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Purchasing Experience with Cheaney Shoes

5435 Views 20 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  Flanderian
This is about a recent ordering experience with the shoemaker Joseph Cheaney & Sons. I was considering another pair of loafers and realized I was so well pleased with the fit and comfort, as well as the quality, of a pair of Cheaney Howard R model loafers that I had purchased last summer from Herring that I should see if there were any others on the same last. The marvelous service at Herring was consulted first, but they had no other loafers on the 5203 last. So I went directly to the Cheaney website and was offered a number of choices on the 5203 last, including some sale items that don't appear on their normal pages. (I believe the site read my URL as new and threw me a bone.)

Among the choices was a brown smooth calf with rubber sole version of their still offered for sale Hudson model with leather sole. As the sizes were limited for all sale items I looked at, I suspect this version was discontinued. But as it was precisely what I was looking for, particularly the rubber sole that I prefer for most casual footwear, I couldn't care less if it was discontinued, and with a 100 Pound Sterling discount it was a no-brainer for me.

But now it gets interesting: I ordered it on-line very late Wednesday night. Actually, it was technically Thursday morning, as it was after 12AM. On Friday the following day the nice man from DHL Express delivered them at 3:30PM to my front door. That's extraordinarily fine customer service. It's remarkable that I could order a pair of shoes from England, and receive them the next day! Herring is the only other European source with which I've had experience that can be that fast.

When the shoes arrived, they were exactly what I hoped for in terms of appearance and quality of build. I could say I'm becoming a fan of Cheaney footwear, but I think I already was.

The only drama in the transaction was not Cheaney's fault, but rather my card company's, Capital One. Cheaney evidently uses a 3rd party site to process bank cards. Capital One declined it twice, and then I called them, and they had flagged it as potentially fraudulent. They approved the transaction and lifted the restriction when I assured them it was legitimate. Had the same experience with Pediwear a couple years ago, who also uses a 3rd party to clear bank cards. Wish Capital One could get its act together. These are both solid businesses, and there's nothing in the history of the use of my card to suggest it should be a problem for Capital One.
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Um, er, I think Capital One might be a wee bit distracted right now:

A hacker gained access to 100 million Capital One credit card applications and accounts


That said, nice story - they sound like good shoes - enjoy.
Fair enough. But it's worth pointing out that the experience I referenced involving Pediwear occurred a year or two ago, long before this recent incident. While functionally we're looking at two different though related operations within Capital One, IT and Fraud Prevention, taken in combination it doesn't paint a very flattering picture of how it's being run. In one instance their practices and staffing is preventing legitimate business transactions, while in another it allows criminal mastermind Paige Thompson to steal 100 million account records. :icon_scratch:
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That's great to hear!

I remember a couple of years ago when ordering from Edward Green a similar SNAFU.

I used PayPal but changed the shipping address to my office instead of my home. I had done this before with other merchants but in this case, EG flagged it as a potential fraudulent transaction. The issue was remedied but it was an odd experience nonetheless.
It seems to be specific to certain circumstances. In my experiences it appears that the imposition of a 3rd party to clear the international credit card transaction, rather than the vendor processing it themselves is somehow a red flag. For example, I've never had any difficulty with using the same credit card when ordering from Herring which appears to have their own process for handling credit cards.
So very pleased that you had such a positive experience with a British company.

The Northamptonshire shoe industry is one of the jewels in the crown of the United Kingdom. It's so pleasing that they are giving overseas customers such excellent service.

I am also a fan of Cheaney and I hope that you enjoy your shoes as much as I do mine
Thank you!

Some might argue I've had too many positive experiences with British shoe sellers! ;)
As is common with the receipt of other purchases of English shoes, the seller included a small, attractive pamphlet extolling the virtues of their make. A succinct history, and a mention of what's involved in the making, as each is commendably brief, and I also believe relevant, I offer them here -

- An average shoe takes eight weeks to make, 160 separate processes.

- The company was founded in 1886 by Joseph Cheaney, and moved to its present location in Kettering in Northamptonshire in 1896. In 1903 Joseph's sons, Arthur and Harold joined the company. In 1930 Dick Cheaney, the founders grandson, joined the company. In 1966 the company was sold to Church and Co. In 2009 Jonathan and William Church bought the company. ( From, I would assume, Prada, then owner of Church's. )
It is always good to hear of another's positive purchasing experience with a preferred vendor. May you long wear those new Cheaney's , my friend, and may you do so only in good health! :)
I've already written them into my will! :laughing:
I've got two pairs of Hudsons and various other pairs of Cheaney shoes, all are great. If you are ever in Northamptonshire, the Cheaney factory shop in Desborough is worth a visit.
That's a lovely suggestion!

I very much enjoy it.
I think you were one of the posters that turned me to try Cheaney. Man do I love my Cheaney shoes. Wearing my Jackie III as I type!!
Yes, great chukkas!

I believe I get more compliments on my pair than any other footwear. Their mahogany grain leather sure is nice!
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I think you were one of the posters that turned me to try Cheaney. Man do I love my Cheaney shoes. Wearing my Jackie III as I type!!
If you like the mahogany grain hide as well as I do, you likely know that Cheaney makes a blucher/derby also with a Dainite sole on the same last, the 125. I know Eagle has this shoe and regards it well. And I have the Howard R penny, also with a Dainite sole in the same hide two. It's on their 5203 last, which is a more traditional round toe last that's a little fuller than 125, but they both fit me very well and are very comfortable. Rarely would I boy two shoes in a hide so distinctive, but I made an exception, as I'm that fond of it.

Cheaney shoes are insanely comfortable on my feet. Sadly, I only have 3 - the Manchester, a very nice side gusset slip on that I wish they still made and 2 Brooks English numbers from back in the day. The BE ones are without a doubt the most comfortable oxford shoes I have ever owned. I still like C&J, but Cheaneys are more comfortable on my feet.
Thank you! It's helpful to have the broader experience added to what I've learned, which tends to support my hypothesis, that Cheaney shoes seem to offer comfort to many wearers.
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