***The official Alden thread *** Share enthusiasm, reviews, sizing, advice, and photos.

[cimabue]

Originally Posted by pthree View Post
You have 3 times more customers wearing 7D than 10D?

Originally Posted by LeatherSOUL

Actually probably about 10x.

Ipso fatso, is it possible Alden views its Asian market as its primary and America as its, um, secondary market?

 

[GreatHighway]

Originally Posted by Ahab

WOW, You are so much better than the people who do not have reasonable access to a store selling Alden's. You are my hero.

considering we live in a world with shipping that is irrelevant. the issue at hand is whose advice to take and, my first 2 pairs were purchased through mail order. my shoes fit long before i ever walked into the Alden shop youve been on this forum a long time and can be critical of people youve never met because of it. you are MY hero

 

[Ahab]

Originally Posted by cimabue

Originally Posted by pthree View Post
You have 3 times more customers wearing 7D than 10D?



Ipso fatso, is it possible Alden views its Asian market as its primary and America as its, um, secondary market?

Leather Soul Hawaii is in, and I am not saying you have not guessed this, Hawaii. This means they probably get more Japanese walk in business than Alden DC or The Shoe Mart. Not sure why you are so concerned about this but coming up with a conclusion and then taking very limited information to reinforce your conclusion is not a very good way to reach a valid conclusion.

But I have a question:

Why do you care?

 

[Ahab]

Originally Posted by GreatHighway

considering we live in a world with shipping that is irrelevant. the issue at hand is whose advice to take

and, my first 2 pairs were purchased through mail order. my shoes fit long before i ever walked into the Alden shop

youve been on this forum a long time and can be critical of people youve never met because of it. you are MY hero

What do you mean shipping is irrelevant? I have paid shipping on all my mail orders. You may have had a good experience and that is great but that does not mean other people do not have concerns. As for whose advice to take I would rather take Tom's polte advice than some kid who is telling people who are asking questions that they are better than them because they have experience.

Just by reading this thread I know that not every Alden shoe fits two people with the same shoe size the same and some will not even fit. Some people have even reported that one pair of shoes on the Barrie last fits and another of the same size does not fit.

 

[whatever123]

Originally Posted by michaelw

whiskey lhs

thats a great color, well done sir.

 

[jhcam8]

Originally Posted by Ahab

What do you mean shipping is irrelevant? I have paid shipping on all my mail orders. You may have had a good experience and that is great but that does not mean other people do not have concerns. As for whose advice to take I would rather take Tom's polte advice than some kid who is telling people who are asking questions that they are better than them because they have experience.

Just by reading this thread I know that not every Alden shoe fits two people with the same shoe size the same and some will not even fit. Some people have even reported that one pair of shoes on the Barrie last fits and another of the same size does not fit.

This is true - there's fit variation in shell, calf, suede, boots, and so on. Shipping back and forth can add up to the point where you have to wonder if it's worth it for a particular shoe. Esp. if you're trying to score a good price.

 

[cimabue]

No reason. 'Just wondering in which market I might have to shop to have a better shot at getting Alden shoes that don't have a defect.

You see, I went to my local Alden dealer, looked at the shoes I liked, touched them, sniffed them, thought about licking them, and still I came up with a pair that have a problem (knocking sound).

'Just trying to hedge my next bet.

 

[LeatherSOUL]

America will always be Alden's #1 market.

 

[cimabue]

Originally Posted by LeatherSOUL

America will always be Alden's #1 market.

 

[Newstyle]

Does anyone have any experience with the J. Crew Alden longwing waxed bluchers. I really like this style but I can only find it at this price-point ($465) offered through J. Crew. If I were to go into an Alden retailer may they have this style at this price? I'll be in San Francisco on Nov. 1 and might have to stop into the Alden store there. Or is it worth it to just get on the waitlist for J. Crew and wait a month for the shipment.

 

[Franky]

Is there a huge difference to buying from theshoemarket as opposed to somewhere else?

 

[jhcam8]

Originally Posted by Franky

Is there a huge difference to buying from theshoemarket as opposed to somewhere else?

What'd you mean 'hugh difference?'
I've never had a problem w/the Shoemart - they have a very liberal return policy. (Never had a problem w/Leather Soul, JGilbert, Blackbird, or Leffot either, btw.)

 

[Ahab]

Originally Posted by cimabue

No reason. 'Just wondering in which market I might have to shop to have a better shot at getting Alden shoes that don't have a defect.

You see, I went to my local Alden dealer, looked at the shoes I liked, touched them, sniffed them, thought about licking them, and still I came up with a pair that have a problem (knocking sound).

'Just trying to hedge my next bet.
OK. I am interested. Am I more likely to get a defect from the primary market or the secondary market?

 

[zippyh]

Originally Posted by Newstyle

Does anyone have any experience with the J. Crew Alden longwing waxed bluchers. I really like this style but I can only find it at this price-point ($465) offered through J. Crew. If I were to go into an Alden retailer may they have this style at this price? I'll be in San Francisco on Nov. 1 and might have to stop into the Alden store there. Or is it worth it to just get on the waitlist for J. Crew and wait a month for the shipment.

Why don't you just get on the J. Crew waitlist now and cancel if you see something better in SF next week?

 

[Dexter_]

Originally Posted by joz411no

I do think many have oversimplified the fit of the Barrie and Trubalance lasts. I think what people should just be saying is "Footwear on the Barrie and Trubalance lasts are the most voluminous of Alden's main, widely-available offerings." I much prefer the feel and even look of the Trubalance over the Barrie, for boots. The Trublance toebox is much more bulbous, IMO. I wear the same size in both but that is about as far as I'd go to saying they fit similarly.

Totally agree. IME, the Trubalance fits wider while the Barrie fits longer. I can get away with an insole on the Trubalance but sizing down on the Barrie is a must.

Originally Posted by kanukki

There are Shoe Marts in this world, and there are Leather Souls. I can't say enough good things about the service I received from Tom's associate Takuya both over repeated emails and when I finally visited the store in Waikiki (and thankful for the late hours when the UPS truck arrived with my V-tips half an hour before I needed to leave for the airport!). He was always friendly, patient and helpful, and I learned a lot about the different Alden models, lasts, and leathers. While it's nice being able to look through a big online inventory on the Shoe Mart site, for me I wouldn't trade it for the kind of personal service that Leather Soul offers.

+1 LSW staff are top notch!