.... Meindl's quality control has taken a nosedive in recent years ....
You might have a point there KB
My beloved Old Faithfuls which I wore until they were literally falling apart.... soooper comfy, uber waterproof with many miles of every type of terrain imaginable under their poor, worn out soles. My new ones, yeh, comfy, waterproof but .... lacking a "something" in the quality of them.
To the OP - I agree with everyone's comments - take 'em back for exchange or refund. They shouldn't fail that quickly unless they're faulty.