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Best Shoe Repair in USA or Send Abroad?

crwecko

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Hello Everyone. I wanted to get my John Lobb Becketts resoled and rehealed since I can't afford to buy a new pair right now and was wondering if anyone can recommend some shoe repair places that would do it on the level of a high end cobbler. John Lobb wants to charge $450 to send them back to the factory to get them refurbished but that's about how much I paid for them at the factory (they were rejects). My budget is around $100-$150 and I want the new sole to be restitched (not glued) and to have closed channel stitching. If anyone knows of any place that could do it almost as well as the factory for that price it would be much appreciated!
 

cypi2

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In the SFO bay area, I'd recommend the services of Orinda Shoe Repair (https://www.yelp.com/biz/orinda-shoe-service-orinda). I haven't had any shoes resoled by them yet, but, I have been thoroughly pleased by other work they have done on some of my shoes. I do not know if they do closed channel but I would not be surprised if they did.

Otherwise, if you are willing to ship your shoes to the East coast, I'd recommend B. Nelson. I haven't had any shoes resoled by them either, but, I have been pleased by other work they have done on some of my shoes. You'll find many reviews about B. Nelson by running a search on this forum.
 

crwecko

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In the SFO bay area, I'd recommend the services of Orinda Shoe Repair (https://www.yelp.com/biz/orinda-shoe-service-orinda).  I haven't had any shoes resoled by them yet, but, I have been thoroughly pleased by other work they have done on some of my shoes.  I do not know if they do closed channel but I would not be surprised if they did.

Otherwise, if you are willing to ship your shoes to the East coast, I'd recommend B. Nelson.  I haven't had any shoes resoled by them either, but, I have been pleased by other work they have done on some of my shoes.  You'll find many reviews about B. Nelson by running a search on this forum.


Thanks for the recommendation. Orinda Shoe Repair actually looks very decent with 5 stars. I've heard mixed reviews about B. Nelson - they have a really poor rating on Yelp of only 3 stars and lots of complaints. People here on this forum have commented that they've gone down hill too. will Orinda Shoe Repair really do almost as good of a job as John Lobb? :) I need them to look decent enough to wear, not a super thick ugly sole...
 

cypi2

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Quote: Thanks for the recommendation. Orinda Shoe Repair actually looks very decent with 5 stars. I've heard mixed reviews about B. Nelson - they have a really poor rating on Yelp of only 3 stars and lots of complaints. People here on this forum have commented that they've gone down hill too. will Orinda Shoe Repair really do almost as good of a job as John Lobb?
smile.gif
I need them to look decent enough to wear, not a super thick ugly sole...

It might be difficult for any cobbler to do the exact same job as that the shoe maker who produced the shoes would do.

As I mentioned, Orinda Shoe Repair has not resoled any of my shoes yet. But, based on my experience with them, I trust they'd do a very decent job, and, I will take my shoes to them when I need them to be re-soled.

I spent some time “talking shoes” with them, and, I believe that they know about, and love shoes, as much as all the “shoe nuts” like me on this forum. And, I have been consistently and thoroughly pleased with the work they have done on my shoes (sole guards, toe taps, etc…) and with their above-par service.

To decide whether you trust them to work on your shoes, it is probably best that you get in touch with them or visit them to explain what you are looking for. I’d recommend you ask to talk to Torre. It would not surprise me that they honestly let you know if they felt they cannot meet your expectations.
 

Nick V.

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Thanks for the recommendation. Orinda Shoe Repair actually looks very decent with 5 stars. I've heard mixed reviews about B. Nelson - they have a really poor rating on Yelp of only 3 stars and lots of complaints. People here on this forum have commented that they've gone down hill too. will Orinda Shoe Repair really do almost as good of a job as John Lobb? :) I need them to look decent enough to wear, not a super thick ugly sole...


I would highly suggest that you try Orinda and post before and after pictures. Blind stitched and foot-bed replacement for $100.00-$150.00?

YELP? They allow fraudulent remarks to stand. Then they contact you for a pay-per-click program and offer very positive results. When you ask that (ONLY) the the fraudulent comments be removed, they refuse. Many of my friends are business owners, none respect the value of YELP -nor- do any of them refer to the service for their own personal advice, including me.

I did a search on SF and can't find where "people here on this forum have commented that they've gone down hill too". Meaning B. Nelson.

Please post those comments......

I, for one, would be interested to read them.
 

cypi2

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Quote:
YELP? They allow fraudulent remarks to stand. Then they contact you for a pay-per-click program and offer very positive results. When you ask that (ONLY) the the fraudulent comments be removed, they refuse. Many of my friends are business owners, none respect the value of YELP -nor- do any of them refer to the service for their own personal advice, including me.

I did a search on SF and can't find where "people here on this forum have commented that they've gone down hill too". Meaning B. Nelson.

Please post those comments......

I, for one, would be interested to read them.

In agreement with @Nick V. 's comment, I have generally found the reviews, comments and recommendations on fora such as this one much more helpful than those I found on Yelp.

I did send my shoes to B.Nelson after reading the many positive reviews it received in this forum and after receiving some recommendations from other posters, and, I was not disappointed.

Well on the contrary, they did a good job that met all my expectations.
 

well-kept

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My experience with Nick at B. Nelson has always been positive. In addition to the quality of the finished work, the attention to detail is rarely found elsewhere. A client can be very specific discussing options - materials and methods. Months can go by between visits and Nick will remember a previous issue of balancing a heel to sole, and ask how they're wearing, to give just one example of the care taken.

The fee charged by Lobb is high, but for those demanding a resole on the original last, there are no cut-rate options. That's a simple fact. Returning shoes to the maker may also offer no guarantee of quality. I've had factory resoles done by a peer and competitor of Lobb, naming no names, where multiple mistakes were made.

Yelp may be an instance of democracy having gone a step too far, when someone's reputation can be tarnished anonymously. Wildly varying comments - pro and con - can be found regarding any institution or service. One person loves it more than life itself. Another will never go back and is suing, etc. It becomes nearly meaningless.

Much better to talk with those who have had actual contact. And voila! Styleform.
 

cypi2

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I could not say it better than @well-kept

But again, I do not think that anything you’ll read on any forum/review site can replace getting in touch with artisans, explaining what you are looking for, listening to what they answer and forming your own opinion as to whether they’ll meet your expectations. Fora such as SF are probably a better place than Yelp to find the artisans to whom to talk.

For example, I did not know how to order work to be done on my shoes over the internet, and, the way I first explained it to B. Nelson was extremely awkward and pedantic to say the least. @Nick V. still listened and answered me.

And, I must say that beyond all the positive reviews I read and all the recommendations I received, it is my direct exchange with @Nick V. that definitely convinced me that my shoes would be well taken care of at B. Nelson. And, they were!...
 

crwecko

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I forgot to take before pictures but here are the afters. What I can say is that before they had holes in the soles so bad that all the cork fell out and the heals were completely worn down.. Here is what he did:

1. Put new cork n.
2. Goodyear stitched a new JR Middle Sole
3. Glued on a a thin JR sole to cover up the stitched channel.
4. Hammered in a new JR heal.
5. Polished the shoes up with Sapphir Medal D'ore cream and wax.
6. Replaced laces.

What I can tell you is Torre is an amazing guy and a great artisan. He is a super shoe aficionado that loves Lobb, EG, Weston, and many other high end brands. He even has a little shop in the back with discounted high-end mens shoes. I can do nothing but give my highest recommendation as the best shoe repairman I've had the chance of going to in the US. Here are some pictures:

1000

1000

1000

1000


Overall he did an incredible job for $150 and best of all he is local. I would highly recommend Orinda Shoe Repair!!
 

cypi2

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2014
Messages
425
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I forgot to take before pictures but here are the afters. What I can say is that before they had holes in the soles so bad that all the cork fell out and the heals were completely worn down.. Here is what he did:

1. Put new cork n.
2. Goodyear stitched a new JR Middle Sole
3. Glued on a a thin JR sole to cover up the stitched channel.
4. Hammered in a new JR heal.
5. Polished the shoes up with Sapphir Medal D'ore cream and wax.
6. Replaced laces.

What I can tell you is Torre is an amazing guy and a great artisan. He is a super shoe aficionado that loves Lobb, EG, Weston, and many other high end brands. He even has a little shop in the back with discounted high-end mens shoes. I can do nothing but give my highest recommendation as the best shoe repairman I've had the chance of going to in the US. Here are some pictures:

1000


1000


1000


1000



Overall he did an incredible job for $150 and best of all he is local. I would highly recommend Orinda Shoe Repair!!
Great news! Happy to learn it worked out well for you.
 

Fenster

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2013
Messages
52
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0
I forgot to take before pictures but here are the afters. What I can say is that before they had holes in the soles so bad that all the cork fell out and the heals were completely worn down.. Here is what he did:

1. Put new cork n.
2. Goodyear stitched a new JR Middle Sole
3. Glued on a a thin JR sole to cover up the stitched channel.
4. Hammered in a new JR heal.
5. Polished the shoes up with Sapphir Medal D'ore cream and wax.
6. Replaced laces.

What I can tell you is Torre is an amazing guy and a great artisan. He is a super shoe aficionado that loves Lobb, EG, Weston, and many other high end brands. He even has a little shop in the back with discounted high-end mens shoes. I can do nothing but give my highest recommendation as the best shoe repairman I've had the chance of going to in the US. Here are some pictures:

1000

1000

1000

1000


Overall he did an incredible job for $150 and best of all he is local. I would highly recommend Orinda Shoe Repair!!

Years later, and I want to thank you for this. Read through all of the Yelp reviews of B. Nelson Shoes (pretty scathing and seems valid to me), several Yelp reviews of Orinda Shoe Service, and this post of yours and the post below from Nick V. have all convinced me to stay the hell away from B. Nelson Shoes and send the shoes across the country to Ornida. I will call them tomorrow and hope to speak to Torre.

I would highly suggest that you try Orinda and post before and after pictures. Blind stitched and foot-bed replacement for $100.00-$150.00?

YELP? They allow fraudulent remarks to stand. Then they contact you for a pay-per-click program and offer very positive results. When you ask that (ONLY) the the fraudulent comments be removed, they refuse. Many of my friends are business owners, none respect the value of YELP -nor- do any of them refer to the service for their own personal advice, including me.

I did a search on SF and can't find where "people here on this forum have commented that they've gone down hill too". Meaning B. Nelson.

Please post those comments......

I, for one, would be interested to read them.
 

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