***The official Alden thread *** - Page 2245

This one, for me, is quite easy, and it's not even close: cigar PTB. Cigar is easier to pair with clothes than is whiskey (I have various models in each color). The PTB style can be worn from dressy to casual, whereas the Indy, IMO, is strictly casual. Some may see it differently ....

As I type I am wearing my Ravello PTBs in a business casual environment.

I have no opinion on FB.

A significant premium over regular US retailers if you buy in Europe and that could be a deal breaker as well. But Frans Boone customer service is top notch.

I have a pair of the #8 parajumper boots inbound right now, due to arrive tomorrow by UPS. Ordered these on Tuesday of this week. So that part of the transaction looks to be very satisfactory. I'll try to post about the condition on arrival.

I hope I guessed right about Grant last sizing. Otherwise, I may be able to tell you about returns as well.

Pricing in $ wasn't too far off what Leffot just asked for a #8 special makeup boot.

Also, and you may already know all this, but I thought about using PayPal for the transaction and maybe I misread something, but it seems as if it wanted to convert at $1.2785 to the EUR. That seemed off to me, so I was brave and used a credit card through Frans Boone's site and I think I came out about 3% to the better. Make sure you don't use a card that charges a currency conversion fee, of course.

IMO, this is totally personal and simply comes down to what you can tolerate (and if a replacement pair is available). In the last few years I have returned a whiskey model (no replacement available) and color 8 model (replacement available) because the difference was more than I could (or would) tolerate. FWIW, the pairs I returned were unworn.

I agree that a cigar PTB is more versatile than a whiskey Indy boot, but what are your thoughts on an NST boot vs. Indy boot (same color, sole, etc.)? They look pretty similar side by side, but I think an NST boot can be appropriate up to a sport coat (not a suit, unless it was clearly a country suit), no?

I think an NST is going to be better suited to a sport coat, even if it is on the Barrie. On the Aberdeen, absolutely better suited in my opinion.

It may just be the lighting in the pictures, but those are damn good looking cigar LWB.  I can see the variation but I say they're still awesome.  My cigar LWB seem significantly lighter and they're pretty close to the same shade as my new ravello LWB.  I think I'd be happy with yours, but that's just my opinion.  Bootspell is right, you need to be happy with them.  Good luck...

Frank, would Amex be excluded from the currency conversion rate? How can I tell? I 'm glad I read this before doing Paypal.

Black Shell LHS

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for your help on these. I think once they get knocked around and start to patina I won't mind as much so I'm going to keep them. Plus I got them from Frans Boone, so after hearing from you guys that this isn't a huge variation in color it's not worth the cost to send back (I tried them on but have not yet worn them outside).

 

Great customer service from Frans Boone...wish I had known about the credit card fee and asking them to lower the value because I got hit with both. Lesson learned.

I did use Amex. Don't know if all their various cards are fee free, but one I have is.

Discover doesn't charge a fee as far as I know (if FB takes that). Some Visa/MC issues don't either. Probably best to Google or give the issuer a call.

A few percentage points more on a purchase of this amount is certainly unpleasant when it's also avoidable.

I'm not a stickler for rules, but Indy boots in general are among Alden's most casual boots, so by definition an NST boot is dressier. NST boots could go with sportcoats and what not. Interesting I think the hand stitching on NST boots and shoes make them more casual, because they tend to give the boot a clunkier look.

On the earlier question on cigar PTB vs whiskey indy, the cigar PTB is much more versatile. However, I believe you are looking at the cigar PTB from Frans Boone - the crepe sole and gold eyelets on that shoe make it a lot more casual than a standard cigar PTB.
Edited by Alcibiades - 8/23/12 at 12:43pm

I agree with this, I just think it's interesting since the boots are pretty similar given the same color, sole, and last.

Frank, not sure if you have platinum or something else at the high end that may not have foreign transaction fees. What Amex typically does (and holds true for Gold cards, Blue, etc) and it is very suspect is that they subsume the fees into your exchange rate, so Amex's exchange rate is poor compared to some other cards that explicitly state that there are no foreign transaction fees, like Capital One Venture, Chase Sapphire Preferred, etc.

Amex and the other credit card companies were subject to a big antitrust case about this very issue, as they were screwing consumers. But I guess we should expect it.