First, the kit did not contain all pieces, missing one gear, no instruction page.  Was seller greedy for a buck and put spare parts together and stapled the cardboard shut to be sold as new kit?  Also laces were too thick to easily pass through eyelets on verified Salomon shoes - had to use a thin screwdriver to push it through.  On third eyelet, had to press so hard that I broke off one of the lugs of the shoes.  This is what's called consequential damages from perpetrating fraud and using the inter-state commerce system to conduct that fraud.

Waited beyond Amazon return window to try lacing up the shoes.  A bit more customer skepticism would have saved me $16, and $135 for a new pair of Salomon shoes.

I should have listened to my conscience - too many low-star reviews here to be a good thing.  Buyer beware.