decent Cobbler in Singapore?

Has anyone come across a decent cobbler/shoe repair guy in Singapore? I'm a little apprehensive on Mr. Minit chains...

Maybe in the Raffles Place or Orchard areas?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by kcheng

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Has anyone come across a decent cobbler/shoe repair guy in Singapore? I'm a little apprehensive on Mr. Minit chains...

Maybe in the Raffles Place or Orchard areas?

Thanks!

What is wrong with Mr Minit chains?

Originally Posted by beasty

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What is wrong with Mr Minit chains?

In the Singapore context, the problem is not every one of the Mr Minit outlet or Shukey (the other shoe repair company) is qualified to work on your shoes. Their work is usually characterized by the twin evils of shoddy craftsmanship and exorbitant charges.

If you are really unlucky, you may even find your shoes to be returned to you in worse condition than when you brought it there.

i had a not so good experience with a Mr. minit a couple years back.. trying to avoid them as much as i can..

Originally Posted by kcheng

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Has anyone come across a decent cobbler/shoe repair guy in Singapore? I'm a little apprehensive on Mr. Minit chains...

Maybe in the Raffles Place or Orchard areas?

Thanks!

Well, Mr Minit is a chain. So the branches do rotate the staff manning the branch.
For the most part, they are competent and I have not encountered problems. If yes, I wont hesitate to bring the stuff back.

I did use another shoe repair in the places you mentioned. It wasnt Mr Minit. He glued the soles back for me. One day later the soles came out. I brought it back. He said because it was wet and the glue did not dry. Hmm. It didnt rain. I brought it to Mr Minit and I have no problems though I have to pay more.

If you want a recommendation, you can try the guys at B1 of Paragon. They are right at the back, deep inside Paragon. They are used by many boutiques in that place to do their stuff so you know their quality should be there. They can be busy though, but their prices are competitive to Mr Minit.

1) The cobbler at OUB Centre Basement 1 (next to the dry cleaner).

2) The cobbler at Icon Village (Gopeng Rd, behind Amara Hotel in Tanjong Pagar area). His shop used to be in the basement of Hong Leong Building.

Does anyone in Singapore knows of any cobbler who uses Dainite or has a good range of Vibram soles. Those cobblers mentioned above do not have them (Don't think the one at Icon Village is there anymore). Thanks in advance for any help!

Originally Posted by why18

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(Don't think the one at Icon Village is there anymore).

Apology, the cobbler indeed exist at Icon Village, can't be of any help too.

This is late - but in raffles place, I go to the guy who's near the train station and faces Chevron House directly. He's usually there unless it rains. I got a ps and loake shoe soles done up by him. Uses vibram among others. I think there are two other guys around the area, one facing UOB Plaza and another towards OUB. Never tried them before. Got some cheap shoes done up at Shukey before, pretty average work IMO.

There's a good one in the basement of Paragon.

I've got pair of aldens with a rather beat up sole.. you reckon he can do it well? Or should I just send the pair back for refurb?...

Send back to US will be very much expensive...

Whatever you do, do not go to any of the cobblers in Chinatown. They may be cheap but they ruin your shoes. I went to the bespectacled cobbler at Chinatown (outside the MRT) and he nailed three nails into my shoes without asking me when the sole wouldn't sit right on the original sole. He had the cheek to make me pay for the shoe and told me to go away when I told him off. Should have known better than to ever trust a street hawker without a shop. They have no stakes to fair service.

How about competent cobblers who use genuine Topy for outsoles?

I hear so much about Vibram, but I can't seem to find any cobblers who use Topy.

Mr Paul
Hp: 98418837
Traditional street cobbler and shoe repair
(usually situated at Blk 447 clementi central, next to Ma Kuang TCM, and close to the Clementi Central Hawker Centre)
Daily 3pm - 8pm

He's worked on shoe repair for decades. Charges a fraction of what the stores charge in the shopping malls.