Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread 2020 - News, Pictures, Clothing, Accessories, etc.

[audog]

Well, @ae_ashley and everyone else, I had a problem with the Trunk Show. I ordered Hamiltons in Chili with double JR soles. To my amazement, a shipment of Hamilton Chilis arrived at my doorstep today. I opened them, and there were the boots, but they had Dainite soles. I called to return them, set up my package, and then I realized that the rep said nothing about my getting a replacement. So I called again to make sure I would get a replacement, and it looks like what was going to happen was that I was going to get a refund. This of course is not good, since there would be no opportunity to buy them again. So I called up again, this time the rep said that she would give me a different return address, and I should mail them back to where they would resole the shoes with JR.

At this point, I am probably going to do that, but it seems a shame that the only way to actually get the order I wanted was to rip apart the shoes and put on a new sole. I suppose it might be OK, but it seems like it would be more appropriate to treat it like a second and pay second-time prices on it, not $725 for a "no-longer new" pair of shoes.

What do you think? I guess this is pretty much one of the reasons I am thinking I should give up the brand.

Things like this just shouldn't happen with a custom order, from a trunk show. Mistakes happen, but on a custom order, they simply shouldn't. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[madhat]

Well, @ae_ashley and everyone else, I had a problem with the Trunk Show. I ordered Hamiltons in Chili with double JR soles. To my amazement, a shipment of Hamilton Chilis arrived at my doorstep today. I opened them, and there were the boots, but they had Dainite soles. I called to return them, set up my package, and then I realized that the rep said nothing about my getting a replacement. So I called again to make sure I would get a replacement, and it looks like what was going to happen was that I was going to get a refund. This of course is not good, since there would be no opportunity to buy them again. So I called up again, this time the rep said that she would give me a different return address, and I should mail them back to where they would resole the shoes with JR.

At this point, I am probably going to do that, but it seems a shame that the only way to actually get the order I wanted was to rip apart the shoes and put on a new sole. I suppose it might be OK, but it seems like it would be more appropriate to treat it like a second and pay second-time prices on it, not $725 for a "no-longer new" pair of shoes.

What do you think? I guess this is pretty much one of the reasons I am thinking I should give up the brand.

Well, that’s your decision to not purchase AE anymore. We really shouldn’t play into that decision for you.

That said, rather than calling CS, did you call Ashley directly at the Charleston store?

 

[mreams99]

Well, @ae_ashley and everyone else, I had a problem with the Trunk Show. I ordered Hamiltons in Chili with double JR soles. To my amazement, a shipment of Hamilton Chilis arrived at my doorstep today. I opened them, and there were the boots, but they had Dainite soles. I called to return them, set up my package, and then I realized that the rep said nothing about my getting a replacement. So I called again to make sure I would get a replacement, and it looks like what was going to happen was that I was going to get a refund. This of course is not good, since there would be no opportunity to buy them again. So I called up again, this time the rep said that she would give me a different return address, and I should mail them back to where they would resole the shoes with JR.

At this point, I am probably going to do that, but it seems a shame that the only way to actually get the order I wanted was to rip apart the shoes and put on a new sole. I suppose it might be OK, but it seems like it would be more appropriate to treat it like a second and pay second-time prices on it, not $725 for a "no-longer new" pair of shoes.

What do you think? I guess this is pretty much one of the reasons I am thinking I should give up the brand.

I think that you should talk to Ashley about your options.

 

[Vincent George]

Well, @ae_ashley and everyone else, I had a problem with the Trunk Show. I ordered Hamiltons in Chili with double JR soles. To my amazement, a shipment of Hamilton Chilis arrived at my doorstep today. I opened them, and there were the boots, but they had Dainite soles. I called to return them, set up my package, and then I realized that the rep said nothing about my getting a replacement. So I called again to make sure I would get a replacement, and it looks like what was going to happen was that I was going to get a refund. This of course is not good, since there would be no opportunity to buy them again. So I called up again, this time the rep said that she would give me a different return address, and I should mail them back to where they would resole the shoes with JR.

At this point, I am probably going to do that, but it seems a shame that the only way to actually get the order I wanted was to rip apart the shoes and put on a new sole. I suppose it might be OK, but it seems like it would be more appropriate to treat it like a second and pay second-time prices on it, not $725 for a "no-longer new" pair of shoes.

What do you think? I guess this is pretty much one of the reasons I am thinking I should give up the brand.

Sorry for your frustration.

It is my understanding that a resole would not be appropriate. They would probably re-make them. When AE recrafts, they attach a new welt and do not use the same stitch holes—thus compromising the integrity of the shoe / leaving less room for future re-soles and re-weltings.

I had a similar problem this time around. But, after basically the same offer as yours, I generously decided to keep my boots (as my issue was just an incorrect welt and I didn’t want to roll the dice on potentially wonky shell coloring on another pair). Note: my SA is and was fantastic about the situation and she ordered the shoes correctly. And @ae_ashley is tremendous, too (no one would dispute this.)

In short, I appreciate AE:

1) Having a trunk show
2) Making our SMUs quickly

But—

Quality control is lacking. At the end of the day AE is a business and we are customers. I appreciate all the kum-ba-yah blah blah blah and I LOVE screwing around ALL DAY on this forum with you weasels; however, accountability is paramount re: voluntary transactions.

Last—I get it. We’re in a pandemic. I have beyond first-world problems and I would never tell a living soul outside of this wacky safe space about any of this.

 

[Ashley_S]

Well, @ae_ashley and everyone else, I had a problem with the Trunk Show. I ordered Hamiltons in Chili with double JR soles. To my amazement, a shipment of Hamilton Chilis arrived at my doorstep today. I opened them, and there were the boots, but they had Dainite soles. I called to return them, set up my package, and then I realized that the rep said nothing about my getting a replacement. So I called again to make sure I would get a replacement, and it looks like what was going to happen was that I was going to get a refund. This of course is not good, since there would be no opportunity to buy them again. So I called up again, this time the rep said that she would give me a different return address, and I should mail them back to where they would resole the shoes with JR.

At this point, I am probably going to do that, but it seems a shame that the only way to actually get the order I wanted was to rip apart the shoes and put on a new sole. I suppose it might be OK, but it seems like it would be more appropriate to treat it like a second and pay second-time prices on it, not $725 for a "no-longer new" pair of shoes.

What do you think? I guess this is pretty much one of the reasons I am thinking I should give up the brand.

Nope. That won't do. Please give me a call Wednesday. 843-619-6949.
Have you sent the shoes back? If you haven't, don't please.

 

[BoydsShoes]

Nope. That won't do. Please give me a call Wednesday. 843-619-6949.
Have you sent the shoes back? If you haven't, don't please.

Thanks!
Did not return yet!

Will call Wednesday.

Thanks to everyone for reaching out.

Stay well

 

[Jimmy R]

If those Chili Hamiltons are 7.5 EEE, I'll buy them! ?

 

[BoydsShoes]

Ha! 10.5 D. Looks like Ashley will take care of it.

 

[Jimmy R]

Ha! 10.5 D. Looks like Ashley will take care of it.

Worth a shot!

 

[audog]

Ha! 10.5 D. Looks like Ashley will take care of it.

Ashley is magic.

 

[Shoenut]

Ha! 10.5 D. Looks like Ashley will take care of it.

This is why I don’t buy online and never call CS. My relationship is with my SA’s. Not AE. The most satisfying purchase comes from an SA who you have a relationship with. They know enough about you that they can steer you in a good makeup vs left to my own devices would have 50 snuff suede shoes. I also marvel at how they can put up with some customers. The last time I was in the store, an SA was serving Mr. 10 pairs. A young customer who tries on no less than 10 pairs, soaks up all the good information that the SA has and before he walks out of the store, he buys a few pairs online. Of course he only keeps one because he is back next week to return the discards at the store. If I ever have an issue with a shoe, my SA’s take care of it. The SA’s are fantastic because I bet there are more Mr. 10 pairs out there than Shoenuts. That’s a fact.

 

[BoydsShoes]

This is why I don’t buy online and never call CS. My relationship is with my SA’s. Not AE. The most satisfying purchase comes from an SA who you have a relationship with. They know enough about you that they can steer you in a good makeup vs left to my own devices would have 50 snuff suede shoes. I also marvel at how they can put up with some customers. The last time I was in the store, an SA was serving Mr. 10 pairs. A young customer who tries on no less than 10 pairs, soaks up all the good information that the SA has and before he walks out of the store, he buys a few pairs online. Of course he only keeps one because he is back next week to return the discards at the store. If I ever have an issue with a shoe, my SA’s take care of it. The SA’s are fantastic because I bet there are more Mr. 10 pairs out there than Shoenuts. That’s a fact.

I have a great SA but we couldn’t connect the weekend of the Trunk Show as the store was closed on the weekend and Monday was Yom Kippur, so I ordered online Sunday.

 

[Thrift Couture]

I read stuff like this and I think some of you guys are way more discriminating about fit than I am

I think I'm TTS in everything but maybe I'm just lazy (I hate trying stuff on and stores don't stock B width anyway) and low maintenance

I’m lazy, 10D or bust.

 

[audog]

This is why I don’t buy online and never call CS. My relationship is with my SA’s. Not AE. The most satisfying purchase comes from an SA who you have a relationship with. They know enough about you that they can steer you in a good makeup vs left to my own devices would have 50 snuff suede shoes. I also marvel at how they can put up with some customers. The last time I was in the store, an SA was serving Mr. 10 pairs. A young customer who tries on no less than 10 pairs, soaks up all the good information that the SA has and before he walks out of the store, he buys a few pairs online. Of course he only keeps one because he is back next week to return the discards at the store. If I ever have an issue with a shoe, my SA’s take care of it. The SA’s are fantastic because I bet there are more Mr. 10 pairs out there than Shoenuts. That’s a fact.

Sales, and I spent a sizable portion of my career in sales training, is ALWAYS a relationship driven thing. People buy based on price for some things, but for serious purchases, intangible things, luxury items, people buy based on a relationship with a competent sales person. It's the RELATIONSHIP that matters, nothing else. Call an SA you trust, get the job done.

 

[Cronmok]

Well, @ae_ashley and everyone else, I had a problem with the Trunk Show. I ordered Hamiltons in Chili with double JR soles. To my amazement, a shipment of Hamilton Chilis arrived at my doorstep today. I opened them, and there were the boots, but they had Dainite soles. I called to return them, set up my package, and then I realized that the rep said nothing about my getting a replacement. So I called again to make sure I would get a replacement, and it looks like what was going to happen was that I was going to get a refund. This of course is not good, since there would be no opportunity to buy them again. So I called up again, this time the rep said that she would give me a different return address, and I should mail them back to where they would resole the shoes with JR.

At this point, I am probably going to do that, but it seems a shame that the only way to actually get the order I wanted was to rip apart the shoes and put on a new sole. I suppose it might be OK, but it seems like it would be more appropriate to treat it like a second and pay second-time prices on it, not $725 for a "no-longer new" pair of shoes.

What do you think? I guess this is pretty much one of the reasons I am thinking I should give up the brand.

I had the same issue with a chili Hamilton ordered for red, but arrived with black dainite. I was told the same thing: I could either send them back for a “free” recrafting with red dainite or return for refund. Ultimately, I kept them and customer service discounted a portion of the purchase price (not quite to seconds pricing). Suboptimal outcome, but the path of least resistance for me.