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

[bespoken pa]



I think it depends. I have a couple pairs of seconds and the Circle R is on the sole for one (Normal) and it is on the inside for the other because it has crepe soles.

This one is harder to see but it is there over the text near the heel.

As far as I know there is one place to get Alden Seconds, The Shoe Mart. Alden of Carmel has some listed from time to time but I am not sure what that means. I think that Adam just has high standards and does his in house if something is not right when he looks at them.

I wonder however if TSM still receives all of Aldens seconds? I would think that make ups for specific manufactures may not be available tl them.

 

[mediahound]

I wonder however if TSM still receives all of Aldens seconds? I would think that make ups for specific manufactures may not be available tl them.

I certainly haven't received a seconds email from them in quite some time, like a few months at least.

 

[Ahab]



I wonder however if TSM still receives all of Aldens seconds? I would think that make ups for specific manufactures may not be available tl them.

I believe they do. I am 100% CERTAIN I have seen makeups from other distributors from them.

 

[shaunw]

I believe they do. I am 100% CERTAIN I have seen makeups from other distributors from them.

TSM does get all the seconds that come from the alden factory. The ones listed at Alden of Carmel are the shoes that they screened themselves and rejected as being 1st quality.

As a general FYI I have been in contact with TSM about their seconds list their email response is below:

3/21/13

Hello,
I do apologize but the list was not sent out as I had believed it would be. The irregular list still has some inventory errors that we are correcting before it will be sent out again. Unfortunately right now I am not sure when it will be sent out again.
Thank you,

 

[bespoken pa]



TSM does get all the seconds that come from the alden factory. The ones listed at Alden of Carmel are the shoes that they screened themselves and rejected as being 1st quality.
As a general FYI I have been in contact with TSM about their seconds
list their email response is below:
[SIZE=12pt]3/21/13[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Hello,
I do apologize but the list was not sent out as I had believed it would be. The irregular list still has some inventory errors that we are


correcting before it will be sent out again. Unfortunately right now I am not sure when it will be sent out again.

Thank you,[/SIZE]


 

So AOC's is essentially doing Aldens job by protecting the consumer. It really is disheartening that Alden's attitude seems to be "hey, they will buy it anyway so what does it matter". I find it noble that AOC would pay full price for the shoes, mark them down and eat the difference in an effort to please the customer. It certainly says a lot for them.

 

[JermynStreet]

Nice looking J Crew Saddles. It got me thinking of a weird question: why is only calf used for suede? What would shell/ostrich/other skin look like for suede? Anyone have any ideas on this?

 

[Don L]

Nice looking J Crew Saddles. It got me thinking of a weird question: why is only calf used for suede? What would shell/ostrich/other skin look like for suede? Anyone have any ideas on this?

You might say Adam at AOC has higher standards than Alden's own QC which also explains his return policies.

 

[Ahab]



So AOC's is essentially doing Aldens job by protecting the consumer. It really is disheartening that Alden's attitude seems to be "hey, they will buy it anyway so what does it matter". I find it noble that AOC would pay full price for the shoes, mark them down and eat the difference in an effort to please the customer. It certainly says a lot for them.

Alden of Carmel is a top notch operation.

 

[Ahab]



You might say Adam at AOC has higher standards than Alden's own QC which also explains his return policies.

 

[Bakes11771]

Nice looking J Crew Saddles. It got me thinking of a weird question: why is only calf used for suede? What would shell/ostrich/other skin look like for suede? Anyone have any ideas on this?

I'm not a leather expert by any means, but suede is the "flesh side" (inward facing side of the hide) that is brushed to have that suede nap. Maybe cow hide is the only or best material for this process? or maybe other hides produce the same result, but are not as cheap or widely available as cow hides, due to the beef industry.

Just speculating.

Edit: I think they also can use goat skin for suede, if I am not mistaken.

 

[Dbear]

it's shoes.

it goes on your feet.

lamb suede wouldn't last very long.

 

[JermynStreet]

it's shoes.

it goes on your feet.

lamb suede wouldn't last very long.

Maybe DWF would know about this? I'll message him and ask him.

 

[Kwaker]



I bought both 8.5 and 8. Whichever one does not fit me as well, will go back or for sale. 

If you go with the 8.5, I'll take the 8.

 

[Numbernine]



you're welcome. but beware, my wife always thought i had several brown wingtip shoes, she's now calling them the orange pair, the purple pair...
thank you sir
thank you uncle roguls
i wore the whiskeys with the pictured blue laces last night, i really liked the look.
i will be experimenting with the dark purple this week, i'll post pics if they make it out of the house.

my wife embarrassed me once over my red shoe laces so even though she now likes them i refuse to wear them out of defiance
but i like them too. aint disfunctional relationships great!

 

[shaunw]

So AOC's is essentially doing Aldens job by protecting the consumer. It really is disheartening that Alden's attitude seems to be "hey, they will buy it anyway so what does it matter". I find it noble that AOC would pay full price for the shoes, mark them down and eat the difference in an effort to please the customer. It certainly says a lot for them.

I agree it's kind of sad, but as I understand it you are correct........AOC performs his own QC. That being said his "irregulars" are priced lower that full price but not to the extent that TSM marks them down. I'd say he is still making a decent profit with his irregulars.