The boot was true to size (I wear a 9.5 and it fit nicely with regular white crew socks) and appears to be well made.  My complaint was that the leather was extremely dry and non-pliable.  It felt like a dried-out boot that has been sitting in the closet for several years without any conditioner ever having been applied or like boots that have been soaking wet and dried in front of the heater.

I absolutely soaked every square inch (including the tongue) with Meltonian leather conditioner and worked it well into the leather with my bare hands (I find that all my boots take in a conditioner better if applied with warm bare hands).  After that soaked in, I did it again.  The leather became more pliable and didn't feel like it was going to crack after the conditioner.  I think after one more application, they will be fine.

Again, I liked the boots or I would have sent them back instead of using the conditioner.

March, 2014 update:  Just wanted to add that the conditioner did the trick.  I wear these boots fairly often (I also have 2 more pairs in different colors) and they look and feel great