Carmina Shoes - Definitive Thread (reviews, advice, sizing, etc...) - official thread.

[gr8man]

Carmina has another MTO, and I like to put an order for pair of Carmina shell, in your opinion beside natural shell which is more versatile color for plain toe derby? Thanks!

 

[jischwar]

Carmina has another MTO, and I like to put an order for pair of Carmina shell, in your opinion beside natural shell which is more versatile color for plain toe derby? Thanks!

Armagnac is probably the most versatile

 

[gr8man]

Armagnac is probably the most versatile

Thanks, It was my thought too, The reason I am bit unsure about Armagnac, I recently purchased a brown museum calf from VASS which is kind of similar in color to me.

 

[jischwar]

Thanks, It was my thought too, The reason I am bit unsure about Armagnac, I recently purchased a brown museum calf from VASS which is kind of similar in color to me.

I mean brown is brown, haha. Depending on last one can be dressier and one more casual especially if you go Detroit last and natural welt

 

[officine]

Armagnac is probably the most versatile

Thanks, It was my thought too, The reason I am bit unsure about Armagnac, I recently purchased a brown museum calf from VASS which is kind of similar in color to me.

Burgundy cordovan will look different and is neck and neck with Armagnac for versatility imo.

 

[gr8man]

I mean brown is brown, haha. Depending on last one can be dressier and one more casual especially if you go Detroit last and natural welt

You’re totally right.

 

[Crizzlelovesyou]

I mean brown is brown, haha. Depending on last one can be dressier and one more casual especially if you go Detroit last and natural welt

Hard disagree that brown is brown. All shades of brown leather are unique and beautiful. I definitely have room for a 9th and 10th brown boot......

 

[gr8man]

Burgundy cordovan will look different and is neck and neck with Armagnac for versatility imo.

I agree with you, but I have color 8 Alden, Probably armagnac is better option between those 2.

 

[officine]

I agree with you, but I have color 8 Alden, Probably armagnac is better option between those 2.

I agree, though the shades are different and they age differently.

Perhaps you should have said "..besides natural shell, Alden #8, and dark brown which is more versatile color for plain toe derby? "

Without being the most versatile, why not try Rubi given you have the basics covered?

 

[SirThopas]

Went for a pair of these when the MTO was open in February: https://www.carminashoemaker.com/norwegian-boots-museum-80697

Did anyone else here order these? I haven’t received mine yet, and am wondering if any have been shipped. On my Carmina profile they just show as being in process.

 

[Patrick1053]

Went for a pair of these when the MTO was open in February: https://www.carminashoemaker.com/norwegian-boots-museum-80697

Did anyone else here order these? I haven’t received mine yet, and am wondering if any have been shipped. On my Carmina profile they just show as being in process.

It takes between 2 months and 2 years for MTO's to ship

 

[SirThopas]

It takes between 2 months and 2 years for MTO's to ship

I was duped by the promise of 45 days!

 

[Crafty Cumbrian]

I was duped by the promise of 45 days!

Those days aren’t determined legally as earth days....

 

[harlequin782]

Yeah, tbh, Ive had to let Carmina go. They seem like very nice people, whenever you do hear from them, and they do try to offer compromises to assuage your dissatisfaction (which I appreciate), but I just cant deal with the level of ineptitude at which they seem to be comfortable operating.

By my estimation, it shouldnt take 4+ months to get a pair of plain suede shoes made from a stock model out the door (not a special makeup, not a special leather, not shell, not an exotic leather...plain ol fashioned stock model suede.) - not when the website says it will ship in 45 - 60 days; and not when Im hearing that TLB Mallorca has a 1 - 2 month TAT at most, and at a cheaper price to boot.

What 9-5 working person has time to spend haggling with a company to track down when they will finally receive their order after months and months and months of waiting? And even then, cant get a straight answer.

I dont know if they simply dont have a very competitive company spirit or what, but by my measly american capitalist standards, these unexplained lapses in execution are just unthinkable for a well established company offering a premium product at this price point.

That said, Im a huge fan of their shoes, and I love the pairs Ive received from them.

I'd still recommend them to anyone who has the patience to deal with extremely long and uncertain shipping timeframes. But I would say they need to shift their focus from just providing good customer service when you contact them, to trying to provide complete and consistent customer satisfaction with the entire experience.

Not sure where theyre dropping the ball, but my short stint with Carmina has shown me that nice people + nice product does not always equal good business. Not saying theyre a bad business, but they do have some bad business practices compared to what Im accustomed to when I spend $500+ on an item. Oh well, you live and you learn.

Welp, Im done venting here, and Ill insert my own "we're all free to spend our money where we please/how we best see fit" stock response here, to spare anyone else from having to paste it in theirs. We'll see if TLB can do any better. Ill see myself to the door. ?‍♂️

 

[Nickd]

Yeah, tbh, Ive had to let Carmina go. They seem like very nice people, whenever you do hear from them, and they do try to offer compromises to assuage your dissatisfaction (which I appreciate), but I just cant deal with the level of ineptitude at which they seem to be comfortable operating.

By my estimation, it shouldnt take 4+ months to get a pair of plain suede shoes made from a stock model out the door (not a special makeup, not a special leather, not shell, not an exotic leather...plain ol fashioned stock model suede.) - not when the website says it will ship in 45 - 60 days; and not when Im hearing that TLB Mallorca has a 1 - 2 month TAT at most, and at a cheaper price to boot.

What 9-5 working person has time to spend haggling with a company to track down when they will finally receive their order after months and months and months of waiting? And even then, cant get a straight answer.

I dont know if they simply dont have a very competitive company spirit or what, but by my measly american capitalist standards, these unexplained lapses in execution are just unthinkable for a well established company offering a premium product at this price point.

That said, Im a huge fan of their shoes, and I love the pairs Ive received from them.

I'd still recommend them to anyone who has the patience to deal with extremely long and uncertain shipping timeframes. But I would say they need to shift their focus from just providing good customer service when you contact them, to trying to provide complete and consistent customer satisfaction with the entire experience.

Not sure where theyre dropping the ball, but my short stint with Carmina has shown me that nice people + nice product does not always equal good business. Not saying theyre a bad business, but they do have some bad business practices compared to what Im accustomed to when I spend $500+ on an item. Oh well, you live and you learn.

Welp, Im done venting here, and Ill insert my own "we're all free to spend our money where we please/how we best see fit" stock response here, to spare anyone else from having to paste it in theirs. We'll see if TLB can do any better. Ill see myself to the door. ?‍♂️

All fair comment.

I‘ll buy them again I expect, but only when I can try them on in person before purchase.