"Quality" is a socially-engaged narrative based on the German shoemakers, the Gessler brothers.
The unnamed narrator starts of with a visit to their shop and praises them for their long-lasting and durable shoes. One day, he requests a pair of Russian-leather shoes, and Mr Gessler provides him one. However, the narrator returns complaining that the shoes creak. Mr Gessler promises to repair the shoes or pay back the narrators’ money.
On another day, the narrator ventures into the shop wearing shoes made by a big firm. Mr Gessler criticizes the quality of the shoe make for not catering towards an individual’s feet. He is given new shoes and they last for two years. On his next visit, the narrator is shocked to realize that the older Mr Gessler has died and his younger brother has taken over the shop. He buys several shoes from the shop that day.
He then goes abroad for a year and when he returns, he requests a large order of shoes again. After a week, the narrator ventures into the shop only to find it empty of its sign. He learns the younger Mr Gessler also died, from starvation, because he spent all day trying to make the best-quality shoes.
The story ends with the narrator confirming they made the finest shoes.
