***The official Alden thread ***

post #39136 of 53634

12/11/12 at 9:45am

blue collar

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Joined: 7/2010
Location: Toronto
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Quote:

Originally Posted by zippyh

"Shell Rainbow" reminded me of these.
Some say Mahogany == #4

Moar pics at http://centipede.web.fc2.com/alden412.html

FML, my soul for a pair of those.

Gone are the glory days of the special order/ special make-ups that don't take 24 months...

...i wonder if the Alden 'trend' will slow and they'll go back to that. Or has the internet changed the way Alden operates forever.

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post #39137 of 53634

12/11/12 at 10:36am

i10casual

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Location: Texas
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Nothing is forever. They just have the market by the short and curlies right now. Someone will match the quality and price and things will slow down. All you need is to find a skilled worker, buy some reducing, cutting, and sewing machines from a business going out (so many in American right now) and hit the vendors with fresh ideas or copies for less.

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post #39138 of 53634

12/11/12 at 10:43am

prozach1576

Posts: 584
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Location: Arlington, VA
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Quote:

Originally Posted by i10casual

Nothing is forever. They just have the market by the short and curlies right now. Someone will match the quality and price and things will slow down. All you need is to find a skilled worker, buy some reducing, cutting, and sewing machines from a business going out (so many in American right now) and hit the vendors with fresh ideas or copies for less.

There certainly does seen to be an opportunity for a new American shoemaker to enter this segment of the market. I would like to see Rancourt make a move to compete with Alden in welted shoes.

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post #39139 of 53634

12/11/12 at 10:45am

ThArtOfWardrobe

Posts: 162
Joined: 8/2012
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Quote:

Originally Posted by patrick_b

I'm a measured 11D with a slightly high volume/high instep foot. I size down by 1/2 in Barrie shoes but when I bight the J Crew shell cap toe boots I had to go TTS. The 1/2 size down was too snug.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReppTiePrepster

My PTBs definitely feel a little more snug than my LWB, but not enough to go true to size.

Thanks guys.

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post #39140 of 53634

12/11/12 at 10:55am

Alcibiades

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Joined: 3/2009
Location: New Yawk
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Quote:

Originally Posted by i10casual

Nothing is forever. They just have the market by the short and curlies right now. Someone will match the quality and price and things will slow down. All you need is to find a skilled worker, buy some reducing, cutting, and sewing machines from a business going out (so many in American right now) and hit the vendors with fresh ideas or copies for less.

It's tough...

1) Men's luxury footwear (this is Alden's segment, with shoe prices now at $500 for calfskin) continues to increase in price no matter what brand due to the blog/GQ effect.

2) Limited raw materials. Horse hides are in short supply, and even the new brands all seem to use one supplier (Horween) for calf. It's a lot easier to start a new shoe brand than to start a new leather tannery.

3) All these brands are very niche. Demand outstrips supply, especially with global markets. As long as Swedish and German tourists stop by stores like Leffot on a 24 hour layover in NYC and buy two or three pairs of Alden shoes on a whim (I've observed this), prices will continue to rise

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post #39141 of 53634

12/11/12 at 11:08am

Olifter

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Quote:

Originally Posted by imolazhp_ci

maybe i'm being a needy customer but i'm a bit irked at the lack of service from Alden of SF. I ordered the Ravello LWB on Saturday evening. After somebody suggesting they came with dark trim, I e-mailed them to ask about the trim. I asked if they could send a picture. The response I got was "It's antique trim. I can't send a picture." Okay? You don't have a smartphone? Whatever, fine. I thanked them for verifying and told them no picture was necessary. I informed them I would be leaving for Sweden in 10 days and wanted to know when I could expect them to ship. The response was: "You'll receive a confirmation sometime later today." Later today I received an e-mail from "UPS Quantum View," the automated UPS shipping notification. No e-mail from Alden of SF. No "Thank you for your order." No "Don't worry, we'll take care of it." It must be nice to sell a product that will sell out regardless of how you treat your customers. Would I shop there again? Sure, if they had something I really wanted... but if it came down to purchasing from somewhere else over them, I wouldn't even have to think twice about purchasing somewhere else. I just hope there is nothing wrong with them, I loathe to imagine engaging in any customer service issue with them. /end rant

" It must be nice to sell a product that will sell out regardless of how you treat your customers. Would I shop there again? Sure, if they had something I really wanted..... "

There you go, probably a good explantion of why, in part, Allen Edmonds does well.

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post #39142 of 53634

12/11/12 at 11:15am