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Alden QC: Would you be happy with receiving this pair of shoes? - Page 5

post #61 of 101
3/10/11 at 10:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TRINI View Post
I'm confused - doesn't Alden have Horween tan the cordovan to specific colours? Why should there be such a distinct variation between the two?

We're talking a difference of at least 2-3 shades or depth of colour.

I have two thoughts on why that might be:
1) The leather takes the color differently due to natural varience

2) When Alden paints on their over color, they don't spend very much time getting it uniform

These shoes look like there is significant natural variation in the shell. The darker shoe isn't very smooth, while the lighter shoe is nice and smooth. Also, the lighter pair doesn't look to have been painted by Alden.

Someone mentioned these shouldn't even be seconds. Clearly this person hasn't seen very much of what Shoemart sells as Alden seconds!
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post #62 of 101
3/10/11 at 10:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joenobody0 View Post
Someone mentioned these shouldn't even be seconds. Clearly this person hasn't seen very much of what Shoemart sells as Alden seconds!
Ive seen or worn 10-15 pairs of Alden shell seconds (all in in whiskey, ravello, and cigar) and have never seen anything remotely close to this. to me this really looks like 1 cigar, 1 #8 shoe
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post #63 of 101
3/10/11 at 11:00pm
Keep us updated Moo. Hope it all works out. If this is a mis-matched pair, it is possible that Leffot has the other pair, if they offered to send you one shoe to match, which colour would you prefer? The darker or lighter (say lighter)?
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post #64 of 101
3/10/11 at 11:09pm
This is ridiculous. The shoes are unwearable. Send them back.
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post #65 of 101
3/10/11 at 11:10pm
So as Moo states, there is not another pair in stock, therefore, it would be my guess that he got a pair in which one shoe was used for display and the other left in the box. Color 8 will lighten in the light or sunshine and its my guess that the lighter shoe sat in the light for a period of time and the color lightened. Clearly, I'm guessing here but if I'm remotedly close, no one really knows how long it sat in the sun or in the light while the vampire shoe sat in the box. My guess is that it's not a quality control issue but a situation that shows shell and #8's natural tendency. I'd be willing to bet that Alden could fix these very easily, or you could keep 'em and let the left shoe lighten naturally. They'll be fine and you'll have a pair of shoes that'll be the talk of the town.
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post #66 of 101
3/10/11 at 11:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LynahFaithful View Post
...you'll have a pair of shoes that'll be the talk of the town.

Not the kind of talk I would want to have going on about me though.
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post #67 of 101
3/10/11 at 11:14pm
^^^ridiculous to keep and wait for other shoe to match color!
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post #68 of 101
3/10/11 at 11:21pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the support, guys who showed support. As for WHY this is how it is: I am 100% sure it is a factory issue. These shoes had no chance to sit in sunlight as they were at Leffot for less than a week before they were shipped to me. Maybe 5 days at Leffot. Is that enough time for one shoe to lighten 2-3-4 shades? I don't know, but I don't think so. They are going back tomorrow... I am NOT dealing with having Alden "fix" them. I have a bad taste in my mouth about this whole thing. Where can I get some C&J shell?
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post #69 of 101
3/10/11 at 11:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sinnedk View Post
^^^ridiculous to keep and wait for other shoe to match color!
Not really. It wouldn't take that long if you put the other shoe in the sun when they aren't being worn and I'd be willing to bet that not very many people would even notice. They'd see the saddle and miss the color difference. I think the picture emphasizes the color difference. But, they aren't mine and Moo has made his decision.
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post #70 of 101
3/10/11 at 11:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewYorkRanger View Post
Some of you guys are fucking unbelievable. I'm waiting for someone to suggest a class action lawsuit against Alden because we all had to look at the shoes. Does it suck? Sure. And Moo is being offered a full refund. Another member chimed in that Alden can fix these through a refinishing, most likely free of charge. Remind me, if I ever open up my own business not to sell to you guys!

I don't make a snippet of what some of you guys do on here, so for me, $500 shoes are a HUGE deal, but when you're dealing with a rare product that is NOT easy to work with (stitching as well as staining) you have to expect a higher percentage of maker mistakes. I haven't noticed anyone complaining about their Alden calf make ups, so to me, if you can't figure out that this unique type of leather is VERY difficult to work with, then I don't know what to tell you.

Bravo!
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post #71 of 101
3/11/11 at 12:01am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FStyles View Post
I'm almost there with you.

I bought a pair of shell punchcap boots and the stitching started to come apart after 1month. Upon further inspection in sunlight, the sides of the boot looked like they had been painted on by a 3 year old with a crayola paintbrush. Like, swirls and almost looked like writing.

I thought I wouldn't mention it, but these shoes (the saddles) also have this exact issue on the lighter pair on both sides and near the heel. There is also 3 clearly imperfect stitches on the darker pair right in the front.

Alden REALLY needs to get their shit together. The demand for their product is being met with a steadily declining quality in their supply. Sad, really.
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post #72 of 101
3/11/11 at 12:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Moo View Post
I thought I wouldn't mention it, but these shoes (the saddles) also have this exact issue on the lighter pair on both sides and near the heel. There is also 3 clearly imperfect stitches on the darker pair right in the front.

Alden REALLY needs to get their shit together. The demand for their product is being met with a steadily declining quality in their supply. Sad, really.

Except for those loafers, right?
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post #73 of 101
3/11/11 at 12:29am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eustace View Post
Except for those loafers, right?

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post #74 of 101
3/11/11 at 12:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewYorkRanger View Post
Some of you guys are fucking unbelievable. I'm waiting for someone to suggest a class action lawsuit against Alden because we all had to look at the shoes. Does it suck? Sure. And Moo is being offered a full refund. Another member chimed in that Alden can fix these through a refinishing, most likely free of charge. Remind me, if I ever open up my own business not to sell to you guys!

I don't make a snippet of what some of you guys do on here, so for me, $500 shoes are a HUGE deal, but when you're dealing with a rare product that is NOT easy to work with (stitching as well as staining) you have to expect a higher percentage of maker mistakes. I haven't noticed anyone complaining about their Alden calf make ups, so to me, if you can't figure out that this unique type of leather is VERY difficult to work with, then I don't know what to tell you.

It is a rare material and difficult to work with that is why it commands a premium. If this pair can get out of the factory gate then it indicates a non-existent QC. Market for $500 plus shoes is small and is getting smaller. Alden should take a leaf from Allen Edmond CEO's book on listening and responding to what AE customers are saying. Alden's model appears to be to just work with the retailers and not reach out to the end customer.

Since my first experience, I have only bought Alden cordovan for Brooks Brother as I can inspect the shoe before paying for it. Would have I bought more Alden cordovan shoes then I have through BB? If my first experience was better, I sure would have as BB only has a limited cordovan range.
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post #75 of 101
3/11/11 at 2:10am
Wow - the proprietor of Leffot must be totally color blind. If I had a shoe shop and saw that come in to my shop, I would absolutely not accept it from the manufacturer. My standards are higher than that. Without a doubt, I would never send those out to a customer!
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