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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    ALDEN

    Footwear
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    • GilesG
      Giles
      IHUK Crew
      Joined:

      I have now officially gone off Alden.

      I bought a pair of Indys back in Feb they were seriously substandard (I would not have paid USD100 for them in a garage sale) - Kiya laughed when I took them out of the box.  They were replaced (after a lot of wrangling).  I noticed today that this has happened to the replacement pair which I have worn them no more than a dozen times:

      Quite probably the last pair of Aldens I buy.

      G

      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • SeulS
        Seul
        Joined:

        Yeah - that sucks Giles. Any idea what brand you're going for next?..

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • nixageN
          nixage
          Raw and Unwashed
          Joined:

          Wow!  This sucks, but for some reason I'm not surprised.  There are so many issues out there with Aldens but they somehow get suppressed with all of the praise and love for them (often over the top).

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • GilesG
            Giles
            IHUK Crew
            Joined:

            The interesting thing is that Alden refused to accept that the first pair were substandard (the retailer I bought them from replaced them at his own cost because he was so appalled by the quality of the boots and Aldens attitude - he has asked to remain anonymous - I guess because he is shit scared of the repercussions).

            I do have to say that I have 5 or 6 other pairs of Aldens that I have had no problems with but Aldens attitude to an obvious quality issue was IMO appalling.

            I dunno what to buy next.

            G

            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • O
              Omega Man
              Haraki san Student
              Joined:

              Sorry to hear that.  Can't believe Alden did such a shoddy job on its 'flagship' Indy.  Send your picture and story directly to Alden and see what they could do, no?  Wait, if I may ask, are these seconds, if it is, it may be a problem.

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • GilesG
                Giles
                IHUK Crew
                Joined:

                I sent pictures of the first substandard pair to Aldens 3 times.  No response so I phoned them up and they said "this is an issue between you and the retailer, we will not get involved".

                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                • thomasnunnallyT
                  thomasnunnally
                  Joined:

                  ugh great story…makes me think twice about getting pair.

                  I personally am trying to find a casual chukka/boot that works all year round.

                  Out with the new! In with the old!

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • SeulS
                    Seul
                    Joined:

                    @Giles:

                    I dunno what to buy next.

                    G

                    Grenson?.. Made in the UK!.. The pair I have is indestructible…

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • ALEX1976A
                      ALEX1976
                      Banned
                      Joined:

                      @Giles:

                      I have now officially gone off Alden.

                      I bought a pair of Indys back in Feb they were seriously substandard (I would not have paid USD100 for them in a garage sale) - Kiya laughed when I took them out of the box.  They were replaced (after a lot of wrangling).  I noticed today that this has happened to the replacement pair which I have worn them no more than a dozen times:

                      take red wings;-)

                      Quite probably the last pair of Aldens I buy.

                      G

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • nixageN
                        nixage
                        Raw and Unwashed
                        Joined:

                        I'd check out Tricker's Country line (or Alfred Sargent).  I love both of those but can't wear them since they are too wide for me.

                        Otherwise, I can definitely vouch for Red Wings.  I have both the Iron Ranger and the Gentleman Traveler.  Great Boots!

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • BeatleB
                          Beatle
                          Joined:

                          I've heard of several people having issues with the stitching…might be Alden is currently producing way more than their standard quantity...quality always suffers..luckily enough non of mine show any of those symptoms...

                          We can do anything

                          http://bybeatle.com

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • O
                            Omega Man
                            Haraki san Student
                            Joined:

                            Kind of strange.  I have heard that Alden has 2 quality standards.  One being regular and the other Alden of New England standard.  Alden is a good brand and they are not cheap.  I heard good things about them before but I guess they are now making a compromise between quantity and quality.

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • nixageN
                              nixage
                              Raw and Unwashed
                              Joined:

                              @Omega:

                              Kind of strange.  I have heard that Alden has 2 quality standards.  One being regular and the other Alden of New England standard.  Alden is a good brand and they are not cheap.  I heard good things about them before but I guess they are now making a compromise between quantity and quality.

                              If those boots are leather lined that they should be made to the 'New England' standard.  I can tell you though that I've never had a pair of shoes or boots, no matter how cheap, that tore apart like that in the first couple of weeks.  That's beyond bad workmanship.  You'd have to make some serious mistakes in production/manufacturing to achieve this.

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                              • GilesG
                                Giles
                                IHUK Crew
                                Joined:

                                I'm gonna get out of this conversation right now there is a high probability that I will get extremely animated…...G

                                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                                • nixageN
                                  nixage
                                  Raw and Unwashed
                                  Joined:

                                  Just get your frustrations out by writing a letter (email) to Alden, even if it doesn't achieve anything but you getting your point across and having a record of it

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • SeulS
                                    Seul
                                    Joined:

                                    @Giles:

                                    I'm gonna get out of this conversation right now there is a high probability that I will get extremely animated…...G

                                    I don't think there are people here who will blindly defend Alden and ignore your pic and the other stories… This isn't SuFu, Giles  😛

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                                    • thomasnunnallyT
                                      thomasnunnally
                                      Joined:

                                      I like animated!

                                      Out with the new! In with the old!

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • BeatleB
                                        Beatle
                                        Joined:

                                        yeah, what's wrong with that ? get it off your chest…

                                        We can do anything

                                        http://bybeatle.com

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • O
                                          Omega Man
                                          Haraki san Student
                                          Joined:

                                          @Giles:

                                          I'm gonna get out of this conversation right now there is a high probability that I will get extremely animated…...G

                                          Sorry G, didn't mean to get your blood boiling!  But definitely send a complaint with pictures to Alden.  You may want to touch base with Tom at Leather Soul Hawaii.  Although you might not have purchased them from Tom, he may be able to connect you with the right people at Alden.  He sells A LOT of Alden collabs.

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                                          • SeulS
                                            Seul
                                            Joined:

                                            I wonder how strict Kiya is gonna check on quality for the SExAlden collab…

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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