RANCOURT & Co. Shoes - Made in Maine - Page 120

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankCowperwood 

^This is what I would say too. Changing material and sole can change the cost of the shoe. You see the same model on their site at different costs based on these factors.

If they now have a straight MTO charge, though, then that's new and it would be disappointing.

I was told that anything other than what is shown on the site is considered "custom" and will incur a fee that starts at around $50, which in the case of the shoe I wanted is about a 25% increase. They added this new fee around 6 weeks ago after figuring out what they're costs are. It makes sense in that they are gearing up to have an online customization app, and will soon be bombarded by all sorts of custom orders. The flip side is that a company that doesn't overtly advertise making custom shoes (in this case Quoddy) doesn't charge for simple modifications, probably because they don't get too many custom orders and it's not a big deal to do one here and there. Anyway, I'm certainly not saying Rancourt's shoes aren't worth the (increased) price, but my thinking went from "Wow, I am definitely getting a pair of Rancourts" to "Well, since the cost is higher, maybe I should consider OSB and Quoddy as well" to "Hmm, do I even want to spend $300 on shoes right now?" We'll see.

Rancourt posted the video on FB again and said 

Quote:

Originally Posted by NNNN 

I was told that anything other than what is shown on the site is considered "custom" and will incur a fee that starts at around $50, which in the case of the shoe I wanted is about a 25% increase. They added this new fee around 6 weeks ago after figuring out what they're costs are. It makes sense in that they are gearing up to have an online customization app, and will soon be bombarded by all sorts of custom orders. The flip side is that a company that doesn't overtly advertise making custom shoes (in this case Quoddy) doesn't charge for simple modifications, probably because they don't get too many custom orders and it's not a big deal to do one here and there. Anyway, I'm certainly not saying Rancourt's shoes aren't worth the (increased) price, but my thinking went from "Wow, I am definitely getting a pair of Rancourts" to "Well, since the cost is higher, maybe I should consider OSB and Quoddy as well" to "Hmm, do I even want to spend $300 on shoes right now?" We'll see.

This seems a bit odd to me. I have placed a customer order within the last 6 weeks and was not charged this fee. Are you sure the particular make up is not more expensive either due to a different leather or sole which might change the cost?

My Quddy's involved no additional charge as well. In fact they told me their rational is that they have to make every pair by hand so it really doesnt matter what the makeup is; I would think the same logic ought to apply for Rancourt...

If Rancourt offers the service and people are willing to pay, then that's what it is.  I just received a pair of MTO Quoddy's as well.

Has anyone else heard this from Rancourt? 

^ I've been emailing back and forth with someone at Rancourt to nail down the details of my next pair of shoes, and she told me basically this same thing when I asked. I gave her the feedback that they really need to mention this fee somewhere on their website, as this thread is the first place I heard about it (including it not being mentioned when asking how to go about ordering a customized pair of shoes).

It's a little bit bewildering - while I do understand the reasoning for a higher price for a made-to-order shoe, it seems to me that it would cost them the same to make a penny loafer as shown on the site as it would to make the exact same shoe with a different color sole. Especially since in both cases the shoe is being made to order for you and thus they're not filling an order from existing inventory. 

Just had the same experience.  Wanted to get a pinch penny loafer with leather sole and heel and the price went from 210->310 even though the exact shoe except as a beefroll loafer is 260.

Kind of disappointing especially when the modification free version is made only after you order it...