Stopped into the Johnston & Murphy store ...

[cmeisenzahl]

yesterday after work. Now that I know a little more from reading here I was scared by what I saw.

I tried on a pair of wingtips. Cheap glossy leather that could easily have passed for plastic. There was dried glue seeping out of the seam at the welt. Not particularly comfortable, and they wanted $165 for them.

Next I tried on a similar pair from the 'signature' line. Nicer leather, better seam at the welt, more comfortable. But these were $265. Heck, at that price I could buy another paid of AE at retail!

 

[Felix Krull]

J&M has unfortunately gone the way of Florsheim: into the abyss of formerly great shoes that are now cheaply made and over-marketed.

 

[JordanH.]

word. i was somewhere and i saw the glossy and cheap types of florsheim. sad, really

 

[Tarmac]

they still have 2 great models. Aldrich II and Georgetown. I would not hesitate in choosing either of them over AE.

 

[gnatty8]

Originally Posted by cmeisenzahl

yesterday after work. Now that I know a little more from reading here I was scared by what I saw.

I tried on a pair of wingtips. Cheap glossy leather that could easily have passed for plastic. There was dried glue seeping out of the seam at the welt. Not particularly comfortable, and they wanted $165 for them.

Next I tried on a similar pair from the 'signature' line. Nicer leather, better seam at the welt, more comfortable. But these were $265. Heck, at that price I could buy another paid of AE at retail!

Where are you buying your AE for $265 at retail?

 

[JLibourel]

Some of their $350+ shoes look pretty decent on their website. Whether their quality is commensurate with their price and whether they offer comparable value to A-E, I will leave to others with more experience with both marques to comment on.

I note the old "Aristocraft" and "Crown Aristocraft" designations are gone.

I would be skeptical of any $265 J&M being preferable to A-E, but I could be prejudiced.

The one pair of J&Ms I bought for my boy some years back were a sore disappointment.

 

[JLibourel]

Originally Posted by gnatty8

Where are you buying your AE for $265 at retail?

If you have a Jos. A. Bank Corporate Card, which just about anybody can get, you can buy A-Es at a 20% discount. Thus a pair that normally has a full retail of $325 can be had for $260 from JAB--not a bad deal at all. I just ordered a pair of Strands in dark brown from JAB, taking advantage of the the discount.

 

[uhurit]

The brand has degraded beyond recognition...a shame

 

[ebern]

Originally Posted by uhurit

The brand has degraded beyond recognition...a shame

I agree 100% with this. I've had two pairs where the soles were worn out with holes in the bottoms within 6 months. Such a waste now

 

[card_richelieu]

I bought a pair of Meltons a few months back even though I should have known better but because (1) I love dark burgandy, (2) they fit really well & looked good on me, & (3) they were on deep discount.

After only a few wearings (10-12 max) the creasing behind the cap on the left shoe is really really bad and the laces have already rubbed off the finish right around the eyelets, revealing a rather garish bright red color underneath.

Sorry for the cliche - but you get what you pay for...

 

[polar-lemon]

Originally Posted by card_richelieu

I bought a pair of Meltons a few months back even though I should have known better but because (1) I love dark burgandy, (2) they fit really well & looked good on me, & (3) they were on deep discount.

After only a few wearings (10-12 max) the creasing behind the cap on the left shoe is really really bad and the laces have already rubbed off the finish right around the eyelets, revealing a rather garish bright red color underneath.

Sorry for the cliche - but you get what you pay for...

*cues DocHolliday's infamous pic of destroyed J&M's after one wearing*

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by polar-lemon

*cues DocHolliday's infamous pic of destroyed J&M's after one wearing*

I've become so predictable.

 

[JayJay]

I only purchase shoe trees from them.

 

[StopPolloition]

Originally Posted by JayJay

I only purchase shoe trees from them.

I ended up using my J&M's for wet weather shoes. The corrected grain finish easily repelled water after a layer of Kiwi wax. I didn't even know J&M made shoe trees. I usually just stuffed them with newspaper after wearing.

 

[eg1]

I have a pair of J&M chukkas I got a clearance recently -- good with jeans during the wettish shoulder seasons