Does Allen Edmonds suck? (Seriously--not a Re-evolving troll thread)

[Jay Gatsby]

E has terrible lasts. I have yet to find one that doesn't feel strange to the bottom of my feet, or one that has an adequately roomy toe box. They are way too narrow in the toe box, even the wide ones. And I've tried different lasts.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

I have several pair and always been pleased on every level: quality, fit, customer service etc.

 

[pgd3]

Originally Posted by Jay Gatsby

AE has terrible lasts. I have yet to find one that doesn't feel strange to the bottom of my feet, or one that has an adequately roomy toe box. They are way too narrow in the toe box, even the wide ones. And I've tried different lasts.

To me however the lasts fit well. I have some on the 7, 5, and 1 last.

The 5 fits me roomier than the 7. But they're all decent for my foot.

Alden's lasts by large seem roomier, which for my narrow forefoot is trouble.

The real problem with Alden is just getting the narrower shoes anyhow. finding anything in the AA/B width in a store?

 

[dasai]

I feel obligated to post my own in-store experience as well. I went to the one on Madison Avenue last summer (across the street from a Brooks Bros. -- perhaps the Brooks Bros.). Although the employees complained between themselves about another who had dropped the ball with a custom order and had apparently decided that his shift didn't apply to him (one of the two wasn't actually supposed to come in that day), they were courteous to me, bringing out a number of models across several different lasts, working on each until we found a size that fit. Although I didn't buy anything that day, they gave me a copy of the catalogue to take home with me, and I eventually purchased both the Strand and the MacNeil online. As long as you've been in the shop firsthand, there should be no reason why you'd buy a shoe you didn't want. If the styling or the construction didn't impress you, you didn't have to make the purchase. A pushy salesperson is no excuse. I came away from the experience ready to buy two pair of shoes I was quite happy with (though I don't wear the Strand as much now; doesn't go with as many things in my wardrobe). Next time, do your homework and don't allow yourself to get pushed into a sale before you're ready. Don't blame the brand for your own missteps.

 

[Quadcammer]

I don't like the way hondas look, feel, or drive...but I bought one anyway.

Btw, calling C&Js your "little babies" is mad creepy.

If you don't like AE, thats one thing, but they don't suck.

don't like them, don't buy them, there are plenty of other choices.

I for one love my cliftons, and am looking for a pair of walnut strands.

 

[ktrp]

I've only bought AE from a Harry Rosen. The first time I did this, the service was exceptional. The guy selling them was the 'shoe specialist' in the store, ex military guy. He out-of-hand dismissed some models for me based on my foot shape vs the last used, and steered me to some that would fit well. Great experience (never since repeated!). My last HR shoe experience was asking a saleslady if she knew who made Canali's shoes, and she assured me they were made 'in Italy'. She then asserted that all the best shoes were Italian, and seemed confused when I suggested that a few UK firms made a respectable shoe as well.

I only have one pair of AE, they've held up well, multiple resolings, quality has always seemed good for the price. AE get a lot of love and hate here, essentially for north americans they are the lowest grade shoe that meets SF standards, which explains the love and the hate.

I don't mind the 360 welt. Guys here seem to make a fetish of narrow shoes. I think that's partially because a lot of posters wear very slim fitting trousers, which call for a lighter looking shoe, but I think its also because a lot of posters here are midgets. The only thing I find at all 'blobby' about my AE is that I wish the cap toe extended further up the shoe.

 

[gladhands]

E is the entry level "quality" shoe, and the best bang-fit-the-buck most Americans have access to. With the exception of maybe Alferd Sargent, (and most Americans cant walk into a store to handle or try them on) any shoe better than AE is in a different price tier. How many times do we have to go over this?

 

[Beatlegeuse]

^ +1 It's really hard to beat their price point. If you want a better shoe, you will have to spend more.

 

[hohneokc]

First, I will answer your question - no, they don't suck. Are they as good as shoes costing twice as much, no. That's why a Mercedes is better than a Chevy - seems to be consistent among several product types in fact - twice the money gets a better product. Tell you what, I'll go buy a pair of $3,000 handmade shoes and then I'll post how C&J suck compared to the $3,000 shoes - does that sound right? I don't think so.

All your complaints seem to be a bit personal - I don't like this, I don't like that, etc. So for your personal needs, I guess Allen Edmonds doesn't fit your needs. But for a lot of people , myself included, Allen Edmonds offers a great shoe at a great price. And their customer service is second to none.

I personally like a lot of the AE styles and most of the lasts fit me well - I guess I'm just lucky. I personally don't like the thin-soled, ultra sleek, chisel-toed shoes from some of the European shoe makers. But I don't come out and say they suck because I personally don't like them.

If you don't like Allen Edmonds, don't buy them. But don't go around saying they suck because you don't like them.

Chris

 

[LanceW]

I believe the 360 degree welt is required due to the lack of shank. It is a feature some prefer, some do not.

 

[Bill Smith]

Originally Posted by ALFAMALE

There is nothing wrong with Allen Edmonds. We need a thread dedicated to hating on kenneth cole...

Agreed, I have three pairs of AE dress shoes of various vintages and they hold up well.

 

[unjung]

Originally Posted by thebac

He's probably trolling. For most people (outside of SF), any pair of AE would be considered an extravagant pair of shoes. There are plenty of people who can't imagine ever spending more than $100 on a pair of shoes.

Unfortunately I'm not sure I agree that he's trolling, but yes, most people I know find the price of AEs, even on sale or through SF, extravagant.

 

[Achilles_]

I don't know, my PA's look almost as sleek as my C&J's to me.

Where was that comparison picture where the shoes look almost identical? It was comparing AE to a very respected shoe brand.

 

[Peter1]

Meet Mr. Troll. The overly precise phrasing and the apparently well-reasoned argument that on second read is clearly sophistry is a dead giveaway. I love trolls because the challenge is figuring out what their motivation is -- this guy seems to really dislike A-E for some reason. The trolls who just stir up **** for no reason are the really interesting ones. Now sock puppets -- that is some next-level ****.

 

[Fred H.]

Originally Posted by Insensitive

Allen-Edmonds: footwear for Midwestern grain salesmen. Wearing Allen-Edmonds is like driving a Buick. They both might be the best product available in that small town hellhole you call home.

Originally Posted by unjung

Unfortunately I'm not sure I agree that he's trolling...

Just living up to his user name. Perhaps one day he'll meet an ironic fate not unlike one of the thugs who was chasing Harrison Ford's character (John Book) in Witness. (Ya'll know the scene I'm thinkin' about?)