Club Obi Wan

Well just a little after 3 months of owning my Aldens they are being sent back for repairs. Very disheartening. Soles are splitting and the part of the upper is coming undone. Will let you all know when I get them back. I hope this is not typical Alden quality.

Sean

IndianaSean wrote:Well just a little after 3 months of owning my Aldens they are being sent back for repairs. Very disheartening. Soles are splitting and the part of the upper is coming undone. Will let you all know when I get them back. I hope this is not typical Alden quality.

Sean

Over a year ago, I had mail ordered a pair 405's which I returned because the finish was poor where the boot meets the sole. I had asked if this was typical myself and was told that the demand was high and perhaps the pair I received slipped through qualitly control. I was then told it would be best if they just refunded my money because all the boots they had in stock in my size looked the same.
The place was in San Fran, but I can't remember the exact name. After that, I found an Alden dealer in New York City, close to where I work. It was there I bought my alden 405's and the finish was great! No, defects, no problems... I should have done a better search the first time, and it would have saved me some trouble.
Alas, gold is always under the nose...

My pair came from the San Francisco store as well. Turns out there is a retailer right near me as well!! Alden in New England said there was no issue fixing them for me. So we will see.

Sean

AAAhhhgggh! I feel your frustration, IndianaSean. I was in the SF store back home last month, and was THIIIIIIS close to taking a pair home. At least Aldens has a lifetime warranty. Which is good. Now's not the time to mention I just got my second pair of Todd's boots today. One pair for distressing, one for dressier occasions. My bank account won't allow for 2 pairs of Aldens, but one pair yes. I'm truly sympathetic for you, but for the price of Alden's, your situation is unacceptable. I hope their costomer service is better than it was in the SF store....sheeesh. Best of luck

TenuredProfessor- Thank you for the best wishes. It is very frustrating. My main beef is really because they are advertised as work boots and that is what I use them for. So I will be using my USMC Bellvilles for the next few weeks. I spoke with Karen at the main Alden shop in New England and I explain to her the circumstances and she didn't even hesitate. "Send 'em back" was her reply. "Yes ma'am." I replied. Since I found a local shop near by I hope to never deal with SF again.

Sean

By the way where abouts Seattle are you located? I'm local as well.

IndianaSean...
Yeah, the deal breaker for me was the less than stellar service and staff at the SF store. Really, if I'm gonna drop that kind of cash, I expect halfway decent knowledge of product from the sales staff. I'm glad you got a satisfactory response from the east coast operation. BTW, I'm in West Seattle!! I assumed you were on the east coast? There's gotta be more Gearheads in Seattle, right? Best of luck with your new Aldens. I'm jealous a little

IndianaSean wrote:My pair came from the San Francisco store as well. Turns out there is a retailer right near me as well!! Alden in New England said there was no issue fixing them for me. So we will see.

Sean

Now that is funny we both got them from probably the same exact store! Plus we both found a place close to us after that....

It seems that Alden quality control is a bit hit or miss at times. I'm interested in some of the new "alternative" Indy boots, but am cautious about ordering online, and there are no Alden retailers close by... or at least one I'd do business with. [Long story] Wishing you the best in the repair experience.

Randy

TenuredProfessor- I know right? I'm right near Greenlake!

Digger4Glory- I think it just might be the same store! Funny how we find the things we need just around the corner!

Randy- Thank you. I totally understand. You drop that kind of cash you expect quality. I to have heard that Alden's quality has become hit and miss. Hopefully this repair job does the trick.

Fortune and Glory!!
Sean

theinterchange wrote:It seems that Alden quality control is a bit hit or miss at times. I'm interested in some of the new "alternative" Indy boots, but am cautious about ordering online, and there are no Alden retailers close by... or at least one I'd do business with. [Long story] Wishing you the best in the repair experience.

Randy

I would never order another pair online unless I was getting them from Marc over at AB Deluxe. Especially since, I found the Alden retailer in the city. The only problem with getting a pair from AB is the exchange rate. As the US Dollar takes a hit

Digger4Glory wrote:

theinterchange wrote:It seems that Alden quality control is a bit hit or miss at times. I'm interested in some of the new "alternative" Indy boots, but am cautious about ordering online, and there are no Alden retailers close by... or at least one I'd do business with. [Long story] Wishing you the best in the repair experience.

Randy

I would never order another pair online unless I was getting them from Marc over at AB Deluxe. Especially since, I found the Alden retailer in the city. The only problem with getting a pair from AB is the exchange rate. As the US Dollar takes a hit

They are awsome boots!! However, your right. And with the dollar taking a dive they are WAAAY out of my wallet league. To rich for my blood. oh well.

Sean

IndianSean!
Wow....we should meet up for a pint at Kangaroo & Kiwi's sometime!!! I love that place! You wear your new pristine Alden's, and I'll wear my Todd's....we can compare notes Seriously...I'll PM you. Being a somewhat new COWer, but longtime Indyfan, It's great to know others like me live here in the rainy Northwest. I just FullerEarthed my Henry tonite, so I'm ready to show it off!

David

Well I tried to take some photos of the defects but they didn't turn out. I have a real bad camera. So I will have to describe whats happening. On the right boot the whole sole is starting to separate. Starting at the toe and going down both sides. On the left boot the part of the upper is coming undone. I will give a full update when I get them back. Hopefully with photos as well. It really saddens me to send these away. Hopefully I will have them back in time for our comicon.

David- Sounds like a plan

Sean

Oh and to top it off, parts of my wested are coming undone!! But that's another thread.

Sean

I'm in for the Kangaroo & Kiwi meet-up, too. Great place.

Let me know when!

Sean...
I hear ya on the Wested..assuming you mean the jacket. I had the dreaded stitch pop and had it repaired...ten bucks. But I didn't even get to try on a pair of 405's at the SF store...didn't have my size, so I'm extra curious. I'll see you at the K&K...and bring a whip, for mine's still on order to be made and I can't wait I'm sure whips are allowed at the only Aussie bar in Seattle, right?

David

Could have been some left over pairs from that little QC / Leather Defect bump we hit in the road a while back...Sounds about right for some of the problems people were having with their bad pairs...

Well my Alden's are in mail . I am really nervous and I hope I get them back. I don't trust the postal service so i made sure I had them insured. Hopefully when I get them back they will be new (weren't they already? ) and improved.

Sean

Well my boots arrived at Alden's yesterday. Hope I get my poor babies back.

I'm in Olympia, WA. Has anyone in Seattle shopped here? It looks like they supply shoes to many Seattle locations.

http://www.alden-of-carmel.com/index.cf ... carmel.htm

lantzn wrote:I'm in Olympia, WA. Has anyone in Seattle shopped here? It looks like they supply shoes to many Seattle locations.

http://www.alden-of-carmel.com/index.cf ... carmel.htm

I haven't shopped there. I did find a location right in Ballard. Just up the road from me!!

Sean

So they are 'human' after all!
This goes to show that even the mighty Aldens can fail...

yep...they don't have superpowers....

After reading all this, the first thing that popped in my head was that scene in Rocky IV where Rocky cut Drago and Duke says "you hurt him...he's not a machine, he's a man!"

I've shopped the Alden of Carmel online and got great results. Here is the pair I got from them back when they used to advertise this boot as the "boot Indy wished he wore". It was a rainy day here in Phoenix, so I slipped these on this morning.
http://www.alden-of-carmel.com/index.cf ... ot_174.htm

May be a stupid question, but any chance some of the inferior Aldens are fakes from China? (Not those sold directly by Alden). No kidding. China seems to be faking anything and everything that is popular and makes money. Make sure to post back when you hear from Alden.

Max Chance wrote:May be a stupid question, but any chance some of the inferior Aldens are fakes from China? (Not those sold directly by Alden). No kidding. China seems to be faking anything and everything that is popular and makes money. Make sure to post back when you hear from Alden.

I would put it past the Chinese from making copies. However, the pair I received came directly from the Alden SF. I will be sure to post a review when I get them back. (Hopefully). I miss my boots.

Sean

Well I got my boots back . However it wasn't what I expected. Alden completely missed one of the repairs I pointed out. Parts of the upper were coming undone. The glue job around the soles seems to be ok. I will see just how long this holds. I will be away from my camera the next couple of days but I will be sure to post some pics. I'm just glad to have them back. Oh..I got free laces.

Sean

Good news, Sean! Except the part about the missed repair Hopefully they'll hold up at least until the 'con! There's gonna be photo ops with Nimoy too!

David

I think they should. For all the Alden hype I'm not so convinced. Oh well. Yeah a photo with Nimoy is a must! Can't wait.

Sean