Club Obi Wan

Has anyone had their Alden's refurbished lately?

What was their actual turnaround time?

Did you have the sole replaced? Heel replaced?

How much of the heel? Leather layers or rubber only?

Did you get new laces when they refurbished them?

Any advice before I send mine in?

Did they fit comfortably after they refurbishment?

Will they send you replacement materials like the proper heel and sole to have done at a local shoe repair?

The black rubber on the heel of my boot has almost worn down to the leather layer, but not quite yet. I'd like to get it fixed before the leather layer gets dug into.

Great questions, I've wondered as well. Hope someone can shed some light!

So far, I've checked their website, and they do a restoration/refurbishment service. You send them an e-mail and they send you a 'kit' of information as I understand it. I'll let you know what the reply is once I find out - hopefully tomorrow.

Jake

I'm sending two pairs in tomorrow as well. I'll post my experience as well.

I sent my Alden's back for restoration last October, and got them back within 8 weeks. They did an excellent job (new heels and soles, new laces, etc.). They even tossed in a spare set of laces and two nice cedar shoe trees. It is well worth the cost to avail yourself of their restoration service.

Falcon

Falcon wrote: I sent my Alden's back for restoration last October, and got them back within 8 weeks. They did an excellent job (new heels and soles, new laces, etc.)

Did they replace the entire sandwich layer of leather and rubber on the heel?

Indiana jake

Indiana Jake wrote:Did they replace the entire sandwich layer of leather and rubber on the heel?

Yes.

I sent mine in last year and I think it only took about a month. They replaced all of the layers of the heels because I had worn well into them, not sure if they do it normally. I think they sent me 2 or 3 pairs of laces as well.

I got a response back from Alden and they said that I could order the replacement curved rubber heels through an Alden dealer. Yeah, right????

Today I took them to a reputable local shoe repair to replace the rubber only. $18.00. I will post pictures if they screw up!

Jake

Good news! Heel rubber replaced successfully. While it is not an Alden heel pad, they did cut the same S curve into the replacement pad that was put on. It looks like they cut this out of a thick sheet of rubber to match the same shape of the original heel. Saved my leather heels, and saved the cost of Alden's refurbishment and the 8 weeks without them. One day turnaround, $18.00. That's a bargain!

Indiana Jake

Great news!

Way to go, Jake!

Glad that worked out for ya!

Daren

Indiana Jake wrote:I got a response back from Alden and they said that I could order the replacement curved rubber heels through an Alden dealer. Yeah, right????

Today I took them to a reputable local shoe repair to replace the rubber only. $18.00. I will post pictures if they screw up!

Jake

Huh?

That is new if that is the case. I always used to buy Alden heels and soles through alden...

I kind of did a 'huh' response myself.

I've done that MANY a times as well, and even had one dealer a few years back just ship me heels and soles for free just for asking.

The parts are 'one size fits all' as they have to be cut down and fit to your boot by a cobbler, so it's not a matter of having a 'right size' in stock. They're just stock items, like shoe laces.

Glad you got your boots fixed, Jake!

Regards! Michaelson