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

[PhiPsi32]

To be clear, I only got hit with the white box on one pair. And though I sent the shoes in without laces, they came back with new laces. Interestingly, after I got hit with the white box on the first pair, I sent the second pair in plastic bags (no shoe box). They came back in a new Alden branded shoe box with the correct model number.

 

[Michigan Planner]



Ah, I got hit with the plain white box too.  I don't think I ever posted about that though.  All I sent in were the boots in the box (I kept the shoe bags and the laces).  Otherwise Alden did a great job for me (on two different pair).  I suggest calling the factory.

I recently sent in some shoes to Alden for a re-crafting and while I didn't get a white box on return, they did forget to send back my shoe bags. I emailed them through the contact email on the very old seeming Alden website and they replied later that same day and sent me out a new set of bags. FWIW, I think as I was surfing around on their site for an email address or phone number I saw somewhere that they request not sending the shoe bags in with the shoes when having work done... probably so they don't have to worry about forgetting to return them.

 

[Alcibiades]

Throughout my time reading the thread, Alden recrafting has been reviewed as hit or miss. The stories that worry me the most are shoes that get redyed when the customer request that they don't get redyed. For now I think I will stick with B Nelson when it comes to resoling/recrafting just to be sure.

 

[El Argentino]



Throughout my time reading the thread, Alden recrafting has been reviewed as hit or miss. The stories that worry me the most are shoes that get redyed when the customer request that they don't get redyed. For now I think I will stick with B Nelson when it comes to resoling/recrafting just to be sure.

I think I'm leaning the same way. Seems cheaper too...?

 

[100 yrs]



funny, the other day i noticed that a couple of speedhooks on my #8 plain toe boots from j. gilbert were starting to pull out like yours Mario. i'm just going to ride out the rest of the boot season then take them in. it almost seems like the speedhooks can be clamped back together with pliers, and now i wonder if it's worth sending them all the way back to alden. i'll see what Yenni says.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



I have had 2 pair shoes recrafted and both came in Green fresh Alden boxes with my size on the outside and trees and bags included.

+1

 

[mcarthur]



A fine day for a cigar...

+1 for gunboata and argyles

 

[MarioImpemba]

The box and bags are just part of the problem. I can't believe they came back that dirty a. And, the bare metal now exposed on the speed hooks is slightly annoying. Just overall a very poor experience. Again, this is on a brand new pair of boots that I then had to wait over a month to have repaired after a handful of wears, and they get sent back as if they were TSM seconds. I would have expected better at this price point. Inexcusable IMO. When I have the time I will call Alden direct as I'm curious on their response. I'd expect a lot of people in this thread to be biased and Alden-apologetic, but everyone else I've told my experience to was floored. If I had paid a TSM 2nd price, I would be satisfied, but I am not at full-retail.

 

[El Argentino]



The box and bags are just part of the problem. I can't believe they came back that dirty a. And, the bare metal now exposed on the speed hooks is slightly annoying. Just overall a very poor experience. Again, this is on a brand new pair of boots that I then had to wait over a month to have repaired after a handful of wears, and they get sent back as if they were TSM seconds. I would have expected better at this price point. Inexcusable IMO. When I have the time I will call Alden direct as I'm curious on their response. I'd expect a lot of people in this thread to be biased and Alden-apologetic, but everyone else I've told my experience to was floored. If I had paid a TSM 2nd price, I would be satisfied, but I am not at full-retail.

Oh, I'm floored for you - paying this much for shoes (I mean, SF-goggles aside for a minute - they are just SHOES) is inexcusable to return them FROM THE FACTORY in anything less than pristine condition. Best to you in raising a bit of hell.

 

[MarioImpemba]

Anyway, just sharing my experience as it's a forum/community after all. At the end of the day, I still like the Aldens I own

Oh, I'm floored for you - paying this much for shoes (I mean, SF-goggles aside for a minute - they are just SHOES) is inexcusable to return them FROM THE FACTORY in anything less than pristine condition. Best to you in raising a bit of hell.

Appreciate the support my man!

If we don't demand better at customers, vendors have no incentive to change; that's my thinking, anyway.

 

[Don L]

No, that is totally unacceptable. I agree that a call to the factory is warranted. be curious to see how they respond.

 

[mcarthur]

my experiences with Alden Restoration has always been positive. for example bb shoes have come back in the navy blue shoe box, navy blue shoe bag and alden shoe trees. Alden shoes have come back in the green shoe box, alden shoe bag and alden shoe trees
i would recommend calling the company to discuss this matter. i am competent that they will resolve the problem in your favor

 

[imolazhp_ci]

not surprising. alden honestly has the worst quality control of any shoe company in the $300+ arena. i am entirely confident in that statement. they make one of the finest shoes available, but some of the stuff that exits that factory is seriously inexcusable.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



not surprising. alden honestly has the worst quality control of any shoe company in the $300+ arena. i am entirely confident in that statement. they make one of the finest shoes available, but some of the stuff that exits that factory is seriously inexcusable.

Alden needs work in the QC arena; no question about it. FWIW, so does AE.

And it seems to me there are two levels:
1. how do they leave the factory (to the retailer)
and
2. how do they leave the retailer (to the customer).

One of the retailers I work alot with knows that I am rather picky. He is decent enough to personally inspect the pair or pairs that are being shipped to me. If they are not satisfactory (based on what he knows of my standards), he tells me, and I don't buy them. Saves some frustration ..... And I have never met him in person.

Every QC issue I have encountered has been with a retailer that accepts returns for refunds, so that has made the bitter pill a little easier to swallow.

I would encourage fellow forumites to establish a relationship, if possible, with one or two or three retailers - a relationship of mutual respect. Believe me, it makes the overall Alden experience much better.

 

[jvc44]

What do you knowledgeable guys think about Peal and co cordovan boots? I am on the fence about keeping them .thanks