The Allen Edmonds MTO Thread

[gatszu]

I also got the form letter (ahem) from Allison this morning and was sad to find out that the party is indeed over.

What this says to me is two things:

1. AE sucks at PR. Having Allison send an impersonal copy/paste form letter to us, their most rabid fans, is proof. Having Paul, the CEO, explain why this decision was made, that they appreciate the support of the most devoted, etc etc, would have been more of a PR win. Parlay that into the steps the company is taking to harness the energy of their customers.

2. AE has virtually no relationship with their customers. What do they do with their most energetic online community fans who spend untold amounts of money on their shoes and basically act as unpaid brand ambassadors? Shut em down! With a form letter! Pathetic. They could have easily seen what was working with this program and the potential and worked it into something that COULD be profitable. One idea is instead of the lame webgems their uninspired designers pump out, do a crowd-sourced webgem that can be produced in larger runs and still be something people would actually want to buy. They've squandered a huge opportunity here.

I'm left with a few questions that AE themselves need to figure out. With the rapidly rising prices, uninspired new designs, lack of a relationship with their customers... what reasons are left to buy Allen Edmonds shoes?

I absolutely agree with you here. The PR approach could have been much better. They should at least have given us a fair warning instead of abruptly ending the program. If they were losing money from this program because of having too many remakes, the solution would be to have better trained workers so they don't have to remake rather than stopping the program altogether. Remaking shoes also apply to their regular line as well. Many of the seconds that I have seen, they were seconds because the product was poorly put together. That's a poorly trained worker issue. It's something that's fixable. It costs time and money to redo a pair of shoes. Might as well do it right the first time!

I've been waiting to get a pair of Alden, looks like now is the time.

 

[peppercorn78]

Something big must have changed. In his email to @mdubs, Paul Grangaard mentioned that one of his biggest priorities was to accelerate the setting up of a "shop within a shop" to further expand and accelerate the production of MTOs (not just for us, obviously).

Maybe that's no longer a priority?

Anyway, whatever the reason, intensely loyal customers like @bl@ster should really have been given some kind of personalized courtesy. It's almost as if it's a favor for them to sell shoes to us, and that's at odds with everything else I've experienced about AE's philosophy of outstanding customer service.

Having said that, I may be into joining someone's group buy in the future of a grain calf boot, if it's a manufacturer that will make EEE widths. That was going to be my next AE MTO.

 

[JezeC]

This thread will soon be dead.

Looks like Allison will have some free time without us badgering for more MTOs, haha.

 

[rydenfan]

@Bl@ster great post! And means even more coming from you who has put so many $$ into them. Really lame move and even lamer way to handle it.

 

[IGotId]



Just received this:

I need to make you aware that for this point on the style forum program has been discontinued. All custom order shoes will be charged a custom fee.

I apologize for inconvenience.

Thank you,

Allison Meyer

I received the same email today. Just my luck, I just joined the forum a few days ago & was looking forward to several MTOs. I don't think I'll be ordering any with the an extra custom fee.

I've been waiting to get a pair of Alden, looks like now is the time.

Looks like I'll be heading to their downtown shop this weekend!

 

[JubeiSpiegel]

Looks like this thread is running the course of grief stages. Some many good threads blowing up right now...

 

[bespoken pa]

I have reliable information from "sources" that AE has discontinued the MTO program in order that they may hire more designers to develop innovative offerings such as the beauts

 

[bespoken pa]

The rare rolex inspired BLNR balmoral boot to challenge EG's shannon boot. Those boys across the pond better get to innovating or risk making a profit with a boot that people will actually buy.

 

[JubeiSpiegel]



I have reliable information from "sources" that AE has discontinued the MTO program in order that they may hire more designers to develop innovative offerings such as the beauts

You know, i have a theory that most of those ridiculous web gems and make-ups are made to steal some business from Prada. I make the statement based on the fact the Prada is the only other company that makes similarly ridiculous make-ups. Although to be fair, AE has not reached the level of sartorial lunacy that Prada has. A preview of potentially next season's Prada inspired AE web gems, spoilered for those eating at home:

Spoiler: May God Have Mercy On Your Soul For Opening This Spoiler

 

[NWTeal]

@Bl@ster great post and to be honest I was a little surprised to read it from you, but it think it makes it more powerful.

@peppercorn78 I was thinking the same as well. I remember Paul mentioned that they wanted a more streamlined process for MTOs in time for boot season this fall, but I guess he is under a new directive.

 

[cincikid]

I'm left with a few questions that AE themselves need to figure out. With the rapidly rising prices, uninspired new designs, lack of a relationship with their customers... what reasons are left to buy Allen Edmonds shoes?

^This. None, as far as I can tell. With the recent jump in prices, uninspiring designs and virtually no interesting collabs with their resellers (formerly, with Canvas LE, Urban Daddy, Freemans SC), count me out. I will see y'all in the Alden thread.

 

[IGotId]



^This. None, as far as I can tell. With the recent jump in prices, uninspiring designs and virtually no interesting collabs with their resellers (formerly, with Canvas LE, Urban Daddy, Freemans SC), count me out. I will see y'all in the Alden thread. 

One reason I can think of is that many makers don't seem to offer varying widths...I'm guessing that Alden does?

 

[tifosi]



One reason I can think of is that many makers don't seem to offer varying widths...I'm guessing that Alden does?

They do, but not as easily accessible as AE.

 

[IGotId]



They do, but not as easily accessible as AE.

Sorry for the newbie question, who else offers different widths?

 

[tifosi]



Sorry for the newbie question, who else offers different widths?

I'm probably not the best person to ask. I don't have experience with a lot of different makers.