sending you hugs through this ordeal!
i think the worst part is they are your HG shoe. what an awful situation. you definitely aren't blind-- people are just trying to take advantage of CL lovers like you who really, really want this shoe. i bet they figure there is a certain percentage of people who won't know how to file a claim or who won't think it will work, and therefore just keep them. but you should fight! this is very unfair.
i think the worst part is they are your HG shoe. what an awful situation. you definitely aren't blind-- people are just trying to take advantage of CL lovers like you who really, really want this shoe. i bet they figure there is a certain percentage of people who won't know how to file a claim or who won't think it will work, and therefore just keep them. but you should fight! this is very unfair.