Archibald London: true craftsmanship, no middlemen, Official Vendor Thread

[ArchibaldNat]

.

 

[ArchibaldNat]

The MTO's specifically are the only ones where cancellations were not accepted for this particular batch. They take place on a different line, we get invoiced for them separately (effectively samples each time) and payment is collected upfront.

We understand everyone's frustration but as I mentioned the matter is almost over and we will ensure everyone will get their shoes.

 

[Davakint]

Depsite the fact they are delayed (10th of September as of now) I am fully confident that Archibald will deliver. Would've liked to have seen a bit more communication through email with regards to all the delays. But still excited for my two pairs to show up, hopefully without too many delays.

 

[XxLogo]

@ArchibaldNat I am wondering is there a set final date for Naked yet?

 

[ArchibaldRoh]

hi there, we will be looking to close out Naked in time (or just after) with the last order batch of the SF01 series.

Whilst the plan was to close it out many months ago, the unacceptable delay with this batch (and knock-on effect on others) meant there was still work to do in sorting out some execution (whether this was a one-off cause of delay or not).

The post-Naked strategy involves the lifetime membership for some existing customers who have experienced first-hand the product being delivered and we want people to go into that knowing things are in order and Archibald has its act together.

It is a matter of building back confidence and incidents like these delays go a long way in halting momentum we have started to regain post Hand-welted gate.

As you can imagine that was a hard enough pill for customers to swallow and almost killed the company (the google imprint is forever affected and there is no undoing the disrepute) but it also led to a serious level-up right across the collection and some much needed humble-pie both in ensuring we never get into something we don’t full know without the proper support and acknowledge that in searching for excellence we will no-doubt encounter human flaw - so best to keep one eye open, always.

So to answer your question, mid-Sept give or take two weeks is when it will most likely take place in totality and we will revert back to full price across the collection. Between now and then we will likely continue removing items from Naked gradually…

Although I am no longer involved in the business day-to-day, I do think there is a strong place for what Archibald ultimately has attempted to do and solving these last remaining issues with delays as well as re-positioning the brand away from the holier-than-thou direct to consumer narrative of no-markups (no one cares and a business model and pricing is an internal choice and self-explanatory closing argument rather than something to lead with and vilify others) will prepare it for the next step.

 

[Unique Username]

So “batch status” shows my sf01-v3s are being delivered today (haven’t received any tracking numbers so I’m guessing Archibald is just kidding again about that delivery date)…anyone want to bet that my shoes won’t actually arrive today and that today’s “updated delivery date” will just be updated again?

Hate to sound so cynical but as the posts on this topic evidence, there has already been an egregious 13 postponed delivery dates in a row:

12/28/2022 (order date)
3/31/2023 (first updated delivery date)
4/18/2023
5/25/2023
5/30/2023
6/5/2023
6/15/2023
7/5/2023
7/15/2023
7/25/2023
7/28/2023
8/4/2023
8/11/2023
8/25/2023 (latest “super real, we totally promise your shoes will be delivered by” date /s)

 

[ArchibaldRoh]

So “batch status” shows my sf01-v3s are being delivered today (haven’t received any tracking numbers so I’m guessing Archibald is just kidding again about that delivery date)…anyone want to bet that my shoes won’t actually arrive today and that today’s “updated delivery date” will just be updated again?

Hate to sound so cynical but as the posts on this topic evidence, there has already been an egregious 13 postponed delivery dates in a row:

12/28/2022 (order date)
3/31/2023 (first updated delivery date)
4/18/2023
5/25/2023
5/30/2023
6/5/2023
6/15/2023
7/5/2023
7/15/2023
7/25/2023
7/28/2023
8/4/2023
8/11/2023
8/25/2023 (latest “super real, we totally promise your shoes will be delivered by” date /s)

Hi there,

Many of the shoes have already been dispatched over the past few weeks.

There was one final delivery for this batch the team was waiting for, which was dispatched from Italy to forwarding just yesterday - that, I believe, is all of them. The shoemakers went off on their sacred Ferogosto break until the 21st, returned, and dispatched the last delivery of shoes.

I don't consider the matter over until everyone gets their pairs in hand. The whole thing has been unacceptable, but hopefully, it is almost over.

Regarding system updates - when we collect orders for a batch, we always include padding to provide a reasonable estimated date regardless of what the craftsmen tell us. After the initial delays when the words "promise" and "guarantee" were used, we had no choice but to communicate updates we received forward.

Customers have been incredibly frustrated this time - these incidents leave a mark on the trust in the brand, and I suspect many will not return. Customer service has done their best with the information on hand at any given time, as how this particular batch played out still makes no sense.

We have also been alerted that the feature that is meant to send an email to everyone whenever there is an update note on the batch is not reaching everyone - that is being fixed as we speak. You should never have to write in for an answer or update.

 

[Spaghettimatt]

Hi there,

Many of the shoes have already been dispatched over the past few weeks.

There was one final delivery for this batch the team was waiting for, which was dispatched from Italy to forwarding just yesterday - that, I believe, is all of them. The shoemakers went off on their sacred Ferogosto break until the 21st, returned, and dispatched the last delivery of shoes.

I don't consider the matter over until everyone gets their pairs in hand. The whole thing has been unacceptable, but hopefully, it is almost over.

Regarding system updates - when we collect orders for a batch, we always include padding to provide a reasonable estimated date regardless of what the craftsmen tell us. After the initial delays when the words "promise" and "guarantee" were used, we had no choice but to communicate updates we received forward.

Customers have been incredibly frustrated this time - these incidents leave a mark on the trust in the brand, and I suspect many will not return. Customer service has done their best with the information on hand at any given time, as how this particular batch played out still makes no sense.

We have also been alerted that the feature that is meant to send an email to everyone whenever there is an update note on the batch is not reaching everyone - that is being fixed as we speak. You should never have to write in for an answer or update.

Any idea when the Pippo loafers are being dispatched? Mine still shows estimated delivery of October 10 (original est. delivery was April 6).

 

[ArchibaldRoh]

Any idea when the Pippo loafers are being dispatched? Mine still shows estimated delivery of October 10 (original est. delivery was April 6).

Hey Matt - I will check this for you - could you please DM me your order number so I can pass it to cs?

 

[Unique Username]

UPDATE: YET ANOTHER UPDATED DELIVERY DATE! Ffs guys…c’mon this is absurd.

12/28/2022 (order date)
3/31/2023 (first updated delivery date)
4/18/2023
5/25/2023
5/30/2023
6/5/2023
6/15/2023
7/5/2023
7/15/2023
7/25/2023
7/28/2023
8/4/2023
8/11/2023
8/25/2023
9/4/2023 (latest “super real, we totally promise your shoes will be delivered by” date /s)

 

[henrip]

Hi there,

Many of the shoes have already been dispatched over the past few weeks.

There was one final delivery for this batch the team was waiting for, which was dispatched from Italy to forwarding just yesterday - that, I believe, is all of them. The shoemakers went off on their sacred Ferogosto break until the 21st, returned, and dispatched the last delivery of shoes.

I don't consider the matter over until everyone gets their pairs in hand. The whole thing has been unacceptable, but hopefully, it is almost over.

Regarding system updates - when we collect orders for a batch, we always include padding to provide a reasonable estimated date regardless of what the craftsmen tell us. After the initial delays when the words "promise" and "guarantee" were used, we had no choice but to communicate updates we received forward.

Customers have been incredibly frustrated this time - these incidents leave a mark on the trust in the brand, and I suspect many will not return. Customer service has done their best with the information on hand at any given time, as how this particular batch played out still makes no sense.

We have also been alerted that the feature that is meant to send an email to everyone whenever there is an update note on the batch is not reaching everyone - that is being fixed as we speak. You should never have to write in for an answer or update.

If the last batch was already dispatched on Thursday is it reasonable to expect my pair to be delivered next week? The only delivery info I can find for my pair is ”in production” and ”delivery date 10.10.”

This has been the weirdest buying experience ever. To be honest I wish I had never jumped on board, complete farce 😂. This whole thing makes me wonder if the quality is even there. I would like to see Rose Anvil to cut a random pair before I believe anything…

How do you make sure that no corners have been cut in production and the quality really is there?

 

[CWV]

My friends order is 10078 and h has recieved no news and no reply to his emails.
He is in the asus firbavweek, so it would be convenient for you -so shipping is cheaper- as well as for him -so he doesn’t need to wait for 2 months of delivery-, if you could ship his order while he is in the US and before he comes back to Chile.

 

[ArchibaldRoh]

If the last batch was already dispatched on Thursday is it reasonable to expect my pair to be delivered next week? The only delivery info I can find for my pair is ”in production” and ”delivery date 10.10.”

This has been the weirdest buying experience ever. To be honest I wish I had never jumped on board, complete farce 😂. This whole thing makes me wonder if the quality is even there. I would like to see Rose Anvil to cut a random pair before I believe anything…

How do you make sure that no corners have been cut in production and the quality really is there?

Dispatch takes place from Italy, clears into the UK and then is forwarded to customers around the world. They arrive, the team does a check against orders, quick qc, and then allocated and shipped right out.

As I understand it, the last shoes from the delivery originally due in April has left Italy.

Again, the delays have been unacceptable and I think closing the SF01 shows we feel just the same as you and we don’t want to put anyone through it again. We are very sorry for the delays.

The saga is not entirely over as following this delivery there is also another batch that has run late due to knock on effects, though hopefully nothing like this.

Re quality, it isn’t my place to make a comment. We arrived at the v3 following two Rose Anvil videos and multiple feedback loops with the community here, many of whom own the v3 and can let you know directly their thoughts.

At the end of the day, the damage has been done and there will be no reversing the experience regardless of what arrives in the box.

The main thing is just getting everyone their shoes as soon as possible.

 

[ArchibaldRoh]

My friends order is 10078 and h has recieved no news and no reply to his emails.
He is in the asus firbavweek, so it would be convenient for you -so shipping is cheaper- as well as for him -so he doesn’t need to wait for 2 months of delivery-, if you could ship his order while he is in the US and before he comes back to Chile.

I’ll pass a msg onto cs for this and I’m sure they will do the necessary to make it easy if possible.

 

[brianwong]

Dispatch takes place from Italy, clears into the UK and then is forwarded to customers around the world. They arrive, the team does a check against orders, quick qc, and then allocated and shipped right out.

As I understand it, the last shoes from the delivery originally due in April has left Italy.

Again, the delays have been unacceptable and I think closing the SF01 shows we feel just the same as you and we don’t want to put anyone through it again. We are very sorry for the delays.

The saga is not entirely over as following this delivery there is also another batch that has run late due to knock on effects, though hopefully nothing like this.

Re quality, it isn’t my place to make a comment. We arrived at the v3 following two Rose Anvil videos and multiple feedback loops with the community here, many of whom own the v3 and can let you know directly their thoughts.

At the end of the day, the damage has been done and there will be no reversing the experience regardless of what arrives in the box.

The main thing is just getting everyone their shoes as soon as possible.

Hi Rohan,

I've been in touch with CS and they advised me my pair of shoes wasn't leaving Italy until next week. Can you confirm whether there are any further shipments coming? Mine should have definitely been shipped on the last batch given it's been in production for nearly a whole year... If somehow my pair has been pushed back to the next batch and "next week" is just another optimistic date that I have been receiving for the last 8-9 months then I definitely just want my refund, because i'm running out of good faith I can give you and your brand.

Also I'd like to clarify with you this gesture that you had mentioned you would implement for customers affected by these delays? Have you finalized what this will be?

Thanks