AE "flaw".

Went to the AE store in Philly this weekend to pick up a pair of Cornwalis shoes in burnished brown (not a very noticeable burnish). They didn't have my size so I received a pair today on my doorstep. The picture shows the gap in the Goodyear welt.

I called AE and sent a pic and spoke with a very pleasant and helpful rep. She said she'd try to contact the two stores that had the shoe in stock and called me back. She said one store had the shoe but one was showing creasing from being tried on.

She gave me several options:
1) order a new pair and wait about 4 weeks

2). Keep the current pair and it would be discounted to 279.

3). Wear the shoes a few days, send them back at their expense and have the shoe repaired by basically re-doing the welt. It would take two weeks and she assured that I would have to be happy wirh the remade shoe. AND she would still discount the shoe to 279.

4) She would check the shoebank for a "second".

She was very pleasant and said no matter what I decided, she did not feel the flaw/small gap in the welt would impact the wear of the shoe, and assured me it wouldn't be seen when covered by pants. But she did acknowledge it shouldn't have made it through inspection and understood my concern.

I opted to send them back at their expense, have the issue corrected and accept the discount to 279.

Any thoughts?

thanks

AE "flaw".