***The official Alden thread *** Share enthusiasm, reviews, sizing, advice, and photos.

[tifosi]



That's what he told me precisely, as the calls translated into sales. 

+1. If a retailer is annoyed by phone calls from people who want to throw $800 at them....then they are in the wrong business. I highly doubt this is the case.

 

[halfnhalfnhalf]

Quote:
Consider me the devil's advocate. They are in a customer-facing business and providing good customer service should mean welcoming customer inquiries of all kinds. If I call a store looking for something that I know is rare but I'm just inquiring about on the off-chance, and I get bad service coming back to me, I'm going to be a whole lot less likely to go back to that retailer for anything else in the future. Of course, if it turns out they're intentionally following a Soup Nazi business model and if they're OK with their bottom line, then more power to them.

As an aside, the scavenger hunt that Alden shopping has become is making me inclined to be (very) happy with the five pairs I have, but not seek any more. Keeping up with all this stuff has practically become a full-time job.

 

[docalden2013]

+1. If a retailer is annoyed by phone calls from people who want to throw $800 at them....then they are in the wrong business. I highly doubt this is the case.

I'd also like to add re Harrison Limited that Alex was a very organized, accommodating and flexible seller. He not only had the exact date of our conversation written down along with all of my information, but he also understood when I told him that I was on another rare shell preorder for which the funds were spoken (due to a 2 day pre-authorization to create a ticket for the actual transaction later this fall). He was perfectly willing to allow me to put down a deposit and to let me finalize the transaction next week when the funds are freed up, given my having bought cxl chukkas from him earlier in the season. He was gentlemanly for sure.

Looking forward to seeing pics of what can hopefully be called formerly-rare shell sometime soon!

 

[gsgleason]

Mike,

I think their list is quite "subjective" I have supposedly been on the list for the Whiskey Indy and Ravello boot for a couple of years yet I have not heard from anyone. I am not going to call and bother them as I am honestly not that interested but I have a feeling that the 8D in each makeup will be going to someone with less time on the list than me. Perhaps I am mistaken but we will see if I hear anything...

Ryden,

They didn't call or E-mail me when I called them, because I don't think they were done contacting their customers before it got published on the net. They did verify that I was on the list before taking my payment info.

-Mike

I can confirm. I just spoke and initially was told that the best he can do is put me on the list while he gives first preference to those already on the list. I fortunately was already on their list and he just hadn't gotten to me yet during his calls. He took my order for the Ravello WT Boot. I would prefer all eyelets with a leather sole also, but I don't know if that opportunity will ever arise. At least when it is re-sole time I can change it up.

 

[halfnhalfnhalf]

Follow-up: I too spoke with Alex at Harrison Limited about the tassel loafers. I wasn't part of the pre-order but he called me just because he thought I might be interested. And, he reiterated that he'll take as many phone calls as people care to make.

That there is some good customer service.

 

[ReppTiePrepster]


Given all of this I still think the Chamois LWB on Commando from Leffot is perfect for you
[/quote]

Nice call Rydenfan. Unfortunately they do not have my size

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



I have been given consent to make this PSA on our lovely forum: I've just spoken with Alex from Harrison Limited ( http://www.harrisonlimited.com/ ) I've just made a deposit on a pair of cigar shell tassel loafers on Aberdeen that has come in. I spoke with him just this past March about the preorder and the batch has already come in. He tells me that he has a pretty full run of sizes available. Price is $695 plus approx $20 for shipping.

So much for the great shell shortage. The sudden availability of rarer shell seems to be consistent with what had been said in that WSJ article recently about supply coming available soon.

In other news, the same retailer tells me they've got full strap pennies in brown cxl with a flex sole, unlined. 

Thanks for the PSA.

I was told they only have D widths.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]

What model?

Cigar:
 
Long Wing Blucher  (#97894)- Barrie last, double leather sole  $752
Leisure Hand Sewn Loafer (LHS)  (#6717)-  Van last, single leather sole  $736
 
Whiskey:
 
Norwegian Split Toe Blucher (NST)  (#2212) - Aberdeen Last, double leather sole  $752
Whiskey Indy Boots  (#40536)- Trubalance last, double leather sole, speed hook lacing   $775
 
Ravello:
 
Long Wing Blucher -  Barrie Last, double leather sole   $752
Wing Tip Boot-  Barrie last, commando sole, speed hook lacing   $780

estimated delivery: June 2021

 

[mdubs]



Thanks for the PSA.

I was told they only have D widths.

Yeah, I am on the list for their next run in a B width. In 2050.

 

[Don L]

You guys are way too optimistic

 

[tifosi]



You guys are way too optimistic 

I plan on paying in full now, then when 2050 rolls around and they ship....selling them on eBay for whatever the current retail is and retiring off the proceeds.

 

[Don L]

I plan on paying in full now, then when 2050 rolls around and they ship....selling them on eBay for whatever the current retail is and retiring off the proceeds.

Horses could be extinct by then

 

[tifosi]



Horses could be extinct by then 

Crap. There goes my nest egg.

 

[sacafotos]



Quote:Beebs,

I concur completely with your statement. We need to be very careful in not burning out the special retailers who decide to do the rare shells. 500 calls in 20 minutes to sell 12 shoes is not very encouraging or motivating to them.

-Mike

Consider me the devil's advocate. They are in a customer-facing business and providing good customer service should mean welcoming customer inquiries of all kinds. If I call a store looking for something that I know is rare but I'm just inquiring about on the off-chance, and I get bad service coming back to me, I'm going to be a whole lot less likely to go back to that retailer for anything else in the future. Of course, if it turns out they're intentionally following a Soup Nazi business model and if they're OK with their bottom line, then more power to them.

As an aside, the scavenger hunt that Alden shopping has become is making me inclined to be (very) happy with the five pairs I have, but not seek any more. Keeping up with all this stuff has practically become a full-time job.

Agree with this. By year's end I should have 5-7 pairs. That will keep me happy for a while.

 

[rydenfan]

Horses could be extinct by then

I plan on riding around on a Marty McFly powered skateboard by then. I figure this will help reduce toe wear on the sole