I purchased these despite the complaints of the smell.  The shoe is great for the money and is of decent quality.  Mine smell as pungently as about half the shoes I have ever purchased.  Either I got lucky or the claims of an unbearable stench are a bit exaggerated.

I would make the purchase again.  For the price if they last half a year I will have gotten my moneys worth.  I don't often have a need for a casual black shoe so the low cost fit the bill.