Shoe maintenance for ebay purchase

[Sartorian]

After struggling to find any shoe in my size anywhere, I just won a used pair of Aldens in my size on ebay (thanks to a helpful suggestion by a SF member):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

Though they're obviously well worn, I'm very happy with the price.

This will be my first real pair of designer shoes so I'd like to do what I can.

I'm just wondering, for anyone who has purchased used shoes, if there is anything specific I should do when I get these. Should I take them to a shoe repair person? Any parts of the shoes I should look over for problems? Should I shine them or condition them no matter what, or put something on them only if I see some telltale sign?

Also, are there a specific kind of shoe tree I should look to purchase? Anyone link me to a purchase spot, or should I just go into one of the AE or dept. stores and purchase there?

Thanks for tips!

 

[Tarmac]

I was looking at those, nice score. It's hard to tell whether you will need to take them to a shoe repair as he doesn't show the sole at all. You might need new heels, you might not need anything. They look okay though.

Barring massive sole wear, the only thing I would do is condition them well especially on the flex vamp area (I use lexol), wait a couple days and then polish it.

 

[Sartorian]

Thanks for the info.

These kinds of questions come up for me all the time, and the referencing/searching functions on here are terrible.

I've now searched for 15 minutes, and the pictorial index pin is not working:

what's the 'flex vamp' area?

 

[mrwiz]

That's the wrinkled part on the front of the shoe above the toe cap. Lexol is a leather conditioner that, combined with polish, can reduce the appearance and severity of the wrinkling evident in the listing photo.

 

[Jared]

This is a minority opinion, but depending on the weather where you live you might want to have Topys put on.