather 'cheeky' problem.

Key Takeaways

• Kmart customers have inundated social media with complaints about a flaw in a popular pair of jeans that splits along the buttocks seam after a few uses.
• One customer revealed that she had purchased two pairs of the Boot Mid Rise jeans, which both frayed and ripped at the same spot.
• Many other shoppers chimed in, sharing their similar embarrassing experiences with the faulty jeans.
• The customer who made the original post said it was 'overwhelming' to see how many people had the same problem, expressing her disappointment as a dedicated Kmart jeans lover.

Finally, it’s worth remembering that as an Australian consumer, you have a fair number of rights that protect you in unfortunate situations such as this unfortunate faux pas. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) guarantees consumers statutory rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) when they purchase goods. You can read more about your rights here.

By the way, we wrote about how best to look after your jeans and maximise their lifespan - take a look.

Have you ever had any wardrobe malfunctions you’d be brave enough to share with the rest of the Club? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[Marj53]

It is a pity that all or most of our clothes are made overseas now. I remember the days when Rivers clothing was all made here and there only shop was in Ballarat in a beautiful old heritage building. Then when they began to open new stores all over Melbourne etc that's when their clothing started being made overseas. I also remember when my sister worked at Quicksilver in Torquay many years ago,the clothing was all made locally at the Quicksilver factory/warehouse there. Then as it's popularity grew it was sent offshore. I remember the labels use to say something like "Designed in Australia,Cut and Assembled in New Zealand or New Delhi,or somewhere like that. And I remember my sister telling us that it caused uproar at the factory and everyone was very upset. Can anyone please tell me and this may sound a bit naive of me,but why don't we make our clothing,shoes etc,etc here in Australia. Wouldn't it help our economy?And wouldn't it create jobs here?

So agree with you. Maybe a bit more expensive here, but I would much rather pay a bit more for quality.

 

[mylittletibbies]

It is a pity that all or most of our clothes are made overseas now. I remember the days when Rivers clothing was all made here and there only shop was in Ballarat in a beautiful old heritage building. Then when they began to open new stores all over Melbourne etc that's when their clothing started being made overseas. I also remember when my sister worked at Quicksilver in Torquay many years ago,the clothing was all made locally at the Quicksilver factory/warehouse there. Then as it's popularity grew it was sent offshore. I remember the labels use to say something like "Designed in Australia,Cut and Assembled in New Zealand or New Delhi,or somewhere like that. And I remember my sister telling us that it caused uproar at the factory and everyone was very upset. Can anyone please tell me and this may sound a bit naive of me,but why don't we make our clothing,shoes etc,etc here in Australia. Wouldn't it help our economy?And wouldn't it create jobs here?

There is one reason and one reason only, money. We have priced ourselves out of the manufacturing market, our wages are so much higher than those overseas.
In other words, we want high wages but won't pay to buy our own Australian made products because they are too expensive
We can't have it both ways.

 

[Catherines]

It’s not necessarily a problem caused by cheap clothing or materials but it’ll be caused by the material being sewn on the very edge and not say, half centermetre from the edge. I’ve had this occur in expensive, cheap and homemade clothing. The material just pulls away from where it’s been stitched. Probably a batch problem and Kmart can sort out with manufacturer. Remember Kmart sells these jeans nationwide and it’s not obviously happening in all pairs or shops. You do need to return them or Kmart doesn’t know and therefore the problem can’t be solved.

I agree with you on how far from the edge a seam is stitched, but there is also country of origin and quality of material to be taken into consideration. Agreed, take it back or seller does not know of the problem (they don’t read SDC readers’ comments).

 

[Catherines]

It is a pity that all or most of our clothes are made overseas now. I remember the days when Rivers clothing was all made here and there only shop was in Ballarat in a beautiful old heritage building. Then when they began to open new stores all over Melbourne etc that's when their clothing started being made overseas. I also remember when my sister worked at Quicksilver in Torquay many years ago,the clothing was all made locally at the Quicksilver factory/warehouse there. Then as it's popularity grew it was sent offshore. I remember the labels use to say something like "Designed in Australia,Cut and Assembled in New Zealand or New Delhi,or somewhere like that. And I remember my sister telling us that it caused uproar at the factory and everyone was very upset. Can anyone please tell me and this may sound a bit naive of me,but why don't we make our clothing,shoes etc,etc here in Australia. Wouldn't it help our economy?And wouldn't it create jobs here?

One simple answer - our wages are too high, people want higher wages but don’t want to pay higher prices for products. As wages go up so does the cost of everything else. The big companies want to keep up their profits so up go the prices. A circle has no beginning & no end. Apply that here!! It’s a vicious circle.

 

[Jennylolo]

and once the edges were turned over so you couldn't see the edge , then hemmed/stitched and then different pieces come together making a garment with over locking. But now the whole thing is overlocked in one go. No wonder seams come apart.

 

[Go Cats]

So agree with you. Maybe a bit more expensive here, but I would much rather pay a bit more for quality.

Thanks,yes I agree,rather pay more for quality.

 

[Go Cats]

There is one reason and one reason only, money. We have priced ourselves out of the manufacturing market, our wages are so much higher than those overseas.
In other words, we want high wages but won't pay to buy our own Australian made products because they are too expensive
We can't have it both ways

 

[Go Cats]

Thanks,no we can't have it both ways can we. Bit sad,but it is what it is.

 

[Go Cats]

One simple answer - our wages are too high, people want higher wages but don’t want to pay higher prices for products. As wages go up so does the cost of everything else. The big companies want to keep up their profits so up go the prices. A circle has no beginning & no end. Apply that here!! It’s a vicious circle.

Thanks.Sad isn't it?

 

[Go Cats]

Oh I think these were the jeans you advertised a few weeks back.
Thank you for the update.

My stove is only cooking on high no matter what temperature have it on , the whole four elements are doing it , I'm renovating my kitchen soon and will be buying a new oven so didn't want to get it fixed or buy a new one yet.
So I purchased a hotplate with 2 elements from kmart , great to cook omelettes, mushrooms, meat patties , soup but forget cooking steak and I tried cooking chips and 1 hour and 15 minutes later they still were not cooked and because temperature of oil would not get high enough the chips would have been filled of oil .
I cook my chips in the airfryer but hubby and one son wants them ffr

 

[Go Cats]

Yes,I bought a 2 element hotplate from Kmart during Covid when no tradies could come to the house to fix my stove. The hot plate took ages to heat up,but once heated up it did cook things that only needed shallow frying okay,but forget about deep frying,it was useless. If I wanted potato wedges,chippies etc, I'd buy the frozen ones and put them in the air fryer( not a Kmart one)and they would come out cooked beautifully. I guess we get what we pay for.