Allen Edmonds quality going down hill? Any alternative high quality maker?

**ctguy** · 03-03-2012, 06:15 PM

Hi All,

I had purchased my first pair of Allen Admonds last winter, they were the Park Ave's.

About a month ago I noticed the first layer of the heel (from the bottom) is starting to peel off. I guess this is something I could fix with some rubber cement or super glue.

I'm now in the market for a loafer / loafer bit shoe like the AE Verona or Cole Haan Air Aiden. Should I still invest with AE or maybe steer towards another brand, maybe something Italian?

Appreciate any input!

**saf** · 03-03-2012, 06:41 PM

Did you try to contact AE?

**scbudd** · 03-03-2012, 07:38 PM

One word - Alden

**Doc4** · 03-03-2012, 08:02 PM

Alden is the next step up, and beyond that are the English high-quality brands. Alfred Sargeant and Crockett & Jones would be the next to try.

**ctguy** · 03-03-2012, 09:08 PM

I just contacted the store I purchased from and they agreed to exchange, apply credit, or full refund so at least I'll be done right.

I will def take a look at the English brands but I'm tempted to try sometime Italian even if it's Allen Edmonds Italian stuff. Bruno Mag and Ferragamo are also on the list. I sort of like the sleeker profile.

The Park Ave's were like my workhorse work shoe. Any brand stand out in being a good replacement?

**saf** · 03-04-2012, 06:30 AM

I think you just got one that slipped through the cracks. I own several pairs and have never had a single issue.

**devorenm** · 03-04-2012, 10:38 AM

How often were you wearing them? If they really are almost 18 months old and get every other day use that kind of wear doesn't seem to be excessive to me and could be remedied with a re-crafting. Either way, it sounds like AE did you a solid with the credit.

**NoKetchupAllowed** · 03-04-2012, 02:37 PM

also did you buy factory seconds??? It makes a difference.

**ctguy** · 03-04-2012, 05:07 PM

I was wearing them about 2-3 times a week since April 2011. Not a terrible amount of outside walking each day, the most would be a 10 minute walk each day to/from work. They were new from a popular online shoe store, not AE direct. The store decided to do me a solid and give credit/refund of the full price.

I'm considering just getting an even exchange for new Park Ave's but exploring some other options. I really like the Nordstrom Lido oxford, made in Italy, all leather: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/john-w-n...oxford/3167582

I'd have $150 left to help put towards some black loafers afterwards that I'd really like to add to my collection.

**quench** · 03-04-2012, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by scbudd

One word - Alden

+1

**johnnypipe** · 03-04-2012, 05:18 PM

I buy all of my dress shoes from the Allen Edmonds store in Madison, WI or on occasion I will take a trip to their factory outlet store. They are the only brand of dress shoe that I have worn for the past 25 years and I've never had a problem with any of them.

**MoonshineXXX** · 03-04-2012, 07:09 PM

As stated above, AE makes solid stuff, and have excellent customer service, but the Alden suggestions have merit. I think my next pair of semi-dress shoes will be the Alden 405, but I love my AE Macalisters!

**avsmusic1** · 03-05-2012, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by devorenm

How often were you wearing them? If they really are almost 18 months old and get every other day use that kind of wear doesn't seem to be excessive to me and could be remedied with a re-crafting. Either way, it sounds like AE did you a solid with the credit.

Frankly, I think even if they are worned 5 times a week for 18 months these shoes shouldn't have any serious issues. Especially given their price point. I'm not suggesting someone wear the same pair over and over but I do believe a $330 hand made shoe shoes stand up to that type of use.

I expect the others are right. You must have gotten a lemon. I'm happy to hear you're being taken care of.

**drawonme** · 03-05-2012, 11:29 AM

+ 1 for Alden. The Alden shell cordovan is the lowest cost shoe you can wear in the long run. I have a pair that is 30+ years old and has been re-soled at least 10 times. I think it would take a grinding wheel to damage the leather.

**gaseousclay** · 03-06-2012, 05:33 AM

I would also second the Alden recommendation for a US made shoe. After that i'd go with several of the English shoe makers that some of you already mentioned: John Lobb, Edward Green, Gaziano & Girling, Crockett & Jones, Alfred Sargent, etc. If I could get my hands on a pair i'd also go with Vass

**gegarrenton** · 03-06-2012, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by gaseousclay

I would also second the Alden recommendation for a US made shoe. After that i'd go with several of the English shoe makers that some of you already mentioned: John Lobb, Edward Green, Gaziano & Girling, Crockett & Jones, Alfred Sargent, etc. If I could get my hands on a pair i'd also go with Vass

Vass are pretty subjective. Great quality for sure, but very distinctive look. It's usually a love or hate proposition.

**The Knize** · 03-07-2012, 01:54 PM

Does anyone think that the quality of AE is going downhill? I think I have seen other references to that, but I own lotsof AE shoes and I do not notice any decline. I was also at a rather high end shoe repair place last week and asked them this very question, and they thought there had not been a decline.

I agree with the other postings that Alden is a step up. Alden has quite the variety of lasts, though, as I recall. AE seems to have a good fit for me, although it has some variation in lasts, too.

They closed the Church store in DC, so I do not know about Church's availability in the States theses days. But I would say that while Church quality overall went downhill, the top lines of Church shoes are still excellent and may not have slipped at all.

I am talking a long time ago now and I suspect this opportunity has gone away, but for a while at least. Johnson and Murphy had at least one line of shoes that was available only in its own stores which were of quite good quality. I would say as good as AE. But the rest of the J&M line sure took a nosedive decades ago now. It is sad. My guess is that J&M is not very good no matter what "line," these days.

Anyone ever run into a Brit brand "Sandberg"? I am wearing a pair today that I got a long time ago. Not the very best. The tongue, for instance, seems kind of free-floating, and the heel was ll rubber instead of the typical higher end Brit leather and rubber. And I doubt whether the leather is high grade calf, much less shell. But they are a nice fit, take a nice shine, and still look good after I do not know how many resolings now.

**Talltexan** · 03-07-2012, 03:07 PM

How do you get factory seconds? I am just starting out in the world studying for my insurance exam and I tried a pair of AE s but they did not seem to fit. The 13s were too big and the 12 was too small.

**Tim_McD** · 03-07-2012, 06:12 PM

I have have eight pair of Allen Edmonds shoes and two pairs of their Bayfield boots - all are top notch. I have had three of the shoes recrafted and each time they come out of the box looking brand spanking new. I wear a pair of AE every single workday and have not experienced a single quality issue.

I have purchased a pair that never quite fit me (MacNeil). It was similar to what Talltexan described - the 10D was right length and too narrow, the 10.5D was too long but right width, and the 10E was right length and too wide. It came down to that one last just wasnt compatible with my foot. The AE shop exchanged them without an issue for a pair of McAllister.

I eyeball a pair of Alden shoes every now and again (esp since they are made locally), but the upcharge hasnt broken me because I am completely satisfied with my AE purchases. I do want a pair of shell cordovan shoes, but that isnt in the budget for quite awhile.

**Rudy Vey** · 03-07-2012, 06:33 PM

I own some 18 pairs of AE's, and wear this brand daily since 1995. I have both 1st and also some factory seconds (one cannot make out why they are seconds...), all shoes are great quality and fit me well (11.5 E). I pretty much can buy them without trying on. In all the years, I have not seen a decline in quality. Several of these have been recrafted, and always come back looking like new. One pair was done twice and will go back for re-crafting this summer (hope they can be done a third time). My first pair is still going strong, but I must honestly say, I have some 6 or so pairs that get most of use.