EpauletxAlden Special Make Up Thread - Page 5

There are only a few variations I *wouldn't* be in for, so I won't re-vote. My vote for commando can stand, and I dig cigar.

However, I will say I'll be passing on either 1) any PTB make up and 2) anything w/ a flat welt. The welt may seem less important to some, but it's a key detail for me.

I second this. I'd be down for a Cigar shoe with a few caveats:

 

1) Not down for a LWB. I'd prefer a SWB.

2) Would be down for a Plain Toe if it were different from the stock plain toes (Below examples: one has brass eyelets, one has a different blucher attachment)

How about a 6-eyelet NST Chukka in Cigar?  

 

Yeah, I figured that would be the current price, but if I'm going to put down a $350 non-refundable deposit, I'm going to need some sort of cost certainty on the final price. 12-18 months is a long time, there could be 2-3 price increases from Alden in that time frame, plus, what if the cost of shell somehow goes up significantly in that time frame? What if there are delays and even more price increases from Alden before the shoes are done?

If the deposit was refundable in the event of significant price increases and/or significant delays, then I wouldn't be concerned at all. But I don't want, for a worst-case hypothetical example, to be paying $900 for these boots 3 years down the road.

I totally agree with you. There's a lot of pricing risk. I was surprised that the price is set when the boot is delivered to Epaulet, not when Epaulet places the order with Alden.

The boot would cost around $700 if offered today. Alden seems to be increasing prices 5%-10% per year. If you assume it takes 2 years to get made up, costs $700 in today's dollars, and Alden increases prices by 5% both years, the price would be $770. If the increase is 8% in both years then the price would be $815

i would think that by placing an order now would lock in the today's prices.

Update:

Total of 16 votes for a special makeup show now. SWB's got 7 votes, LWB 5 votes, PTB 4 votes. The most popular SWB was the cigar with waterloc sole in the Leydon last. Most popular LWB was cigar, commando sole and Leydon last. Mike, what do you think? Do we have enough interest to have this SWB made up?

If that is the case, I don't understand why the deposit can't be refundable if there is a significant price increase from now. It's not like any of these vendors has difficulty selling rare color shell boots off of the shelf.

When I placed a rare color shell preorder with J. Gilbert, they required a $200 non-refundable deposit, but they gave me a final price, and placing the order locked in that price for me. Leather Soul operates under the same policy as well. When I placed a rare shell preorder with Alden DC, they were not able to give a final price, but they did not require a deposit, and they gave me the opportunity to opt out if I was unhappy with the price, timeline, or make-up once the order was done.

All of the other vendors that I've preordered rare shell Aldens through have offered either cost certainty or the ability to opt-out. Having neither would make me uncomfortable in proceeding with a preorder.

I hope that is the case, but the preorder page makes no mention of a final price. Epaulet still has not responded to my initial post asking about the final price, I'm hoping to get some sort of answer from them to help me make a final decision to preorder or not.
Edited by commodorewheeler - 2/3/12 at 8:17pm

 

So we're back to the original makeup?

 

• Cigar
• SWB
• Leydon Last
• Double Waterloc Sole
• 360 Welt
• Antique Edge Trim
• Blind Eyelets

Yea, pretty close. I do feel the Leyden last is a bit sleeker than the Barrie. I would suggest a single thickness Waterloc sole instead, but I'm flexible.

Here's a new link finalizing the details of the cigar SWB (i.e., welt, eyelets, sole):

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dDNmOWVGaC1TZEdyT0tGdmxwQUwwQ3c6MQ#gid=0

 

and results: 

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtJNXI0csKY2dDNmOWVGaC1TZEdyT0tGdmxwQUwwQ3c

The perorder page very clearly lists the pricing policy:

PRICING & TERMS
1. By placing this order, you will submit a $350 non-refundable deposit. This is approximately 50% of the final retail price of these boots, but that is subject to change according to Alden. When the boots are delivered, you will be billed for the balance of the retail price, which will be set according to the prevailing MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) for an equivalent style at that time. Cedar shoe trees will be included with the boots at no extra cost.


I can't see any way to interpret that, than I how I did in my previous post. The cost is set at delivery.

That makes sense, I did not see that part of the preorder policy before.

Are you going to do it?

To be fair to Epaulet, although there is pricing uncertainty, in many ways, you are getting a better 'deal' from Epaulet when doing a preorder such as this. Considering Alden just raised their prices and they have been consistently going up 5% every year, you are only really likely to see one price hike from Alden while we wait for this preorder to come in. So on a $700 pair of boots, you may see an increase of $35 in the 12 - 18 months before these boots come in, i.e. Feb. 2013 - Aug. 2013. If $35 makes a significant difference, maybe $700 boots is not a wise investment. Also, Epaulet does free shipping (which Leffot, Alden DC, and LS all charge between $12 - 25 for) and Mike noted on the preorder page that he will throw in a pair of shoe trees as well, which run me at least $15 - 20; so you still come out ahead even if a price isn't currently locked in. Further, Epaulet's prices for Aldens are super competitive, so you aren't getting taken advantage there either. So all in all, I think its a pretty good deal. Most importantly, Mike is willing to work with us in putting together these preorders, which is pretty unique.

And don't forget, you are getting a sick unique makeup that other retailers won't have. I can understand the pricing uncertainty is not ideal, but I think its a pretty great opportunity nonetheless. If you love the boot, you should go for it.