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

[mcarthur]



Thanks Mac! LOL. Honestly I didn't feel anything. I was on the second floor of the Federal Building on Wall St (built 1841) and stumbled for a sec walking, when the Park Rangers came up and evacuated us. With the 10th anniversary in 2 weeks everyone thought it was a bomb scare in the area.

my building in CT swayed and we ran to the stairway

 

[mcarthur]



You would think they'd want to serve their customers. But Alden seems confused about who owns the shoes after they've been purchased.

Send them back for repair, ask for something, and they'll tell you 'No, we are going to do X, no matter that you request Y'.

This is why I don't send my Aldens back to them. I recommend B Nelson in NYC. They understand that your shoes belong to you.

i second the recommendation. call nick the owner at 212-750-7669. he has customized shoes for me and the work is o/s

 

[mcarthur]

color 4 and black saddles
argyles otc

 

[gnatty8]



Are these the Alden for J.Crew Dark Brown....look nice. JT

Yes, these are the J Crew version..

It sucks that they will not do that. I asked about replacing a double leather sole with a double oiled sole and they refused that also. I was told that they will only put the shoes back in the original way they where sold. Sounds like a load of crap to me. YOu would think they would want to help their customers and not turn them off.

Tell me about it. Very, very poor customer service. You'd think they'd connect the dots that those asking for details like those are those likely to appreciate their product and likely to buy again. As much as I like Alden, and the dozen and a half pair in my closet are a testament to that, this left a very bad taste in my mouth. I mean, how f*cking hard can it be to tell the guy on the floor "Hey Joe, he wants commandos on those shoes..."?

These arrived today. I think I like em.

Wow, I just do not like these at all. I think it is the thickness of the sole up front, makes them look like orthopaedic shoes..

What model is this, gnatty? These are great.





These, too.

The only place I have ever seen these is at Shoemart, where they are model number 45625H. They apparently still have em'

 

[NAMOR]



Tell me about it. Very, very poor customer service. You'd think they'd connect the dots that those asking for details like those are those likely to appreciate their product and likely to buy again. As much as I like Alden, and the dozen and a half pair in my closet are a testament to that, this left a very bad taste in my mouth. I mean, how f*cking hard can it be to tell the guy on the floor "Hey Joe, he wants commandos on those shoes..."?

+1. Horrible, horrible customer service track record. I will say that I have had many pleasant experiences with Alden. But for every positive experience their has been an equally negative one. For what you are getting (horrible QC, CS, inflexible restoration options), Alden is a rip-off at full retail.

 

[l1mab3an]

So my Alden captoes from jcrew came today and the first speed hook on the bottom right is clamped shut.. Should I pry it open or send it back?

 

[jhcam8]

pry

 

[Joenobody0]



+1. Horrible, horrible customer service track record. I will say that I have had many pleasant experiences with Alden. But for every positive experience their has been an equally negative one. For what you are getting (horrible QC, CS, inflexible restoration options), Alden is a rip-off at full retail.

Even worse, Alden is getting less flexible every year. 3 years ago they would re-last shoes to adjust width during a re-craft. That policy is long gone - it sounds like we can forget about changing up the soles now too.

I still like the looks of many Aldens, but the ****** QC/CS, inflexibility, and increasing prices are making it so that I'm no longer consider them a viable brand.

 

[jhcam8]



These arrived today. I think I like em.

I like 'em - maybe they're a nubuck rather than suede?

 

[l1mab3an]



pry

Saw that threading was coming lose and the one leather flap can be pulled up.... they are going back.

 

[imatlas]

+1. Horrible, horrible customer service track record. I will say that I have had many pleasant experiences with Alden. But for every positive experience their has been an equally negative one. For what you are getting (horrible QC, CS, inflexible restoration options), Alden is a rip-off at full retail.

Even worse, Alden is getting less flexible every year. 3 years ago they would re-last shoes to adjust width during a re-craft. That policy is long gone - it sounds like we can forget about changing up the soles now too.

I still like the looks of many Aldens, but the ****** QC/CS, inflexibility, and increasing prices are making it so that I'm no longer consider them a viable brand.

I got a pair back from a recraft about 6 weeks ago: Alden downlasted them from 9.5 D to 9 E, and they switched from commando to double leather soles. I'm a little confused about the reports that they won't do these things. It was also $140, not the $200 mentioned earlier. When you factor in the trees, refinishing and round trip shipping included in the cost, I think it's an excellent deal.

I went through the Alden shop in SF, if that makes a difference.

 

[Joenobody0]



I got a pair back from a recraft about 6 weeks ago: Alden downlasted them from 9.5 D to 9 E, and they switched from commando to double leather soles. I'm a little confused about the reports that they won't do these things. It was also $140, not the $200 mentioned earlier. When you factor in the trees, refinishing and round trip shipping included in the cost, I think it's an excellent deal.

I went through the Alden shop in SF, if that makes a difference.

That is surprising. This is the first time I've every heard of Alden going down a length.

 

[Dinosarti]

Quick question from a new Alden fan - 4 pairs in cordovan and counting. I saw the Alden for J. Crew and wondered if it was the same quality as you would get from Alden San Francisco for example.

The reason I ask is the I know makers like Ferragamo strip down there products for the masses at places like Nordstrom (studio=glue) versus the stuff at their stores.

Thanks!

 

[Jay Gatsby]



color 4 and black saddles
argyles otc

Were you wearing these with shorts?

 

[imatlas]



Quick question from a new Alden fan - 4 pairs in cordovan and counting. I saw the Alden for J. Crew and wondered if it was the same quality as you would get from Alden San Francisco for example.

The reason I ask is the I know makers like Ferragamo strip down there products for the masses at places like Nordstrom (studio=glue) versus the stuff at their stores.

Thanks!

As I understand it, there are a couple of "levels" of quality, differentiated by leather linings vs. cotton duck, but I think most of the shoes you'll see from J. Crew, Epaulet, etc, are of the higher quality leather lined variety. The original Indy is cotton duck, however, even at Alden SF.