Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread - reviews, pictures, sizing, etc...

[Winston S.]



Which of the four locations in NYC is recommended? I've been to the 44th street store, but it was fairly small.

I like the Rockefeller store on 6th ave.

 

[ScottyBoy920]

That's a terrible choice to make. The correct answer is all of them!

Fill the gap in your shoe collection keeping in mind the bourbon is more versatile. What do you currently have?

Brown Glasgow loafers
Chili Regent Street
Tan Suede Neumoks
Blue Neumoks
Brown/Brown Grain Hamptons
Black Cole Haan Captoe
Burgundy Patriots (likely being returned)

I think I need another captoe which is why I am leaning towards the strand; just worried bourbon may be too dark(like brown) and that is why I like the walnut.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[David Copeland]

Which of the four locations in NYC is recommended? I've been to the 44th street store, but it was fairly small.

None, unless they have the style you want along with several sizes.

I have seen more and more posts lately of folks buying styles and sizes unseen - without knowing what their professional fit is for a particular style - which spells out the "last" plus the length and width.

You might also call the Nordstrom's Department store across the river in NJ and speak personally only to the department manager. He will offer to bring in styles and sizes from other stores and AE so that you can try them on.

All my best,

David

 

[ScottyBoy920]

Which of the four locations in NYC is recommended? I've been to the 44th street store, but it was fairly small.

Rockefeller is much larger and has a great SA named Liz. I was just in the 44th street location and yes it is small, but the customer service is just as good.

 

[David Copeland]

I just received a pair of 11E, they were perfect along the instep but too loose in the heal and a little tight in the toes.

Any recommendations?

Speak to a Manager at a full size AE store or at a Nordstrom Shoe Department Store and insist on a professional fit and sizing for the various styles and lasts that AE offers. Take in your Christmas list of potential future purchases too.

AE website has a printable shoe size chart, and the AE and Nordstrom Managers can speak with you on the phone to help determine the best size and last if you choose only to order by mail.

Also, both stores offer the free return shipping to experiment with sizing.

And, if a store does not have the style and size to try on - ask the Manager to bring it in for you in advance of your visit. If you cannot get a manager to do that - then private message me for a manager who will.

David

 

[jd13jd13]

Thanks for the replies. The reason I'm not to keen on the 44th street location is because I have a pretty small foot, and still not sure about my sizing, so I'd like to go to a store with more stock.

 

[David Copeland]

The few times that I had the unmitigated gall (as far as the staff was concerned) to try to buy some Nordstrom brand shoes there, the answer was always "We don't have those in your size".

Like most folks visiting the shoe department, you got nabbed by a sales associate and not the manager. Had you called the store before visiting and spoke only to the manager, he/she would have said "If I don't have the size/style, then I will order them in from another store or AE so you can try them on."

I always got the shoes that I wanted in my size, but I always got them from the Nordstrom website.

That may have worked in the past, but the current sale of multiple styles, sizes, and colors is not fully available on their website. But a personal email or phone call to a department manager will assure you of a full selection of everything being promoted.

David

 

[David Copeland]

Oh...I have my $ on David due to his connections with the Nordstrom Mafia.

LOL.

By the way, I believe you mentioned a few months ago your desire to get together in Montana on a visit with me. Perhaps I can show you the golf course in Glacier National Park where Jimmy Hoffa is buried!

David

 

[rydenfan]

Walnut (cordovan) Wednesday

 

[David Copeland]

Have you not yet realized that David Copeland and Upward are the same individual? David moved to Montana to get treatment for his multiple personality disorder. Two of his competing personalities are: (i) Upward, who hates Nordstrom; and (ii) David, whose dream is to one day manage the shoe department at the Spokane, Washington Nordstrom.

Absolutely! I even enjoy posting to my other alternative names, such as New Shoes1! But Spokane? Maybe once a year to try on different styles and fits . . . but once I know my size, little need to venture to the big city, except to pay my respects to those who are stuck there.

As for moving to Montana . . . right on. More cattle in this state than people, the the Big Western Sky this month does help with all of the disorders of life.

Your cousin,

David

 

[David Copeland]

Nordstrom was unwilling to sell any different color at sales price. The sales associate wouldn't look to see if they had a shirt in my size during Christmas because according to her, they don't ship sales/clearance items. She told me I would have to go home and find it on their website and order it myself.

I told a sales guy at Nordstrom how badly my strands were creased after 2 wearings and he said once the shoes are worn once there is nothing they can do.

A salesperson I know at Nordstrom also said they sold out quickly and they pushed AE to send whatever they had available. Many people got stuck with seconds they purchased at Nordstrom if they did not make the presale.

I was very loyal to Nordstorm in the past but they did not have Mcallister in merlot and I did not want it in black, and the sales associate didn't care if I purchased or not because there were 10 other shoppers.

Once again, you chose to work with a sales associate and not the department manager. If everything you reported is accurate, then the accuracy stops beneath the department manager.

Department Managers in multiple stores have personally stated they will refund or exchange any shoe they fit after six months of wear!

Department Managers will bring in other sizes, styles, and colors prior to your visit to make sure the fit is proper.

Department Managers may be busy at times, so make an appointment.

And yes, when I contacted the store a few months ago there was limited stock in styles and sizes and colors. But that was very quickly resolved when the manager offered to bring in other inventory for my approximate size.

I purchase from Nordstrom because of the policy of returns after a sizing. I purchase directly from AE as long as I know my size and when they price match or have sales. Both are good companies.

If you need a contact, let me know.

David

 

[AdamAdam]

Brown Glasgow loafers
Chili Regent Street
Tan Suede Neumoks
Blue Neumoks
Brown/Brown Grain Hamptons
Black Cole Haan Captoe
Burgundy Patriots (likely being returned)

I think I need another captoe which is why I am leaning towards the strand; just worried bourbon may be too dark(like brown) and that is why I like the walnut.

Thoughts anyone?

Have you seen each in person? The reason I ask is because when I saw the walnut (both Strand and McAllister) I loved the color. When I was thinking about my next shoe I looked online and thought bourbon was the perfect in-between color but once I went to the store and saw it in person I really didn't like it at all. I ended up getting merlot.

 

[Fabian43]

No offense, but someone should just make a Nordstrom thread given how much it is talked about in an Allen Edmonds thread


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

I have no axe to grind with Nordstrom. I spent a lot of money at Nordstrom and racked up $20 Nordie notes every month for many years. There was no better way to spend a weekday than shopping at Nordstrom followed by Chinese Chicken Salad at the Nordie Cafe and Nordstrom coffee.

At the same time if you can't see the business plan at Nordstrom has changed then you're blind or delusional. They channged from a store that focused on service to a store that is now focused on foot trafic. Nordstrom went the way of Marshall Fields just before they changed to Macy's.

I like Allen Edmonds and so far they have offered great service I recieved at Nordstrom in the past.

I also like Bruno Magli, Santoni and Gucci. I am not going to kiss any brands rear but I will speak the truth about my experiences.

Yes, there was a time when Nordstrom would bend over backwards to make a cutomer happy. Those days are gone. Sales associates that have been there many years may try to keep the old way going but the new hires are not service focused and managers don't help sales associates.

As for Nordstrom selling seconds I find it interesting you quote CEO's and dismiss what people who PURCHASED the shoes say. Maybe they're not seconds but they should have been. Quality control was low duing the sale and many shoes were sold at Nordstom that were flawed. Like I said, a manager at AE said they had many problems during the sale. But they did stand behind their shoes. I'll post pictures of all my AE shoes when I pick the last ones up.

completely subjective, and in no way can either you, me, anyone else in this thread, or the owners/past owners of said shoes pass judgement IF the AE "seconds" markings were not been applied to the shoes.

not saying a pair of "seconds" didn't pass out of AE's factory to wherever it may end up, either their intended "seconds" retail outlets (or the underground railroad to Nordstrom), without the marking...

I have no horse in this race.. all three pairs of my AEs are technically seconds (one from J'ville outlet, the other two from Nordstrom RACK), so I couldnt care less about the topic at hand, just throwing my .02 in because I can

It sounds like we have reached an understanding then. Indeed, nobody ever said that there weren't some issues during last year's sale. I mentioned that previously as well. As kwhilelaw said, determining which flaws should cause a shoe to be classified as a factory second is subjective. I am not an AE employee, but I assume that it is safe to guess that they have certain printed criteria predefined that the shoes are subjected to in the QA/QC department. In addition to these, I am sure they leave a certain amount up to the discretionary trained eyes of the QA/QC employee. I am quite sure they also take different considerations in mind when the flaw may lead to failure of the shoe down the road, as opposed to something being strictly aesthetic. Since such a major component of making these shoes involves human hands, you can't expect perfection at the level of product output that AE maintains. They have to have allowances in what can be considered a first quality shoe that still isn't perfect. They may even tighten or loosen these criteria within certain limits depending upon existing demand, I really don't know. If they do, I don't personally have a problem with it, as long as they are flexible with the customer being the final judge (which they are).

Going ahead and labeling a shoe with minor flaws as a second may even lead to it selling quicker, since it will expose it to the customers to actually allow more flaws, whereas it may sit and collect dust in a first quality shop since the customers are naturally more scrutinizing there. On the flip side, I have seen shoes in first quality shops that should be seconds based on my subjective opinion of what is an acceptable flaw. For example, I can't stand it when the cap toe line is crooked on Park Avenues/Fifth Avenues. It's subjective, but I personally like them to be perfectly straight. All this to say, I think there is obvious flexibility in their criteria, as there should be.

The issue we were getting flared up about is simply the accusation that they were secretly selling seconds, by one of two methods:

1. They were sneaking shoes into Nordstrom that were clearly branded as seconds by the AE factory (with the symbol branded on the sole), and marking them at first quality prices hoping that customers wouldn't notice. They were either doing this with or without AE's knowledge (this should be impossible since AE doesn't sell new seconds to Nordstrom, according to the CEO).
2. AE was intentionally sending shoes from the factory to Nordstrom where the QA/QC staff deliberately looked the other way, and allowed them to be considered firsts when they shouldn't have been. They were either doing this with or without Nordstrom's knowledge.

Either of the above accusations are major and have far reaching consequences in the integrity of a company and whether they are trustworthy. This would also potentially ruin the business relationship between AE and Nordstrom unless both parties were involved in one of the above conspiracies. I don't believe that either of the above scenarios took place. Rather, I believe that it is most likely something in the previous paragraphs that took place.

Sorry for the long post, but hopefully the rumor can be put to rest unless someone has some objective facts or evidence to the contrary.

 

[Winston S.]



None, unless they have the style you want along with several sizes.

I have seen more and more posts lately of folks buying styles and sizes unseen - without knowing what their professional fit is for a particular style - which spells out the "last" plus the length and width.

You might also call the Nordstrom's Department store across the river in NJ and speak personally only to the department manager.  He will offer to bring in styles and sizes from other stores and AE so that you can try them on.

All my best,

David

I totally disagree with you on this David. I am sure that the AE sales associates, not even the managers, are willing to do all that the Nordstrom department managers are willing to do. I have shopped with Liz in the Rockefeller store too and she was a pleasure to deal with.