Is Vass quality control slipping?

Originally Posted by Baron

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If you ordered from Tom in Budapest, I don't know why he wouldn't correct the issue. Or whoever you ordered from, assuming they did it for a fee and not as a favor, I'd expect that they'd take care of it for you.

+1!

Originally Posted by Axelman 17

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I bought a pair of Vass shoes directly from Eva. When I opened the box, the following things were incorrect:

1. They were not italian polish
2. Medallion was not correct
3. No bevelled contrasting waist

Eva's response to the email pointing out these differences was: "We cannot change those shoes now but we will make it up to you at your next order, will this be fine?"

Of course, the answer was yes, the shoes are still great and I love wearing them. I would also classify these mistakes as minor, the color and design was largely correct. I would not expect to send back a pair of shoes across the Atlantic for a return nor would I want to wait another 4-6 weeks due to this error. While I do not know what "make it up to you at your next order" entails, it certainly was not an offer to exchange them.

how did you get in touch with Eva directly?

Originally Posted by BrooklynWeGoHard

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how did you get in touch with Eva directly?
Vass's email is on their website - no big secret there.

Originally Posted by SirSuturesALot

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Sounds like the issue isn't that Vass quality is slipping, it's that Vass is pumping out shoes that don't match the orders.

Quality control, not quality.

So don't buy them. Seriously, and I am not trying to be cute or an a-hole (not that I need to try). But if you are buying any product and not getting what you want and then go back for more, they are not the problem. Four pairs and i have no issues, but I don't MTO nor am I that particular.

Originally Posted by edmorel

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So don't buy them. Seriously, and I am not trying to be cute or an a-hole (not that I need to try). But if you are buying any product and not getting what you want and then go back for more, they are not the problem. Four pairs and i have no issues, but I don't MTO nor am I that particular.

I can only speak for myself - I have 7 pairs and there was only a problem (i.e. not made exactly to my specs) on the last one. The other 5 MTO pairs I have bought in the past were exactly to specs. I'm not ready to draw a final conclusion here - especially since the mistake was not as bad as the OP (wrong size?) and the shoes still very nice. However, I can see from my and others' experiences that this is a new phenomenon and has happened more often recently. Hopefully, they will start paying more attention and QC will be corrected.

To follow up, I ordered a pair of chukkas through Tom back in February or whenever. They came back with the wrong last and size, but he replaced them with no issue. I ended up getting a stock shoe (norweger) instead and I liked it enough that I'd probably just stick with stock shoes if I get another Vass in the future. I've ordered custom jobs from Ron Rider as well, and I had a problem with one of those and he replaced that pair with no incident.

Here's a question for the group: Shouldn't the intermediary (e.g. store or distributor) make sure that the shoes are exactly as ordered prior to forwarding the shoes to the customer?

The customer places an order with the specs detailed to the intermediary, who then forwards the shoes to Vass. When the intermediary gets the shoes from Vass, shouldn't they check that the shoes match exactly the specs requested? If they don't, the intermediary should send the shoes back to Vass to ensure the problems are fixed. That's what they're paid to do, no?

Originally Posted by darkoak

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Here's a question for the group: Shouldn't the intermediary (e.g. store or distributor) make sure that the shoes are exactly as ordered prior to forwarding the shoes to the customer?

The customer places an order with the specs detailed to the intermediary, who then forwards the shoes to Vass. When the intermediary gets the shoes from Vass, shouldn't they check that the shoes match exactly the specs requested? If they don't, the intermediary should send the shoes back to Vass to ensure the problems are fixed. That's what they're paid to do, no?

Great point.

Ok. I accept that when you post something on the forum asking for help, you risk to hear something you don't want to hear. Thanks for all your inputs so far.

Originally Posted by edmorel

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So don't buy them. Seriously, and I am not trying to be cute or an a-hole (not that I need to try). But if you are buying any product and not getting what you want and then go back for more, they are not the problem. Four pairs and i have no issues, but I don't MTO nor am I that particular.

And Ed, I know you mean no harm. But for the lack of a better analogy, it is like a high class escort, you know they are forbidden, but the sex could be mind boggling! You have to go back for more.

Ok, I digress. Let me put it succinctly. If I go to a store and ask for a peach and found out I got a lemon when I open the bag at home with a promise of a juicy peach next time, who is at fault here? They are fruits aren't they?

Vass shoes aren't cheap (despite the discount on group buy). Their shoes are not available everywhere (read anywhere in NA!). Heck, they don't even stock their higher priced shoes in their store. Many of them are MTO. What would you say if I went to their store in Hungary, placed my order there and came back to North America only to get them in the wrong specs, do you think Vass will take them back? My gut tells me not.

I am told their largest market is actually Germany. Perhaps I should move to Germany and things will get better there.

I suspect the fellow member who arranged the group buy is stuck with the shoes that went wrong with the order. They are up (including mine) in the sale threads for "immediate sale".

It seems to me I am not the only one who has been given a lemon. A few members here have also came forth with their comments. Come to think of it, my first MTO through a well known official U.S. distributor at the time was also off (wrong design), but the shoes fit me and it was a big hassle (and expensive) to ship them back. The distributor offered me a small discount on the next pair. This MTO is my fifth pair. Is this the business model for Vass? Send the customers a pair of sub-spec shoes and enticing them with a better price next time? Why don't they just put Kenneth Cole (god forbids!) in the boxes and ship them overseas! Why put any shoes at all.....

Bottom line:
Does Vass claims to be an artisan in shoes? These are not mass marketed shoes.
Don't they take pride in their work / craftsmanship? At least in quality control?
Vass is the name of the maker, the shoes bear his name. If you were in his shoes (ha, ha), is this where you want the business to go? I don't mind the long wait time, but at least make them right the first time!
If Vass is a small shop (and in the guise of an global economy), wouldn't they want to take better care in making their customers (near and far) happy?

I will wrap it up for now. Got to catch some sleep. I am still waiting to hear back from Tom (the intermediary). Think I should send a note to Eva (the store) and see what she says. How about pointing her to this thread?

Vass: the Jantzen of the shoe world.

LOL I have to add my experience here. I ordered from Eva directly and my shoes came a bit too big. I didn't complain and another member who fits into the shoes now has them and got them at a good price. By the sound of it, Vass are happy to take the shoes back and send another pair, which is fine. I don't know; perhaps they've just bitten off more than they can chew in terms of work nowadays, so making the shoes in the wrong size or on the wrong last happens more often.

How would I order Vass shoes when I live in HK ?

Do they take direct orders through their site

Originally Posted by cdmoore1855

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How would I order Vass shoes when I live in HK ? Do they take direct orders through their site
They have a fax number; you just send an order through via fax. Also, payment is by wire transfer only, which can be a bummer for some and was for me!

I'm guessing that the combination of a weak forint and their internet celebrity status has overwhelmed them a bit.

They'll probably raise their prices soon if this is the case.