[OrsonWelles00]

Has anyone received a pair not in the normal allen edmonds box but in a blue plasticky box that says Port Washington on them? I unfortunately didn't take pictures because I thought I would be able to find it online but no such luck. There were no shoe bags included, only a single piece of tissue paper and the quality was the worst I've seen when ordering. There was tons of streaking and random marks where it looks like someone screwed up while dyeing them.

It could have just been a bad pair but I've never seen boxing like that. The bottom was stamped differently as well and had a different inner sole than I've seen on other pairs I bought. I was curious if they sent me something incorrectly or if it's just recent rebranding. These were a pair of the St. John double strap monks.

 

[jts287]

Factory seconds?

There should be a slight gouge on the waist near the heel. Don't believe they give the bags away with 2nds...

 

[OrsonWelles00]

Factory seconds?

There should be a slight gouge on the waist near the heel. Don't believe they give the bags away with 2nds...

Did they change how they mark seconds? I didn't see the stamp on the sole like they used to. Also, I placed an order with Nordstroms so as far as I know they should be firsts. The price was ~$400

 

[mreams99]

I’ve heard that they’re in the process of implementing a new shoebox. It sounds like you got one of the new ones.
The shoes also have new branding on the soles and insoles.

 

[MNJ83]

Their new Portuguese sneakers have a different logo for sure.

 

[OrsonWelles00]

Their new Portuguese sneakers have a different logo for sure.

View attachment 23708

Interesting, it did have that style lettering in gold on the inside rather than the normal stamped name.

 

[OrsonWelles00]

Finally heard back from Allen Edmonds, this apparently is their new branding that they’re implementing. Also shoe bags will no longer be included with shoes, they will include them for free on firsts if you order directly from them and explicitly ask for them but not from retailers from what they said.

 

[Fraser Tartan]

That's some pretty clever marketing there. That "Port Washington" will register as "Made in USA" to many if not most consumers whether the shoes are actually made here or not.

 

[SG_67]

Finally heard back from Allen Edmonds, this apparently is their new branding that they're implementing. Also shoe bags will no longer be included with shoes, they will include them for free on firsts if you order directly from them and explicitly ask for them but not from retailers from what they said.

It may not seem like much, shoe bags. After all, many of the better hotels provide them for free with the valet kit in the closet.

But it does say something about a brand when they are willing to just toss their merchandise in a box and ship it.

Perhaps AE, or rather their new masters, don't care about that. They must not think of their product as anything special or unique. In that case, I must ask myself why I should bother to spend my money on them.

Yet the price is going up. The full retail price is now $425! Far better quality and, frankly, attractive options are available for less. For a fistful of dollars more, I can upgrade to Crockett & Jones.

So basically what AE is asking me to do is spend more money on a shoe that even they don't care that much about.

Quite pathetic actually. I like the AE shoes I have but can safely say I've not really considered anything from them in the past 5 years. Odds are even greater that this will continue to go on.

 

[OrsonWelles00]

It may not seem like much, shoe bags. After all, many of the better hotels provide them for free with the valet kit in the closet.

But it does say something about a brand when they are willing to just toss their merchandise in a box and ship it.

Perhaps AE, or rather their new masters, don't care about that. They must not think of their product as anything special or unique. In that case, I must ask myself why I should bother to spend my money on them.

Yet the price is going up. The full retail price is now $425! Far better quality and, frankly, attractive options are available for less. For a fistful of dollars more, I can upgrade to Crockett & Jones.

So basically what AE is asking me to do is spend more money on a shoe that even they don't care that much about.

Quite pathetic actually. I like the AE shoes I have but can safely say I've not really considered anything from them in the past 5 years. Odds are even greater that this will continue to go on.

Sadly that's what I'm starting to get to also. I've enjoyed the shoes I've had but the QC and quality has been dropping, multiple shoes I've received directly from them had defects and they even told me they were defective and to ship them back due to the poor quality.

Do you have any recommendations that work looking at in the ~$400 range? I don't really want to jump into the next tier of $600-$800. I've been hearing a lot of good things about Carmina but not sure what else is good quality in that price range.

 

[SG_67]

Sadly that's what I'm starting to get to also. I've enjoyed the shoes I've had but the QC and quality has been dropping, multiple shoes I've received directly from them had defects and they even told me they were defective and to ship them back due to the poor quality.

Do you have any recommendations that work looking at in the ~$400 range? I don't really want to jump into the next tier of $600-$800. I've been hearing a lot of good things about Carmina but not sure what else is good quality in that price range.

Not personally but I know there are many here who do. Alden is another good option though again, getting into the $500-600 range for calfskin.

Pediwear is a good source for English shoes. Sans VAT, very competitive with AE's retail price.

 

[Flanderian]

Sadly that's what I'm starting to get to also. I've enjoyed the shoes I've had but the QC and quality has been dropping, multiple shoes I've received directly from them had defects and they even told me they were defective and to ship them back due to the poor quality.

Do you have any recommendations that work looking at in the ~$400 range? I don't really want to jump into the next tier of $600-$800. I've been hearing a lot of good things about Carmina but not sure what else is good quality in that price range.

If you're around a D width, or can wear one, there are a number of English makes via mail-order about +/- $300 that will beat AE all to heck for both quality and style.

 

[jts287]

It may not seem like much, shoe bags. After all, many of the better hotels provide them for free with the valet kit in the closet.

But it does say something about a brand when they are willing to just toss their merchandise in a box and ship it.

Perhaps AE, or rather their new masters, don't care about that. They must not think of their product as anything special or unique. In that case, I must ask myself why I should bother to spend my money on them.

Yet the price is going up. The full retail price is now $425! Far better quality and, frankly, attractive options are available for less. For a fistful of dollars more, I can upgrade to Crockett & Jones.

So basically what AE is asking me to do is spend more money on a shoe that even they don't care that much about.

Quite pathetic actually. I like the AE shoes I have but can safely say I've not really considered anything from them in the past 5 years. Odds are even greater that this will continue to go on.

Nail on the head there, man. Those felt bags can't cost them more than a buck or two to provide, but they're a tiny luxury that consumers of $400 shoes expect without asking.

 

[Flanderian]

Nail on the head there, man. Those felt bags can't cost them more than a buck or two to provide, but they're a tiny luxury that consumers of $400 shoes expect without asking.

But that begs the issue; what makes you think that AE's new owners know or care about such things!?

 

[SG_67]

But that begs the issue; what makes you think that AE's new owners know or care about such things!?

Right! Do the math and between cutting back on shoe bags and extra laces, consider the bottom line savings and the return to the shareholders.

They're certainly free to change their practices to better comport to the new retail environment and the ethos of new management, but to try to market themselves as the AE of old would be trying to have your cake and eating it too.

Most people who shop for shoes in the >$400 market know their shoes. It's very unlikely that the same customer will stick with them.

 

[Sharpe]

Just ordered my first pair of Alden shoes, I look forward to receiving them. I went into AE recently and most of their new shoes are from Portugal or Italy that are just labeled AE.

 

[Flanderian]

Just ordered my first pair of Alden shoes, I look forward to receiving them. I went into AE recently and most of their new shoes are from Portugal or Italy that are just labeled AE.

Alden makes fine shoes, and if you want U.S. manufacture, that's the thing to do. But just to complicate the issue, both Portugal and Italy also make fine shoes. Portugal in particular is gaining in ascendance among shoe making locals.

 

[MNJ83]

I see 4 made in Portugal sneakers on their site, about 15 Italian cemented shoes and tons of Dominican Republic stuff. More shoes than I care to count.

Caleres is definitely moving in a very specific direction. It’s the same direction that all the other USA manufacturers have gone.

Pretty soon Alden will have no adversaries in the made in USA shoe market.

 

[Sharpe]

I see 4 made in Portugal sneakers on their site, about 15 Italian cemented shoes and tons of Dominican Republic stuff. More shoes than I care to count.

Caleres is definitely moving in a very specific direction. It's the same direction that all the other USA manufacturers have gone.

Pretty soon Alden will have no adversaries in the made in USA shoe market.

This is exactly what I was trying to get to...its just kind of sad to see it go in this direction. Soon instead of AE being a manufacturer they will just be another Brand name.

 

[Flanderian]

This is exactly what I was trying to get to...its just kind of sad to see it go in this direction. Soon instead of AE being a manufacturer they will just be another Brand name.

Based upon MNJ83's observation, I'm afraid that's already happened.