ALDEN
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While I understand your perspective, I did not purchase a pair of boots from horween. I purchased a pair of boots from Alden. If their was a defect in Horween CXL Alden should have recognized it and immediately addressed the issue with Horween instead of pushing substandard good into the consumer market.
I can respectively see the argument from both sides but when a company sources product in they are the last one to determine if it gets used or if it does not. Horween does not make Alden put boots out with that leather. Alden quality control should recognize inferior product. It starts at the source and trickles its way down. However, Alden getting a bad batch of CXL does not justify them distributing it to their customers. At least, it shouldn't generally companies have to figure loss into their overhead and among those losses are inferior supplies purhcased. The bottom line is Alden is who made the boot, and who I recieved the boot from, NOT Horween. It was up to Alden to check the quality of the leather they used for my boot. Not Horween. But I do agree that it starts at the source generally. It is how the company handles that that shows their concern for their customers as opposed to strictly their bottom line. Twice now In less than 6 months I have recieved inferior products at a near $500 price point. When problems are this persistent I do not feel that the company is doing their best in terms of customer satisfaction but instead capitalizing on a trend market while they can by rushing through manufacturing and putting any and everything out that is assembled. As I have stated in many posts before though, this is just my opinion.
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I completely agree with you the shoe manufacturer is ultimately responsible for the quality of their final product. If there's a problem with the leather, you're not going to complain to the leather tannery. I guess what I'm getting hung up on is, was this defect something that the workers on the floor of the shoe factory would have noticed? I'm sure they're told to be as gentle with the leather as possible. You can imagine how much care goes into getting leather goods to the end user without even a scratch! I always think about that when I think of my saddleback briefcase, and how much leather there is that makes the whole thing up. When I took it out of the box and inspected it, it was pristine. When I pulled it out of the box, my fingernail grazed the surface of the bag and scratched it. Judging by how perfect my bag looked when brand new, it goes to show how gentle the floor workers are in these leather factories. They're not there to field test each hide or ultimately each shoe.
The bottom line for me is, since Alden sold you a bad pair of boots, you're right, they should take care of you and replace your inferior product, but I think Horween should be shamed a little
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I think Alden is 100% responsible and at fault. Any problems with materials is between Alden and the supplier and should be worked out way before a customer ever sets eye's on the product.
All of the leather craftsman I know notice every defect in a hide, its what they do. They usually use it where you won't see it.
By the way the heels are starting to come off my Indy Boots… bummer!
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I agree it is Alden fault, I also agree that in theory they ptobably owe me yet again a new pair of Indys… However, I'm to the point where I'm just fed up... This has been a nightmare and I think its time to just take the L and move on. Quite a disappointment and a huge difference in the quality I had grown accustomed to before they became part if the "scene". An unfortunate display of what their true priority is $$$$$$$$$
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Still not sure if I should sell these. Alden x Iron Heart boots. They're in my closet, boxed, on the top shelf. I guess I have summer to decide. :o
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my last post in this thread. My replacement Indy's ripped off the welt again only two months after recieving them and less than a month of wears in because i have been wearing my Vibergs. The dissappointment in the decline of Alden quality cannot be expressed; however, the good news is they are issuing me a refund which will be put towards something that WILL last. later Alden peeps… I hope that my experience has been a fluke and none of you have as many issues as I have in the last six months
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my last post in this thread. My replacement Indy's ripped off the welt again only two months after recieving them and less than a month of wears in because i have been wearing my Vibergs. The dissappointment in the decline of Alden quality cannot be expressed; however, the good news is they are issuing me a refund which will be put towards something that WILL last. later Alden peeps… I hope that my experience has been a fluke and none of you have as many issues as I have in the last six months
That really sucks. I've, so far (knock on wood), had no problems with my Indy Kudu. Good to hear that they are,at the least, refunding you instead of leaving you stuck with a product you're unhappy with.
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I wear 11.5 in Indy's, but I probably could have gone with a 11. 12 in Nike & Puma. 10.5 E in RW 877. Vibergs are 11. Hope this helps.
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I wear 10.5 in puma, converse, etc, but I have wide feet and they were always too narrow. I now wear Alden 9.5EEE or 10E. Not sure how the width factors in, but I'd say at very least drop half a size. Maybe a full one. Since 403s are cxl and cxl stretches a lot, maybe size down a full size.
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daytrippers are stunning boots! where did you still find a pair?
