[dport86]

hi:

I wanted to alert forum members to what seems to be some misrepresentation in an ebay auction for a pair of Alden 684's.

this seller is listing a pair of Alden 684's as worn one time:



however, there are deep creases, black scuffs and fading on the side of the shoe--as well as a lack of the deep aubergine/eggplant tone you'd associate with Alden new #8 shoes. Also, the bottoms are painted black with no visible Alden logos.

The auction stands now over $200, and if any forum members are bidding wanted to raise these concerns (I have no interest in this auction personally: I am not bidding on this auction and don't know the seller).

Perhaps a more knowledgeable poster than I can answer what is going on with these shoes. Perhaps they were factory refurbished and worn once.

 

[My Pet. A Pantsuit]

I have seen some Aldens with black soles, however I have found from experience that terms like "worn once" or "NWOT" translate into eBay linguistics as "found well used, worn once by the seller" and "full of moth holes," so caveat emptor.

 

[rebel222]

That doesn't look that egregious. I have seen considerable worse misrepresentations on eBay. (I am not associated with the seller).

 

[ToryBoy]

Always avoid sellers like this

Condition - it says new in the description box but then says worn once.

As for the worn once, with the soles like that, the creases and marks. I have trainers that I purchased in 2005, in equal condition.

If someone does get them for $200-250 then may be a good buy, anything higher not really worth it. Considering BB have an offer $600 cordovan shoes, second pair 50% off, so $450 per pair - take a friend with you to BB and get a pair each.

 

[msport325i]

as the other posters have stated let the buyer beware. these shoes have been resoled. the 684 does not come in a black sole. there are however a few models that do such as the 2211 & some of the long wings but none of the full strap models do. too much wear on the inside to indicate that the shoe has been worn 1 x amongst other things.

regarding the color, color lots do vary. i have seen many #8 shoes that are lighter & more currently darker. it just depends.

personnally... i would pass.

cheers...

 

[dport86]

I agree there are some egregrious misrepresentations on ebay. However, given the whole storefront look of the listing, the new box, the description of the item as new and the small print mention of "only worn once" an uneducated buyer might well assume these were brand new store returns, rather than heavily worn, resoled possibly remanufactured shoes. I know I got excited--for a second. I also know Rebel222 sells NOS shoes as well as completely disclosed used ones. I'd always prefer to buy from someone in this forum. Just wanted to let any unsuspecting buyers know.

 

[LeatherSOUL]

6 years old, but worn once after the 3rd resoling, done this time by a colorblind cobbler who thought the shoe was black.

 

[SlowE30]

Perhaps they were worn for one African walking safari, until the owner was mauled by lions?

 

[gman-17]

I bought a pair of Ferragamos on Ebay which were supposedly NIB. They did come in a box, with Ferragamo shoe bags, but they weren't new. The bottoms were painted I have no idea how old they are, etc. Point being you need to be really careful with shoes on Ebay. It does look like something is amiss with this pair of Alden's.

BTW I really like the shoes I bought, but it still bugs me that they weren't as advertised.

G

 

[Crownship]

In a situation like this you should email the seller and have them send you more photos. Inside the shoes would be very helpful.
If they won't comply then you take a chance you'll get something you don't want.

Years ago I bought a pair of Allen Edmonds off ebay. The one or two photos weren't that great.
I didn't ask for more pictures of the shoes and took a chance and won the auction.
They looked like someones gardening shoes when they arrived, they were resoled and had mold inside the toe area.
I emailed the seller and they refunded my money and said to keep the shoes.

If an auction has just one photo of a used pair of shoes I'm skeptical.
Sometimes the seller doesn't want you to see the condition they're in.

 

[dport86]

Auction stands now at $360 with 4 hours to go--almost the cost of a pair of new seconds. Clearly at least 2 bidders believe this to be an essentially new shoe--as used versions of this in this size have gone for $62 to $170 in the last month. SHame.

 

[rebel222]

I am still on the fence about this one. I still believe that they could be worn one time. I have a pair of LHS (about to be for sale) that have black soles. They are with 100% certainty the original soles. They say "Made in USA" like other Alden soles, but they do not have the Alden logo stamped on them.

There is obvious creasing to those shoes, but I think it would be much worse if they were on round 2 of full soles. The shape/construction of the Alden full strap really exaggerates the creasing unless they are maintained really well.

Maybe I am too trusting of others.

 

[PorterSq]

This is mind-boggling to me. The very idea is tough: spending $360 for a pair of shoes alone is nuts to me, let alone a pair of shoes you haven't tried on, were worn by someone else at least once, and there's no easy recourse if you get ripped off.

It's still not as nuts as whoever spent $1k for a copy of that Japanese photo book from the Ivy League in the 60s, but it's not too far off.