Ebay and second hand shoes - any experience?

[mikeynyc]

Any one have any experience with this? Any thoughts?
I saw a post here a few days ago but can't find it now.

Assuming the manufacturer offers this service,
how would one go about sending them back to get resoled?

 

[kronik]

Depends on the manufacturer..

Or you can take it to your cobbler for repair.

 

[josepidal]

I bought a pair of EG Malverns made in 1988 off eBay with the help of an uncle. I was right about the photos. The heels were hardly worn and the supposed scratch on top of one big toe is almost invisible, after polishing, even when you look up close. The leather was very soft and well-creased already, but my only complaint would be slight discoloration where the little toes are.

First week I wore them, my boss stopped in the middle of the corridor and stared at my feet for several seconds.

 

[whoopee]

Your higher ups seem like very expressive people.

 

[Stu]

Those statistics about how much our feet sweat every day kind of wierd me out about using another man's shoes.

But that's just me.

 

[mikeynyc]

Originally Posted by Stu

Those statistics about how much our feet sweat every day kind of wierd me out about using another man's shoes.

But that's just me.

I totally understand. I figure a healty dose of lysol and some gold bond would help get my mind off of that fact.

 

[odoreater]

Originally Posted by Stu

Those statistics about how much our feet sweat every day kind of wierd me out about using another man's shoes.

But that's just me.

It's not like the sweat is still in the shoes when you get them. I just put shoe trees in them for a couple of days before I wear them.

For some reason, with used shoes that I buy off of ebay, I tend to wear them a few times and then resell them. A few times that I've done this I've actually made a profit on the shoes. For example, I bought a pair of used AE MacNeils in black shell cordovan on ebay a while ago for $50. The seller did not mention in the auction listing that they were shell cordovan (maybe he didn't know). I wore them about five times and then I resold them on ebay. I mentioned in both the title and listing that the shoes were shell cordovan and they sold for over $100.

 

[ccffm1]

Apart from the hygienic aspects that keep me from buying used shoes one of the reasons I buy Goodyear welted shoes is that they adapt (right choice of words?) to my feet after some wearing, which makes them so comfortable. If someone has worn them before for quite a while, they won´t be an ideal fit to my feet anymore, thus an orthopedic issue.
I really think that sudor does get absorbed by the inner sole. The moisture will evaporate, but the nasty little germs will stay right there. The only efficient way to deal with that is to have the shoes refurbished - quite a costly thing to do if you use a qualified shoemaker who does the job properly.

 

[Stu]

Originally Posted by odoreater

It's not like the sweat is still in the shoes when you get them. I just put shoe trees in them for a couple of days before I wear them.


Oh, I know. But you are thinking logically. There is not much logic in why some things gross us out.

 

[well-kept]

The ideal is to find shoes, the style and size of which you know from tactile experience are just right for you. Then, a "used" shoe that has been worn for literally five minutes by its original owner, deemed too tight, too loose, wrong style, etc... taken off and put in the closet. I've found several such on eBay, gotten them for a fraction of retail and made them my own. Shoes that have already had a long life on some else's feet will rarely work for a second owner, on any level.

 

[Henry Boogers]

I have been contenplating making a 'shoe Appreciation' post where the average cost per pair is under $65 delivered. All of these pairs were purchased as 'nearly new' off of Ebay, with less than a dozen (estimated) wears per pair. Often these appear to be display shoes or shoes that do not fit the owner. I have no qualms about buying used shoes so long as they have not begun to form to another owner's feet or have any visible marks (sock discoloration or sweat marks) on the inside of the shoes.

Over the last 2 years I have built quite the shoe wardrobe off of poorly chosen BIN price offering, poor pictures, mispelled listings, or dumb luck.