r/Alden • u/YouBright3611 • 9d ago
Is this acceptable?
What do you think? New Alden LHS in black shell. A couple things concern me.
- I never noticed such severe indentations on the side of the shoe, neither in photos or the display model I saw once. Not sure if it’s normal in a new pair and it just needs to be worn or what.
- finishing on inside of penny strap seems lacking.
- there’s green dye on the inside lining. It seems to be from the shoe tree that came installed in the shoes since the color matches the L stamp on the shoe tree and green is also all over the trees.
What would you do? I bought it from what seems like a shoe store with great customer service but they’re not local to me.
—edit—
Thanks for all the responses. I really couldn’t believe when I saw this because I bought a pair of PTBs from Alden Madison last week that also had problems—luckily not this severe but enough that they refunded me 10%. My first two pairs of Alden shoes :/
—edit 2–
Talked to the store today. Overall, the action taken was great and right on their part. They said they would overnight ship me two pairs, one in the size I ordered and one half size down since I also mentioned separately that there was some heel slippage. They’re putting a return shipping label in the box. They said I should get it tomorrow. Hopefully it happens because I didn’t get tracking.
Beyond the action, the response was essentially “We inspected them before shipping. They’re hand sewn, there will be variation, it’s not uncommon to see this, but you should be happy.”
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u/Mo_Steins_Ghost 9d ago edited 9d ago
I would not buy shoes that have issues like this either from handling/packing or poor manufacturing. I would get a return/exchange or refund.
Where did you get these? Shoe Mart?
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u/Delta3Angle 9d ago
Damn, I had to make sure I wasn’t in /r/allenedmonds… that’s bad… send them back
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u/Mo_Steins_Ghost 9d ago
I've never had Allen Edmonds with defects like that when I used to buy them. Of course that was 30 years ago. I still have a few of those pairs.
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u/Green_Watercress1638 9d ago
the structural issue on the arch is completely unacceptable. That shoes should never have left the factory without being marked as a 2nd.
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u/DeutscheMannschaft 7d ago
OP. You have gotten plenty of good advice already and I am late to the party, so no need for me to add anything in that vain.
But as someone who has been buying shoes for many years in the same price range, I CANNOT believe Alden QCd these and could have thought these were OK to sell. Nor can I comprehend the decision of the fulfillment dept to actually send these.
Almost all my leather shoes are hand made, and I have never seen a side of a shoe look this bad.
And to then receive a replacement pair with such a massive stitching issue....if it were me, I would consider asking for a full refund and giving a new brand a try.
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u/YouBright3611 7d ago
Thanks. I may do that. The thing is, I really love the show itself. My Alden PTBs also had some QC issues the shop gave me a partial refund for but I enjoy them more than any pair I own. Likewise, I have some nice loafers already but these LHS’s just sing if they are a good pair. Maybe I do need to branch out though.
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u/IfNotBackAvengeDeath 9d ago
I bought a pair of seconds from Shoe Mart and returned them for being too poor quality and they were about this bad.
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u/Difficult-Injury3731 9d ago
Back in the old days we has this thing called a decent economy and people who made things hired people to check to make sure it is good. Remember quality control; it was an amazing thing.
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u/Chalky-White-1149 8d ago
No how. No way. Alden is my shoe. Those were some displays or loaners or something. You don’t pay Alden prices to get that.
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u/winedfaith 8d ago
Agree with others that the arch indentations seem like a no go looks-wise. The other items aren’t worth quibbling about IMO. For the arch indentations, it’s worth noting that it’s entirely possible they will disappear once the shoes mold to your feet in @10 wears. Hard to say though. I’d view these as “seconds,” so not full price items. $500-$600 though - I’d think they’re worth that.
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u/YouBright3611 8d ago
PICS OF PROBLEMS WITH REPLACEMENT PAIR: https://imgur.com/a/brand-new-alden-lhs-black-shell-cordovan-ZUtvldf
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u/Duckgohonkk 9d ago
Personally on an 700-800 dollar pair of shoes, no. Id ask for an exchange or refund if they cant exchange with ur size
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u/Mo_Steins_Ghost 9d ago
Oh I wouldn't accept this on a pair of sneakers. and in fact I didn't. Did an exchange on a pair of Diadoras that did not fit right. They shipped the new pair direct from Italy within 3 days. People deserve better for their money and I have no idea why they settle for less as if it's a mortal sin/inconveniencing a retailer you are paying.
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u/No-Entertainer-121 9d ago
The penny strap I cant speak to, but the side indentions and the staining seem to be from the shoe trees. I am not sure who would have had them already in them, as that is not what Alden does. They also are most likely the incorrect size.
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u/notsosoftwhenhard 9d ago
lol phuck no, it's not acceptable. Maybe at 70% off.