Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread - Page 547

random question... some have a black insole, while others are the standard color.  Is this just completely random or is it something else?  I read that the black insoles were from a couple years ago, however that wouldn't (shouldn't) be the case since the pic is new....

?

My Strands, purchased two years ago, have the lighter insole, the same as my Senaca's (8 years old) and my PA's (5 years old). I was thinking the black must be for newer shoes, but that may be wrong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hohneokc 


AE went to a black insole about 2008-2009 (not sure of exact date, but around there). Previously they used the natural colored insole. A lot of people found the black insole to be too hard and complained. So AE went back to the natural insole in about 2010 (again not sure if that is an exact date). My local menswear / shoe store still has a few AE's with black insoles, but they are non-standard sizes and have been on the shelf a couple of years. So there are some new AE's on the shelves out there with the black insole.
The AE CEO posted something either here or on AAAC about the switch of the insole.
Chris

Yea, i vaguely remember that story, thanks for confirming.  Surprised people are still getting 3 year old "new" shoes.  That isn't anything to worry about, right?  The AE religious fanatics have commented before that it isn't good for the leather to sit like that for years without any polish or conditioning...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjr4884 

 

Yea, i vaguely remember that story, thanks for confirming.  Surprised people are still getting 3 year old "new" shoes.  That isn't anything to worry about, right?  The AE religious fanatics have commented before that it isn't good for the leather to sit like that for years without any polish or conditioning...

That was my initial reaction, but I'm wondering if AE is reintroducing black insoles for some models.  The new pictures of the AE Strand in walnut on the AE website have a black insole.  The tan insole was the one pictured a few months ago.  And, when I was at an AE store trying on shoes recently, two of the pairs had black insoles.  I initially chalked that up as old inventory, but now I'm wondering.  Between the pictures on the website and how often they are turning up at AE stores, hmmm. . . .

Email replied

Dear Sir:

Thank you for your email.  We no longer use the black insoles.  The shoes that are out there with black insoles are older stock.  If you have any further questions please call toll free 800.235.2348 and speak with one of our representatives.

Sincerely,

Tina Lemanski

Allen Edmonds Shoe Corporation

201 Seven Hills Road, PO Box 998

Port Washington, WI 53074-0998 USA

t  (800) 235-2348

f  (262) 268-7427

e  cacmail@allenedmonds.com

w www.allenedmonds.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjr4884 

Email replied

 

Dear Sir:

 

Thank you for your email.  We no longer use the black insoles.  The shoes that are out there with black insoles are older stock.  If you have any further questions please call toll free 800.235.2348 and speak with one of our representatives.

Sincerely,

Tina Lemanski

 

Allen Edmonds Shoe Corporation

201 Seven Hills Road, PO Box 998

Port Washington, WI 53074-0998 USA

t  (800) 235-2348

f  (262) 268-7427

e  cacmail@allenedmonds.com

w www.allenedmonds.com

Interesting in light of how many are showing up.  If buying from AE, I would not accept a pair with black insoles if accurate that they are at least 2-3 years old.  Someone posted a few months ago that the flexing and creasing of the quarters is exacerbated by a shoe sitting on the shelf for too long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JubeiSpiegel 


Indeed, I get great service at my local AE store, I'm sincerely considering another custom order. Delrays in merlot with a natural sole, or navy leather with black sole like I did with the Mora. I'm really liking that sleek last...
In any case, enjoy those Veronas, great loafer...

Get the Delray in Merlot, so I can see pictures of it in real life. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Shoes1 

 

Interesting in light of how many are showing up.  If buying from AE, I would not accept a pair with black insoles if accurate that they are at least 2-3 years old.  Someone posted a few months ago that the flexing and creasing of the quarters is exacerbated by a shoe sitting on the shelf for too long.

I actually prefer the black insoles.  I feel they have a smoother feel against my foot, and I also feel they do a better job at keeping odors at bay.  Not sure why, but I feel that the latest natural insole makes my feet sweat more.

I purchased the Black Park Avenue, Walnut Strand, Brown Fifth Avenue, and Merlot McAllister from Nordstrom and so far, I have been very disappointed with what I have received. Because Nordstrom didn't have my size in store, 7.5E, I had to wait for them to ship these shoes to my home. So far, I have received all but the Fifth Avenue.

With the shoes I have received, I found defects on all of them. In regards to the PA, one toe box was probably 1/4 of an in shorter than the other. There was also scuffs and scratches around the heel of the shoe (which I wouldn't have cared too much about had it not been for the toe box issue). When I received the Strands, the toe box was perfect. However, I noticed patches of what looked like crackings within the leather of the shoe, on the outside. And with the McAllister I recevied, there were just scuffs everywhere. I decided to return the PA and Strands for now for an exchange. The second pair of PA I received was even worse with one toe box about 1/2 an inch shorter than the other. Also, the tip of the left toe box was bulging out so much that you couldn't see much of the edge of the shoe.

I believe these shoes were shipped out directly from AE. If this is true, I am very disappointed with my first pairs of their shoes.

Do you guys think I can go to a local AE store, let them know that I purchased these shoes from Nordstrom and ask for an exchange instead of waiting for Nordstrom to be the middle man to ship them out to me?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeH 


I'd expect the black to be limited to odd styles or odd sizes. For example, I got black insoles in my Cambridges, which are 10 EE. That is an unusual size, at least in the US. Frankly, I wouldn't have been totally surprised to see the lighter insoles that came before the black.
Maybe I'm too confident of leather's toughness, but I wouldn't really worry about 3 years of storage. It isn't like they are sitting in a warehouse w/o heat or AC. 30 years, then we're talking potential problems. Give them some TLC before putting them on the street, but if that leather isn't fine, it either started out with a hidden defect or it was stored very badly.

The issue with shoes sitting on the shelf for too long is not with the leather as that is easily remedied with conditioning.  If I recall correctly, the issue is with the amount of time the shoe has been off the last and how it holds its shape.  There were a bunch of posts a few months ago on the flexing and bowing of the quarters that many see with AE shoes along with the various things that exacerbate this.  If I am remembering it right, the amount of time the shoe has been on a shelf was one of those factors.