Saint Crispin vs Vass

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by medtech_expat

If you like the F last, try the StC Classic last, which may be the most beautiful smart round toe I've seen.

yeah, I'm trying that too. But first I have two pairs being made up with a British firm that I am awaiting to recieve and see if they fulfill my shoe needs.

 

[Slewfoot]

Originally Posted by medtech_expat

If you like the F last, try the StC Classic last, which may be the most beautiful smart round toe I've seen.

Better than the F last? I don't believe. We need a side-by-side comparison shot.

 

[medtech_expat]

Originally Posted by Slewfoot

Better than the F last? I don't believe. We need a side-by-side comparison shot.

Most of my stuff is floating across the Atlantic right now; I should be able to oblige in 2-3 weeks.

 

[Slewfoot]

Originally Posted by medtech_expat

Most of my stuff is floating across the Atlantic right now; I should be able to oblige in 2-3 weeks.

Exxxccclllent. Thanks and good luck with the move!

 

[isshinryu101]

Originally Posted by fritzl

imo, they are priced according to their target group and market niche.

Damn straight! Any smartbusiness hires a marketing company which does extensive research to determine:

1) what the target market is,
2) what the competition is in that market,
3) what the competition charges,
4) what the best price is to (a) penetrate the market while also (b) MAXIMIZING PROFITS.

The price diferrential between 2 "similar" products has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with product quality. It's purely doing the research & crunching the numbers.

The price differential could be a result of so many factors UNRELATED TO QUALITY, it's ridiculous. Could be that they are looking to serve different target markets (Crispin's may be willing to pay more money that Vass's).

Here's a different example... What if Vass is more efficient in manufacturing & has better brand recognition, thus have a much higher profit margin? If Vass's cost of mfg + cost of marketing is 50% of their sale price, but Crispin's is 75%, each company makes the same PROFIT on each pair sold. Vass certainly benefits from having a lower cost.

 

[countbaron]

What u re saying is obvious and so is not very useful. After all the ethos of SF is that evil designer brands charge huge amounts for crap products. So what?

the reason why the comparison of SC vs Vass is relevant is because they are perceived in this market (SF) which reputes itself for being well informed- as brands in the same level, be it because Austria, Romania, Hungary all look the same from the US, their shoes are of similar construction, they are not UK or Italian.

So i think the question is relevant- 1)why does SC feel they can charge that much more 2) who is responsible for giving them this warm feeling-i.e. who is buying the stuff for those prices?

Another interesting question (for another thread) is do the locals actually buy any of this stuff? I know that in Italy many well to do people have their shoes made locally and never heard of Santoni in their entire long lives- which makes the US market seem to be the main destination of all this "˜stuff'-

Often shoes seem to be like wines. The ones sold in the US are for export only- and not because they are better. Note that this is not the case in the UK since 1) UK wine is crap, 2) UK shoe manufacturers can't survive without US

 

[isshinryu101]

Originally Posted by countbaron

What u re saying is obvious and so is not very useful. After all the ethos of SF is that evil designer brands charge huge amounts for crap products. So what?

What the hell are you talking about? No one said anything about "evil designer brands". What I posted was the simple truth about how companies come up with their prices. It has NOTHING to do with quality. Obviously many people don't realize this fact, as evidenced by some of the responses to the OP.

The question should have been, "has anyone compared Vass and Saint Crispin shoes. Please tell me what your impression was." Only those that have owned a handful of each would be qualified to answer.

Thankfully you are here to provide us with all relevant insight on this forum and are able to decide who's posts are of value and who's are not. Maybe YOU should go out, buy 5 pairs of each, wear them, deconstruct them, and answer the question.

 

[meister]

Originally Posted by countbaron

What u re saying is obvious and so is not very useful. After all the ethos of SF is that evil designer brands charge huge amounts for crap products. So what?

the reason why the comparison of SC vs Vass is relevant is because they are perceived in this market (SF) which reputes itself for being well informed- as brands in the same level, be it because Austria, Romania, Hungary all look the same from the US, their shoes are of similar construction, they are not UK or Italian.

So i think the question is relevant- 1)why does SC feel they can charge that much more 2) who is responsible for giving them this warm feeling-i.e. who is buying the stuff for those prices?

Another interesting question (for another thread) is do the locals actually buy any of this stuff? I know that in Italy many well to do people have their shoes made locally and never heard of Santoni in their entire long lives- which makes the US market seem to be the main destination of all this ‘stuff’-

Often shoes seem to be like wines. The ones sold in the US are for export only- and not because they are better. Note that this is not the case in the UK since 1) UK wine is crap, 2) UK shoe manufacturers can’t survive without US

A lot in this but you have to look at the economies of both Romania and Hungary and ask why there would be such a disparity in price. Romania is a very backward place in the Eastern part of the EC whilst Hungary is one of the more advanced. Maybe "the price differential" has nothing to do with the labour price after all.

 

[countbaron]

Originally Posted by isshinryu101

What the hell are you talking about? No one said anything about "evil designer brands". What I posted was the simple truth about how companies come up with their prices. It has NOTHING to do with quality. Obviously many people don't realize this fact, as evidenced by some of the responses to the OP.

The question should have been, "has anyone compared Vass and Saint Crispin shoes. Please tell me what your impression was." Only those that have owned a handful of each would be qualified to answer.

Thankfully you are here to provide us with all relevant insight on this forum and are able to decide who's posts are of value and who's are not. Maybe YOU should go out, buy 5 pairs of each, wear them, deconstruct them, and answer the question.

calm down 'dude'

 

[mth]

Originally Posted by Slewfoot

Better than the F last? I don't believe. We need a side-by-side comparison shot.

St. Crispins Classic Last v. Vass F Last








St. Crispins Chisel Last v. Vass U Last

 

[fritzl]

no preference with the round toes.

prefer the SC chisel.

what's your overall experience in comparison of the both brands?

 

[Slewfoot]

I think I prefer the Vass lasts for both. The main reason being that they have more shape along the inside of the foot.

Thanks so much for the comparison shots!

 

[meister]

That Vass suede number is a pretty sexy shoe IMHO.

 

[mth]

I much prefer the SC to the Vass although I do enjoy wearing both. It's hard to tell with the photographs, but the Vass lasts tend to be a fair bit bulkier overall when compared to the St. Crispins. You really notice this in the heel of the Vass shoes. The St. Crispins also have a much more of a "hand made/bespoke" feel when wearing the shoe -- it's admittedly hard to explain, but you notice it as soon as your foot enters the shoe and you take your first steps. The SC feels more solid yet more flexible at the same time. All of that said, the price/performance ratio for Vass is hard to beat.

 

[Slewfoot]

Originally Posted by mth

I much prefer the SC to the Vass although I do enjoy wearing both. It's hard to tell with the photographs, but the Vass lasts tend to be a fair bit bulkier overall when compared to the St. Crispins. You really notice this in the heel of the Vass shoes. The St. Crispins also have a much more of a "hand made/bespoke" feel when wearing the shoe -- it's admittedly hard to explain, but you notice it as soon as your foot enters the shoe and you take your first steps. The SC feels more solid yet more flexible at the same time. All of that said, the price/performance ratio for Vass is hard to beat.

That's actually another reason why I like the Vass. I've been preferring a bit more fullness in look these days.