ALDEN
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I am trying to understand Alden sizing. I am interested in a cap-toe boot on the plaza last.
I usually wear UK 8 or 8.5 depending on the shoe last. I would appreciate id someone could advise me on the sizing of the plaza last.
No experience with plaza last but I believe it is slightly longer than regular size
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Plaza is true to size.
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I managed to break the original laces on my Indys. They've been replaced with kevlar laces. The color adds an interesting touch to the Kudu, I think. They're already a bit dirty, but I can't tell if it's from my overdyes or NYC's atmosphere.
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I wish I was old enough to not feel weird about wearing boots…sigh. Alden's are so nice....especially them Roy boots.
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those are awesome arrow
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Sadly, I experienced the same exact problem Giles described earlier in the thread. It happened about 2 months after buying them. I emailed Alden and they said something along the lines of "those will have to be shipped out for repairs…it might be...a while. Sorry, we can't give you an ETA."
I needed them at the time, so I waited a bit. They still haven't replied to my last email request. From what I've heard, if I hand them over, they'll just get lost in the Alden repair void. I'm about to give up and have a cobbler just fix them with different soles or something.
Pretty shameful customer service for such expensive boots. I also have Roy boots and love them, but this has really soured me on the Alden experience.
Also, the fit and finish on these were REALLY bad. Nothing lines up, nothing is flush. They were hard to find in 9.5EEE so I was excited when I first bought them. On closer inspection…ehhh.
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I'm going to just take mine into the Alden NYC store this weekend.
Ironically, my much cheaper pair of Wolverine 1000 Mile boots have held up longer and better. Guess I'll be wearing them while these Indy's get fixed up.
That there is a relatively common problem with aldens, i got it on both my shoes, Alden used about 3 weeks on turnover/repair on mine. I hope they are fixed for good now.
Really? When it first happened to mine, I googled around and couldn't find anyone discussing it at all.
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Sadly, I experienced the same exact problem Giles described earlier in the thread. It happened about 2 months after buying them. I emailed Alden and they said something along the lines of "those will have to be shipped out for repairs…it might be...a while. Sorry, we can't give you an ETA."
I needed them at the time, so I waited a bit. They still haven't replied to my last email request. From what I've heard, if I hand them over, they'll just get lost in the Alden repair void. I'm about to give up and have a cobbler just fix them with different soles or something.
Pretty shameful customer service for such expensive boots. I also have Roy boots and love them, but this has really soured me on the Alden experience.
Also, the fit and finish on these were REALLY bad. Nothing lines up, nothing is flush. They were hard to find in 9.5EEE so I was excited when I first bought them. On closer inspection…ehhh.
I have had Alden's repaired it takes 4 weeks
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Alternatively, I happen to live in one of two cities that Alden has corporate stores (DC and SF), and the manager Kathy at the DC store has been nothing short of amazing with customer service. I've seen the same thing in the picture above happen to my buddy's Indy boot, and Kathy was embarrassed, and handed over a brand new pair of shoes. The folks at Alden HQ aren't very good at customer service. Their website is horrid, and their ways in general are pretty old fashioned. They've lasted decades by managing their growth and not expanding too quickly when their popularity fluctuates. I think that's how they've survived over the years anyway. Although Alden, if you're listening, I'd like to say that it's time to embrace this new technology we have called the "internet." Also, I suggest opening a proper customer service dept and making Kathy the boss. Giles will consult. Your customers will be happy.
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I have heard of 4-5 occurances in my relatively limited circle of fashion interested friends.
What I meant is that this shouldn't be happening at all…
I agree!
My local Alden-affiliated cobbler said that it is a problem with the two seams, the one machine may cut the seam on the other stitch if the machine is misaligned. He said that his experience was 1-2 pr 1000 pairs.
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I've seen the same thing in the picture above happen to my buddy's Indy boot, and Kathy was embarrassed, and handed over a brand new pair of shoes. The folks at Alden HQ aren't very good at customer service.
Well, I'll try my luck at the Alden NYC store. I somehow doubt they'll just hand over a new pair. Even though it happened 2 months into wearing them, I've had them for a little over a year now. Just never made it back into the store because they have crappy hours and are never open when I'm over in that area.
And yeah, Alden's website is HILARIOUSLY bad.
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I've seen the same thing in the picture above happen to my buddy's Indy boot, and Kathy was embarrassed, and handed over a brand new pair of shoes.
This is the proper response. What happened there isn't material flaws, customer abuse, extensive wear or a fluke of random bad luck. It's a manufacturing defect, plain and simple. It shouldn't happen in a factory of careful workers making high quality products and it shouldn't make it through Quality Control of a reputable company. The only acceptable response is a full refund or a complete replacement, and either should be accompanied by a sincere apology.
They've lasted decades by managing their growth and not expanding too quickly when their popularity fluctuates.
I respectfully disagree; that may have been how they did things in the past, but I think this latest burst of popularity led to a decision by Alden to cash in while they could. It seems (from what I've read) that they expanded production and pumped out as many pairs as they possibly could. Quality suffered and they handled that badly. When the company floated that half-assed "only shoes marked 'Alden of New England' are made to traditional standards" crap, it was pathetic. I seriously think the company has ruined its reputation with an entire generation of customers. But maybe they want to go back to being a sleepy little operation with a small clientele…
