Anyway, I posted my problem over in the main boot thread and Todd took note of it as he has with everyone else who've had problems their boots.
So, I took my boots to a local cobbler and instead of having them just re-glue the soles I had him totally replace the soles and heels. I didn't want to risk the same thing happening again and I thought the best thing to do is just have them totally redone.
I also decided while they were at the shop I'd have them replace the speed laces with regular eyelets. I had read some complaints about the speed laces bending and breaking off to easily so I figured if it didn't cost to much (it was around $12 to have them replaced) I'd avoid that problem all together. I know it's not SA but it doesn't matter at this point. I just don't want to deal with anything else happening.
I just got the boots back tonight and here are some shots. The soles are Vibram and I'm told they'll last a while.
All together it cost me $60 out of my own pocket to have this done. The cobbler actually saved me about $10 because he re-used the original heels.
When I picked the boots up today he also told me that when he was removing the original soles he noticed that it looked like they used scraps of leather instead of what I took would be something of higher quality. He basically insinuated that they were junk without actually coming out and saying it. After hearing him talk I'm glad I went with having them totally replaced instead of just re-glued.
So, maybe there's more going on with the soles than them just coming un-glued? Maybe that's something else Todd could check with the factory about....
The way I understand it after talking to Cissy threw the e-mails is that Todd is only covering the cost of having the boots soles re-glued which runs between $12 and $15. Since I went and had the boots soles totally replaced I was given the maxium of amount of $15 as a discount which I can use when I purchase something else from his store.
Between the original purchase price and the money I spent for replacement soles the total is around $160. I know that's still cheaper than real Aldens but at the same time for about $160 more you could own the real deal.
I could have sent the boots back all together and the reason I didn't is because I do like them a lot. I've just got a lot of mixed emotions about what happened.
At least some other owners who were wondering what the boots would look like with the soles and speed laces replaced can now get an idea by looking at my boots.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to finally get to wear the boots with my gear.
