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

[rydenfan]



Thanks!  Guess about the same... I feel like they're 200 or so overpriced for what they are - but what do they care, they can't keep them on the shelves!

You might feel differently once you have a pair and see the construction and feel the fit. They are a great boot

 

[tigerpac]

I've tried them on and my best friend has a pair, they're amazing boots no doubt, I just feel like they're priced higher than similar quality boots.

 

[thebeebs]

Any pre-order on the cigar grant boots anywhere lately? Thanks

Call Kathy at Alden DC

 

[thams]

Gunboats for a difficult workday.

 

[Michigan Planner]



To paraphrase Magritte: "Ceci n'est pas un Indy Boot"

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Frans Boone delivered well. Purchased Friday, delivered at 10am today. No customs charges. No signs of try on. Free shoe trees (although for the FB markup compared to stateside purchases, they are arguably the most valuable shoe trees I've ever purchased). They even reached out to me with a special e-mail, recalling that I had inquired about buying the boots with 2 credit cards back in the vanilla visa gift card days. Special thanks to BeSpiffington, who pointed out back in April of last year that these boots were sitting in the Frans Boone inventory for a long while. Special thanks to mdubs for buying the last pair before the restock and rekindling my interest in the shoes...

Absolutely gorgeous. According to UPS, mine are "out for delivery" right now. Hopefully I also do not get hit with the customs or UPS brokerage charges. I've ordered from Frans Boone twice before and always looked at the brokerage charges as an unfortunate cost of doing business with them in order to get some of their unique makeups. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will be pleasantly surprised this time around. FWIW, I tried to request that they ship via DHL or Post Netherlands, both of which should theoretically avoid the hassles of UPS but they refused.

 

[docalden2013]

Absolutely gorgeous. According to UPS, mine are "out for delivery" right now. Hopefully I also do not get hit with the customs or UPS brokerage charges. I've ordered from Frans Boone twice before and always looked at the brokerage charges as an unfortunate cost of doing business with them in order to get some of their unique makeups. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will be pleasantly surprised this time around.

FWIW, I tried to request that they ship via DHL or Post Netherlands, both of which should theoretically avoid the hassles of UPS but they refused.

I'm glad for you, MP. I hope you get a perfectly unworn, evenly-dyed, properly finished pair and no surcharges. Enjoy breaking them in!

 

[NYDRH]

Absolutely gorgeous. According to UPS, mine are "out for delivery" right now. Hopefully I also do not get hit with the customs or UPS brokerage charges. I've ordered from Frans Boone twice before and always looked at the brokerage charges as an unfortunate cost of doing business with them in order to get some of their unique makeups. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will be pleasantly surprised this time around.

FWIW, I tried to request that they ship via DHL or Post Netherlands, both of which should theoretically avoid the hassles of UPS but they refused.

Good luck my man, fingers crossed for you and I. From the internet research I have done over time, my understanding is that DHL is the one most likely to inflict pain followed by Fedex, and from my own experience the national postal services have been kind to my pocket. This will be my first UPS experience but I believe Frans has the proper procedure for a repatriation of US made goods down to a science now. But I concur with your train of thought "unfortunate cost of doing business with them in order to get some of their unique makeups"

 

[docalden2013]

Good luck my man, fingers crossed for you and I. From the internet research I have done over time, my understanding is that DHL is the one most likely to inflict pain followed by Fedex, and from my own experience the national postal services have been kind to my pocket. This will be my first UPS experience but I believe Frans has the proper procedure for a repatriation of US made goods down to a science now. But I concur with your train of thought "unfortunate cost of doing business with them in order to get some of their unique makeups"

Is the free shoe tree thing any consolation, guys?

 

[zippyh]

Absolutely gorgeous. According to UPS, mine are "out for delivery" right now. Hopefully I also do not get hit with the customs or UPS brokerage charges. I've ordered from Frans Boone twice before and always looked at the brokerage charges as an unfortunate cost of doing business with them in order to get some of their unique makeups. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will be pleasantly surprised this time around.


FWIW, I tried to request that they ship via DHL or Post Netherlands, both of which should theoretically avoid the hassles of UPS but they refused.

Good luck my man, fingers crossed for you and I.  From the internet research I have done over time, my understanding is that DHL is the one most likely to inflict pain followed by Fedex, and from my own experience the national postal services have been kind to my pocket.  This will be my first UPS experience but I believe Frans has the proper procedure for a repatriation of US made goods down to a science now.  But I concur with your train of thought "unfortunate cost of doing business with them in order to get some of their unique makeups"

In my experience, UPS is the worst, followed closely by Fedex and then DHL.
UPS collects at delivery. Fedex and DHL will bill you.
Fedex and UPS brokerage costs are about the same at around $25-30 depending upon value of shipment.
DHL brokerage is around $12.
I've had way more shipments come through untaxed with DHL than the others.

 

[ComfortablyDumb]

Can any Canadians chime in on ordering from Leffot? What are the chances of getting hit with duties (shipped USPS)? I'm assuming I'll get hit with them, have a pair of the PT Chromexcel boots in the mail right now.

 

[Steel28]



Can any Canadians chime in on ordering from Leffot? What are the chances of getting hit with duties (shipped USPS)? I'm assuming I'll get hit with them, have a pair of the PT Chromexcel boots in the mail right now.

I got about $90 CAN in taxes/duties when ordered from Leffot. Good luck.

 

[Michigan Planner]



Can any Canadians chime in on ordering from Leffot? What are the chances of getting hit with duties (shipped USPS)? I'm assuming I'll get hit with them, have a pair of the PT Chromexcel boots in the mail right now.

I'm not a Canadian, but I'll put this out there for Canadians: If you want stuff that you cannot get shipped to Canada (or do not want to deal with customs or duties), live in the somewhere in Southwestern Ontario, and don't mind making a drive to the Detroit area, feel free to have your stuff shipped to me. I will gladly accept and hold your deliveries until such time you can come pick them up. All I ask for in return is copious amounts of beer brought across the border. No Labatt's or Molson though - I prefer microbrews I cannot get here.

 

[Steel28]



I'm not a Canadian, but I'll put this out there for Canadians: If you want stuff that you cannot get shipped to Canada (or do not want to deal with customs or duties), live in the somewhere in Southwestern Ontario, and don't mind making a drive to the Detroit area, feel free to have your stuff shipped to me. I will gladly accept and hold your deliveries until such time you can come pick them up. All I ask for in return is copious amounts of beer brought across the border. No Labatt's or Molson though - I prefer microbrews I cannot get here.

I'm in Toronto and would take you up on this great offer!

Thanks! Count on great beer.

 

[ComfortablyDumb]

Thanks for the quick replies, yeah I figured I'd get hit, $90 is around what I expect.

@Michigan Planner I might have taken you up on that offer if you were in Buffalo, rather than Detroit

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]

^^ I have been hit with customs using DHL and FedEx. It has never happened when the postal service has been used.