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

[zag73]

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. ?‍♂️

Nothing unreasonable in what you’ve said here. Personally, I never had a problem waiting for my shoes. It was the number of defective shoes I received. I don’t believe for one minute they have quality control in place.

 

[zag73]

All fair comment.

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

Pediwear in Halifax carry stock.

 

[SirThopas]

The boots I have on order will be my fourth pair of Carminas. Each previous one has a defect, but nothing so major as to be unforgivable or serious grounds for complaint. The suggestion that their QC is poor certainly resonates with me.

I am persisting with Carmina because they have a phenomenal range of styles and there are great opportunities for customisation, at prices that seem fair. But after initially being really enthused, I am agnostic about the brand. I have a pair of their shell Bluchers that have been the main disappointment - they neither look nor feel like £600 shoes.

 

[Nickd]

Pediwear in Halifax carry stock.

I’ll likely take a trip up there at some point - it’s less than an hour away. I’d like some suede Oxfords for the summer and Carmina’s offering look ideal.

 

[Nickd]

The boots I have on order will be my fourth pair of Carminas. Each previous one has a defect, but nothing so major as to be unforgivable or serious grounds for complaint. The suggestion that their QC is poor certainly resonates with me.

I am persisting with Carmina because they have a phenomenal range of styles and there are great opportunities for customisation, at prices that seem fair. But after initially being really enthused, I am agnostic about the brand. I have a pair of their shell Bluchers that have been the main disappointment - they neither look nor feel like £600 shoes.

Interesting. I agree with you on the QC, but I’ve found that when they get it right they punch well above their weight. I’ve got black tassel loafers by both Carmina and C&J and I’d put the Carmina ones higher in both make and style.

 

[SirThopas]

I think Carmina’s shoes are in many cases more elegant than their Crockett equivalents. But over the years I have had at least twenty pairs of C&J, and I’ve never had one that had a clear defect - a function, I guess, of my buying them in person and trying/checking them, rather than buying online.

 

[Nickd]

I think Carmina’s shoes are in many cases more elegant than their Crockett equivalents. But over the years I have had at least twenty pairs of C&J, and I’ve never had one that had a clear defect - a function, I guess, of my buying them in person and trying/checking them, rather than buying online.

And that’s part of the frustration with Carmina. They could be the best cost/quality ratio in GYW men’s shoes if the could get the QC right.

 

[zag73]

I’ll likely take a trip up there at some point - it’s less than an hour away. I’d like some suede Oxfords for the summer and Carmina’s offering look ideal.

From memory, oxfords were the main offering. Could have changed since I last looked though. By the way, service is excellent there.

 

[zag73]

And that’s part of the frustration with Carmina. They could be the best cost/quality ratio in GYW men’s shoes if the could get the QC right.

100% agree.

 

[zag73]

Interesting. I agree with you on the QC, but I’ve found that when they get it right they punch well above their weight. I’ve got black tassel loafers by both Carmina and C&J and I’d put the Carmina ones higher in both make and style.

100% agree with this too.

 

[Patrick1053]

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

Yeah if you get lucky maybe you get Jupiter days, but most people are probably stuck in the Mercury/Venus spectrum.

Personally, I'd be content with Mars days. That seems to be the closest to a Spanish sense of time anyway.

 

[Noblekostas]

From skimming through this thread lately it seems like Carmina is the victim of their previous consistency and decent level of QC. Am I right?

Also, watch out for those scumbags:

Black Wholecut Oxford Shoes

Wholecut Oxford in black Box-calf. Featuring a leather sole in a refined Goodyear welt-construction and calf lining. This shoe, like all the other ladfavorites, is carefully manufactured by expert craftsmen who follow the exact same techniques that Charles Goodyear created in 1869.Style made on...

www.ladfavorite.com

I of course reported them to Carmina on Instagram but they don't give a crap to read or reply.

 

[zag73]

From skimming through this thread lately it seems like Carmina is the victim of their previous consistency and decent level of QC. Am I right?

Also, watch out for those scumbags:

Black Wholecut Oxford Shoes

Wholecut Oxford in black Box-calf. Featuring a leather sole in a refined Goodyear welt-construction and calf lining. This shoe, like all the other ladfavorites, is carefully manufactured by expert craftsmen who follow the exact same techniques that Charles Goodyear created in 1869.Style made on...

www.ladfavorite.com

I of course reported them to Carmina on Instagram but they don't give a crap to read or reply.

“decent level of QC” ..... a mistype?

 

[Patrick1053]

From skimming through this thread lately it seems like Carmina is the victim of their previous consistency and decent level of QC. Am I right?

Also, watch out for those scumbags:

Black Wholecut Oxford Shoes

Wholecut Oxford in black Box-calf. Featuring a leather sole in a refined Goodyear welt-construction and calf lining. This shoe, like all the other ladfavorites, is carefully manufactured by expert craftsmen who follow the exact same techniques that Charles Goodyear created in 1869.Style made on...

www.ladfavorite.com

I of course reported them to Carmina on Instagram but they don't give a crap to read or reply.

Yeah, I saw that fakeness. I wonder what they actually look like in real life.

 

[JohnMRobie]

Yeah, I saw that fakeness. I wonder what they actually look like in real life.