I love my wife, yes I do, yes I do...

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:20 am

So here we are, enjoying our weekend, doing some shopping, when we enter a nice shoe store. Since I need a good pair of black shoes for work, etc., I figured it was time to do a little shoe shoipping for the old man, you know? Well, I'm at the point in life where my shoes have to have good foot support or I just can't get them. If they're not made well and hurt my feet, then they're a waste of money.

So I'm trying on some nice shoes with the saleman and get up to walk around... and then it hits me. I am SO spoiled by my Aldens! The shoes I tried on were nice, but I can tell the difference without that solid, steel shank keeping the shoe from caving in. I liked them, but I knew these shoes just wouldn't do. My wife knows I'll find good clothes at thrift stores and the like, but that my feet have to be taken well care of. As I'm telling her I can tell the shoes I'm trying on don't have the support I need, she looks up and says,"well, why don't you just get a black pair of Aldens, then?"

$\:D/$

She knows they're expensive, but we're doing pretty well these days, so after talking it through, she gave me the green light to get another pair of Aldens! There's a shop in DC, so I'm hoping to get there soon. WOOHOOOO!!!!!

bink

Feraud · Post by **Feraud** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:50 am

Wow! I am still trying to get a first pair... The delay is in no way due to my wife. She is as supportive as heck. I am the cheapskate who cannot fork out $280.00 for a pair of boots.

JerseyJones · Post by **JerseyJones** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:23 am

Feraud wrote:Wow! I am still trying to get a first pair... The delay is in no way due to my wife. She is as supportive as heck. I am the cheapskate who cannot fork out $280.00 for a pair of boots.

It's a lot I know, but DO IT ! Your knees and ankles will thank you. I wear mine daily !

K

Feraud · Post by **Feraud** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:39 am

JerseyJones wrote:It's a lot I know, but DO IT ! Your knees and ankles will thank you. I wear mine daily !

K

well Christmas is just around the corner...

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:03 am

Feraud wrote:Wow! I am still trying to get a first pair... The delay is in no way due to my wife. She is as supportive as heck. I am the cheapskate who cannot fork out $280.00 for a pair of boots.

Your not alone. When I finally bought my Aldens, I had a cramp in my...er, wallet for a few weeks.

However, I must say they are well worth the money.

Thats a good woman you have there Bink!

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 2:42 pm

J_Weaver wrote: Thats a good woman you have there Bink!

I'll pass that along. I could always use the brownie points.

I saved up for my first pair of Aldens, especially because they're not cheap. The Mrs. knows that, too. But since we seem to be getting back on our feet it's not so much a crunch at the moment. It'd be different if it was some other piece of gear, but since these are everyday shoes, it makes more sense. I was just floored that SHE made the suggestion! But I will stress this again (regardless of those having to save up for a pair) GET PROFESSIONALLY FITTED if you can. That's what I plan to do with the new pair, just as I did with the old pair.

bink

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:11 pm

Well, I went into the DC Alden store this afternoon and ordered my black pair of Aldens. This is what I'm getting:

http://www.aldenshoe.com/cat_ortho_trub_86.htm

It's the same as the 405 in every way, but with a cap toe, instead.

They didn't have this particular shoe in stock, though the 405 was sitting proudly on display with all the other shoes. The service was top-notch, all around. In fact, what totally amazed me was the woman who managed the small shop. Her memory is incredible! She remembered talking to me a year ago when I called (then from the midwest) for a couple pair of extra laces. She even remembers Bufflehead coming in for a pair of 405's when he needed a pair for the opening of his home theatre. (Um, Buff, where was MY invite?

)What's more, they don't have a computer! ("We'll have one in two weeks.")

The woman was very friendly, professional, and personable. She knew her stuff and never rolled her eyes at the thought of Indiana Jones fans wanting a pair of shoes. Heck, she even knew the whole story behind Ford wanting to use his Aldens. I got fitted (OF COURSE!) to make certain I'd order the proper size, nevermind the writing on the inside of my 405's were worn beyond readability. And when I asked to buy a spare set of laces for my 405's before leaving, she just gave me a pair on the house! Alden has a life long customer in me, that's for sure.

bink

Bufflehead Jones · Post by **Bufflehead Jones** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:37 pm

I already told you, bink. When you buy from the factory owned store, your Aldens laces are free for life.

That lady is amazing. I waited almost a year and called to get some laces. I told her my name, and she recognized me as a customer and told me she would get them right out. She never even asked me my address and a couple days later, they arrived in the mail.

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:03 pm

Alden's customer service totally makes up for the expensive price of their shoes. When I ordered mine (from San Francisco) they accidently sent me the wrong size. I was shocked when they sent me the correct pair over night, even before I had returned the incorrect pair!

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:24 pm

Bink,
Those black Aldens are Nice.
Very classy looking. Congratulations!

Really cool that your wife made the suggestion also.

Didn't know there was an Alden store in D.C. ... :evil: :!:
Oh well, next time I'll visit.

Bufflehead Jones wrote:I already told you, bink. When you buy from the factory owned store, your Aldens laces are free for life ...

... I wonder if that policy works for the San Francisco store as well.

Best Regards,

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:41 am

It was funny, Bufflehead, because when sher mentioned you, I couldn't remember your last name off the top of my head. All I could come up with was Bufflehead!

And I guess I didn't realize that about the laces for life deal. I special ordered my 405's through a local orthopedic shoe store (when I still lived in Fort Wayne). They weren't specifically an Alden store, like in D.C.

And Spooky, if you stop by the D.C. store, keep in mind they're not open on the weekends. The hours of this store are Monday - Friday, 9:30am - 6pm. Still, it's well worth making the time if you can. If all Alden stores are this good, then yes, the customer service most certainly makes up for the price! In fact, while I was in the store, a repeat customer came in with a pair he recently bought. He was uncertain about the fit and was curious if he should bother with a fix. She simply insisted he give her the shoes to send back so they could have a proper size sent back in. She wouldn't have it any other way, either.

On top of that, since they know it's not easy for me to make it down to the store front during their business hours, they're going to have the shoes shipped to my work address. And if anyone is curious, the shoes I'm getting are a little cheaper than the 405's. I can't wait to get them!

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Bufflehead Jones · Post by **Bufflehead Jones** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:49 pm

J_Weaver wrote:Alden's customer service totally makes up for the expensive price of their shoes. When I ordered mine (from San Francisco) they accidently sent me the wrong size. I was shocked when they sent me the correct pair over night, even before I had returned the incorrect pair!

I have said this before, but the store in DC is the ONLY factory owned Alden's store. The one in San Francisco is a franchised store that is owned by someone other than Aldens and therefore, they are free to set their own policy. What that policy is, I don't know.

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:49 pm

Well, I guess free laces aren't that big of deal anyway.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 8:38 am

Hey, free ANYTHING is a big deal to me!!!! Well, MOST free stuff, anyway. (Jerry, I just KNOW you're dying here...

) It's the little details in customer service that go a long way with me. If they're that keen on the details, just imagine how much attention they pay to the big picture.

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binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:33 am

UPDATE! I just got a call form the Alden store. It turns out the boot I'm after might not even be on the production line until next year! She had called around and someone said they hadn't sold that model in twenty years!

So she recommended this boot instead, which they do still have in current production:
http://www.aldenshoe.com/cat_ortho_spe_502.htm

The only real difference is that it doesn't have speed laces and the tab on the back of the shoe. What's more, this model is even a little cheaper (five bucks, but hey, it's five bucks!) so she's going to reimburse the difference. This particular shoe tends to run narrow, she said, so she's ordering me a 9E instead of a 9D. She said if it doesn't work, the return is no problem. Their customer support keeps getting better!

bink

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:59 am

I believe there are a couple members here who own pairs of that model, bink, and have had nothing but good comments regarding the quality and comfort of the boot.

Regards! Michaelson

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 1:10 pm

Oh, I'm sure they are still excellent shoes. In fact, she told me that this was probably a better boot than the previous choice because of the leather they use on this model. I'll miss the speed laces, but I'm not worried.

bink

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:40 am

Well, I got my new Alden 502 shoes in this week! They are NICE! The reason the Alden manager recommended the 9E instead of the 9D is because the last is shorter on the 502's (if I remember that correctly). Still, I always recommend getting fitted for any model of Alden. They are quite comfortable and look very classy. The fit my feet beautifully. I just applied a good coat of Pecards on them last night and buffed them up this morning.

I'm going to break them in around the house this week before wearing them out all day, but I can tell these shoes are going to last a long time, just like my 405's. And if you want to see pics, look at the store web address above. They don't look any different at this point! (Don't worry, a good digital camera is in my future soon.) The only critisism I have is that the shoelaces are WAY to long. In fact, I can tie and loop them to where both the loop and the ends easily touch the floor!

bink

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:56 am

Are your new shoes black, bink? If so, I'd highly recommend you get a tin of the black Pecards standard dressing, if you haven't already. I use brown on my 405's, and it just helps hide any scuffs you might get in daily wear and tear, and still gives them good old Pecards protection at the same time.

Regards! Michaelson

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:41 pm

Yep, they're black. I was specifically after a pair of black shoes. Remember? Did you read the whole thread, or are you skimming?

I'll check out the black Pecard dressing, though. Thanks!

bink

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:44 pm

Considering the number of things I have going on today, no, I did NOT read the entire string, hense my quick question.

Sorry.

Regards! Michaelson

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:55 pm

I'm just pickin' on you, you know that, my friend.

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