RANCOURT & Co. Shoes - Made in Maine

[Bakes11771]

It's supposed to be a $50 upcharge for MTO, and there is sometimes an upcharge for reltex soles also. It is unfortunate, but understandable. I think that the highly customized MTOs is one of their greatest value propositions, so I hope that they don't shy away from it. But, if they are staying plenty busy making shoes for BB, RL, ect, then I can understand why they might divide their attention.

Agree with you and Frank. Rancourt makes a great Boat shoe, but I would pass on it for $400.

 

[darkmatter7]

If anyone's in LA, the Steven Alan outpost has been having some ridiculous deals on rancourt for size 9.5-10.5

 

[johnH123]



If anyone's in LA, the Steven Alan outpost has been having some ridiculous deals on rancourt for size 9.5-10.5

Proxy?

 

[Louis XIV]

I don't understand the upcharge as my order did look like the following, which in fact is only one change from their $227 brown CXL boat shoe, which is the leather:

Unlined 2-eyelet boat shoe
Navy CXL
Tan thread
Dull nickel plated brass eyelets
Chestnut raw laces
White siped rubber outsole

 

[dddrees]

It's supposed to be a $50 upcharge for MTO, and there is sometimes an upcharge for reltex soles also. It is unfortunate, but understandable. I think that the highly customized MTOs is one of their greatest value propositions, so I hope that they don't shy away from it. But, if they are staying plenty busy making shoes for BB, RL, ect, then I can understand why they might divide their attention.

Agree with you and Frank. Rancourt makes a great Boat shoe, but I would pass on it for $400.

I was actually surprised but thankful there was no $50 upcharge for my Cordovan Ranger Moc. The only modification I made was to order it fully lined and they quoted me a $35 fee.

I made this same modification to a CXL Clymer 2.0 and I had to pay $70.

 

[Bakes11771]

I don't understand the upcharge as my order did look like the following, which in fact is only one change from their $227 brown CXL boat shoe, which is the leather:

Unlined 2-eyelet boat shoe
Navy CXL
Tan thread
Dull nickel plated brass eyelets
Chestnut raw laces
White siped rubber outsole

That does seem sort of silly. Maybe you can discuss it with them? If you are a repeat customer, might not hurt to mention that as well.

I was actually surprised but thankful there was no $50 upcharge for my Cordovan Ranger Moc. The only modification I made was to order it fully lined and they quoted me a $35 fee.

I made this same modification to a CXL Clymer 2.0 and I had to pay $70.

No rhyme or reason there. My suspicion is that they wave the up charge on shell to keep them from getting too expensive. Like Espresso Blakes would be $725 vs $675 (at least when I bought them), Beefrolls $600 vs $550 (last time I checked)

That is one of their other greatest value propositions IMO. Shell, for a little bit less.

Good call on the full lining for the shell rangers. Did you do that to make them last longer? or was there another reason.

 

[FrankCowperwood]

As far as I can understand, the $50 MTO fee is designed to discourage changes. Odd since they started out being so accommodating.

Green shell Ranger Mocs:

 

[Bakes11771]

As far as I can understand, the $50 MTO fee is designed to discourage changes.

^That is so un-refreshing.

 

[dddrees]

That does seem sort of silly. Maybe you can discuss it with them? If you are a repeat customer, might not hurt to mention that as well.
No rhyme or reason there. My suspicion is that they wave the up charge on shell to keep them from getting too expensive. Like Espresso Blakes would be $725 vs $675 (at least when I bought them), Beefrolls $600 vs $550 (last time I checked)

That is one of their other greatest value propositions IMO. Shell, for a little bit less.

Good call on the full lining for the shell rangers. Did you do that to make them last longer? or was there another reason.

I plan to wear them with socks, maybe no-show socks but socks.

I don't like wearing shoes without socks.

 

[dddrees]

As far as I can understand, the $50 MTO fee is designed to discourage changes. Odd since they started out being so accommodating.

Green shell Ranger Mocs:

So, you have a pair of Ranger Mocs in shell already, very nice.

I thought about the Green shell, but figured it best to go with #8 for my first pair of Ranger Moc shell shoes first.

 

[hefner]



That does seem sort of silly.  Maybe you can discuss it with them?  If you are a repeat customer, might not hurt to mention that as well.
No rhyme or reason there.  My suspicion is that they wave the up charge on shell to keep them from getting too expensive.  Like Espresso Blakes would be $725 vs $675 (at least when I bought them),  Beefrolls $600 vs $550 (last time I checked)

That is one of their other greatest value propositions IMO.  Shell, for a little bit less.

Good call on the full lining for the shell rangers.  Did you do that to make them last longer? or was there another reason.

Why do you think it is a good call? I think that there is probably a pretty good reason why the default on the shell rangers is unlined.

 

[FrankCowperwood]



That does seem sort of silly.  Maybe you can discuss it with them?  If you are a repeat customer, might not hurt to mention that as well.
No rhyme or reason there.  

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

My suspicion is that they wave the up charge on shell to keep them from getting too expensive

.  Like Espresso Blakes would be $725 vs $675 (at least when I bought them),  Beefrolls $600 vs $550 (last time I checked)

That is one of their other greatest value propositions IMO.  Shell, for a little bit less.

Good call on the full lining for the shell rangers.  Did you do that to make them last longer? or was there another reason.

The apparent lack of upcharge on shell is interesting. I doubt the margin can be that much better on shell considering the cost of materials.

So, you have a pair of Ranger Mocs in shell already, very nice.

I thought about the Green shell, but figured it best to go with #8 for my first pair of Ranger Moc shell shoes first.

I like the green shell a lot, but so far it doesn't show the inclination to age the way #8 does. That's one reason I'd consider owning both. I like the prospect of the tempest sole on the #8s too.

 

[wdahab]

I've been quoted prices on shell and cxl, and it does appear that there is no upcharge for shell when I've heard it. That said, I wouldn't advise getting lined shell as a MTO One of the great things about shell is how amazing it is unlined. IMHO, that's why something like the Wolverine 744 and 721s were so much better than, say, shell Indy boots. The lining takes away half the greatness of shell (as well as with CXL).

As far as my opinion on the upcharge, well, I'm not really a fan of it. It's fair that volume purchases should get much more attention, but remember they're not paying the same. If it's a standard margin, then a pair of $225 basic CXL boat shoes is probably sold to a buyer at $80-100 each, with several hundred pairs purchased. Rancourt gets the guarantee of the purchase, the buyer takes the burden of selling them and unsold inventory. So when Rancourt has this MTO option, they are getting the benefit of selling them directly, and getting that $125 markup to themselves. So, to say that they should get an extra $35-50 because of the extra effort is missing the fact that they are already getting that extra margin for themselves. That fact is even more important if its for a customization like baseball stitching or a different color CXL.

Right now, though, I wish that instead of a pair of Brown CXL rangers and a pair of #8 CXL boat shoes I'd just gotten 1 pair of #8 Shell rangers. C'est la vie though. Still have to decide whether my next pair will be shell rangers or shell penny loafers (probably the loafers, honestly).

 

[Bakes11771]

Why do you think it is a good call? I think that there is probably a pretty good reason why the default on the shell rangers is unlined.

Thought he was doing it to make them last longer. Not saying that lined shell lasts longer than unlined, but I thought it would make them retain their shape more.

Unlined is great too. What do you think that the reason is for the default no lining? I always assumed it was partially lined, but I don't own a pair, so perhaps you would know.

 

[wdahab]

^ Plain-toe boots/shoes are always at least partially lined, because there is a piece of plastic in the toe that helps the toe hold shape. They would only be completely unlined if they were a unconstructed. So that piece of leather in there is to hold the plastic in place. Moc-toe shoes aren't partially lined, because they don't need anything to add toe structure, the stitching holds the toe shape.