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

[Beatlegeuse]



Neither shoes are bargains but lobbs can be had for just a little over alden calf prices which is pretty attractive

Where can Lobbs be had for just a little over Alden calf prices?

 

[zippyh]



my experience with AofC: I was on a pre order for a boot for about a year (2010). I went back and forth on my size a few times, which Adam was very accommodating on.

When the boots finally came in Adam told me they had a defect. He wouldn't take a pic of the defect for me and wouldn't let me return the boots if I took delivery. I found that odd.

I finally ordered a different boot which, although my usual size, didn't fit correctly. He did let me return them for a full refund.

After that, he told me no more returns. I never ordered again. Oh well.

Also found it really odd that he would never speak on the phone.

Same dude. Check the who is for AOC.
http://www.praxeology.com/

 

[docalden2013]

SRSLY, if you can afford them and want them, you'd be a fool not to get them now.
You're only looking at around $750 shipped with at worst a $25 fedex fee and perhaps a fight to get the duty charges back that they shouldn't have charged for us made goods.
It's not like plaza last Indys are widely available.

Ok guys, I might be ready to take the plunge. Confirm a couple of things for me, please:

1. Plaza fit: 8.5d Barrie/Trubalance, 9d Grant ---> Plaza 9D, right?

2. Are there any other currently available Plaza boots or shoes that might be worth considering? I'm especially interested in hearing about cigar, ravello or whiskey shell, as I already have the grant color 8 cap toe boot from DC and am still unsure on the redundancy factor related to buying a second color 8 boot.

3. How does all this work with VAT taxes and duty charges? How many times will my credit card be run? How hard is it to deal with having import fees returned, etc.? I'm asking because I've discovered a nice way of keeping dear wife from getting anxious and upset over this Alden spree: Visa Vanilla gift cards!! They have been working mostly like a regular card, but I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't hit a snag...

4. Promise you guys will stop me if I attempt to make a boneheaded purchase in the next month or so. Other Aldens on the brain include: snuff suede unlined loafer, unlined chukkas, Epaulet brixton boot in natty cxl, and the natty longwing I was obsessing about yesteray (still unsure on the leydon vs Barrie question or if it's easier to think of that as a leffot vs epaulet vs shoe mart question).

Thanks for your help!

 

[Bakes11771]

... I've discovered a nice way of keeping dear wife from getting anxious and upset over this Alden spree: Visa Vanilla gift cards!! ...

Spoken like a true addict.


Are you still wearing your shell cordovan on your feet? or have you started to inject it in to your arm yet?

 

[stevent]



I'm still debating about whether ~$900 is a justifiable price to plunk down for those Plaza shell 8 indy's on Frans Boone. But, I'm proud that I have broken the 5-week-long streak of a new Alden purchase on Mondays despite having driven myself batty with the Alpine Grain stain from this morning, which I'm glad to report, has faded to an imperceptible dark spot on the vamp. *sighs with relief*

SRSLY, if you can afford them and want them, you'd be a fool not to get them now.
You're only looking at around $750 shipped with at worst a $25 fedex fee and perhaps a fight to get the duty charges back that they shouldn't have charged for us made goods.
It's not like plaza last Indys are widely available.

Yeah just buy them now man, FransBoone service is top notch, really should buy the brass jumper but he said shell is lighter #8 which I don't like

Where can Lobbs be had for just a little over Alden calf prices?

Barneys sales always has a few pairs, Malford did as well, Leather soul comes out to a bit more but they have some still on sale now, Lobb store in South Coast Plaza has 40% off sales, etc.

 

[Papa Doble]



I think this may only apply to displaying the rare shell offerings online.   I noticed Leffot took down their blog posts about the Day Tripper boot and Whiskey Tanker.  I inquired about it, hoping that a new pre-order might be soon, and Che told me that they we told they were not allowed to post pictures of the rare (Ravello, Whiskey, Cigar) shell colors.

Alden NY did the same thing a few months ago. I too suspect this is only for cigar, ravello, and whiskey.

 

[easy_golfing]

interested in getting my first pair of aldens. looking at the LHS in ravello or whiskey but am reading about this shell shortage. Is it still possible to source the LHS in ravello or whiskey?

 

[zippyh]

SRSLY, if you can afford them and want them, you'd be a fool not to get them now.

You're only looking at around $750 shipped with at worst a $25 fedex fee and perhaps a fight to get the duty charges back that they shouldn't have charged for us made goods.

It's not like plaza last Indys are widely available.

Ok guys, I might be ready to take the plunge. Confirm a couple of things for me, please:

1. Plaza fit: 8.5d Barrie/Trubalance, 9d Grant ---> Plaza 9D, right?

2. Are there any other currently available Plaza boots or shoes that might be worth considering? I'm especially interested in hearing about cigar, ravello or whiskey shell, as I already have the grant color 8 cap toe boot from DC and am still unsure on the redundancy factor related to buying a second color 8 boot.

3. How does all this work with VAT taxes and duty charges? How many times will my credit card be run? How hard is it to deal with having import fees returned, etc.? I'm asking because I've discovered a nice way of keeping dear wife from getting anxious and upset over this Alden spree: Visa Vanilla gift cards!! They have been working mostly like a regular card, but I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't hit a snag...

4. Promise you guys will stop me if I attempt to make a boneheaded purchase in the next month or so. Other Aldens on the brain include: snuff suede unlined loafer, unlined chukkas, Epaulet brixton boot in natty cxl, and the natty longwing I was obsessing about yesteray (still unsure on the leydon vs Barrie question or if it's easier to think of that as a leffot vs epaulet vs shoe mart question).

Thanks for your help!

I'd just use PayPal with my cc.

Frans Boone should just charge you the price less vat plus shipping.
As long as they fill out the customs form correctly you shouldn't get hit with any import duty.
You might get hit with a FedEx fee around $25. That's assuming they use FedEx. UPS is similar fee. DHL is around $12. I've never been charged the fee when there's no duty to collect. YMMV.
FedEx and DHL will deliver your package and bill you later. UPS is COD.
FedEx made fill out an importer of record form a few times. It's kind of shady in that it requires SSN but it's a legit form. Search the CBP website.

 

[stanford88]



Alden NY did the same thing a few months ago. I too suspect this is only for cigar, ravello, and whiskey.

Alden of Carmel did the same thing a few months ago.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



Every retailer seems to have an issue
Neither shoes are bargains but lobbs can be had for just a little over alden calf prices which is pretty attractive

But like so many sales, by the time they are heavily discounted, they are either models no one wants, or they are in sizes no one wears. But of course a guy can get lucky from time to time ....

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



interested in getting my first pair of aldens. looking at the LHS in ravello or whiskey but am reading about this shell shortage. Is it still possible to source the LHS in ravello or whiskey?

The likelihood of either of those being readily available is remote at best, whether now or in the future.

 

[ReppTiePrepster]

Quote:
I've discovered a nice way of keeping dear wife from getting anxious and upset over this Alden spree: Visa Vanilla gift cards!! They have been working mostly like a regular card, but I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't hit a snag...

What exactly does this mean? Are you getting cash and purchasing Visa prepaid debit/gift cards to pay for your Alden purchases so they don't show up on credit card statements? If so, I can't believe I didn't think of this myself... genius!

You and I need to join AA!!

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



my experience with AofC: I was on a pre order for a boot for about a year (2010). I went back and forth on my size a few times, which Adam was very accommodating on.

When the boots finally came in Adam told me they had a defect. He wouldn't take a pic of the defect for me and wouldn't let me return the boots if I took delivery. I found that odd.

I finally ordered a different boot which, although my usual size, didn't fit correctly. He did let me return them for a full refund.

After that, he told me no more returns. I never ordered again. Oh well.

Also found it really odd that he would never speak on the phone.

I have ordered from him once and gave some thought to ordering a second time. The experience is curious if nothing else.

His no crease policy has been debated many times - with, I think, most finding it absurd - but at least he's up front about it.

 

[easy_golfing]

interested in getting my first pair of aldens. looking at the LHS in ravello or whiskey but am reading about this shell shortage. Is it still possible to source the LHS in ravello or whiskey?

The likelihood of either of those being readily available is remote at best, whether now or in the future.

ah really? do they go fast or just not enough supply in those colors?

seems like #8 is easily available from what I can see. Does that become more eggplant looking with time?

 

[kinetic758]

Read a few posts back about someone getting a pair of Aldens that seemed "tried on" due to the fact that the laces were already in the shoe.

Just curious: have your Alden's arrived with the laces completely separate? I recall that the last two pairs I received had the laces in only the first hole (both left and right).