windycity Posted October 29, 2007 Report Share Posted October 29, 2007 hi had a chap in saturday complain that his leather sole only lasted just over 4 months, does not use them every day and wanted them repaired again for free. they were a pointed/round shape toe and blaked, 9 iron, i ended up discounting a new pair by 1/3, what are your thoughts on the wear length, would you expect your repair to last longer, would you repair for free. i'm glad he came back to me and complained rather than just go elsewhere thatway i could explain that soles do wear out even the best make, i won't name the make of soles i use but i use the best of europe and british. also a man brought in a pair of john lobb chelsea boots and complained that these soles on lasted less than 4 months also, seems to be a magic number and that for lobbs to repair them it would cost £180.00 and take 2 months so i struck a deal for £90.75 and put my best sas on... joking na just my normal leather 1/2 sole and 1/4 rub at my normal price he did not want to splash out on long soles, his words.he also told me he walks at least 2 miles everyday but does change shoes when it rains to let them dry out. this does make you wonder what some people expect from a shoe repair or from the best shoe maker around. I wonder if i can keep these 2 chaps happy and will the lobb owner be back in the new year telling me same storey about the soles i repaired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Onest Andy Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 A very tricky one this. I myself ran into this situation some years ago and as a goodwill gesture offered to repair the shoes at 1/2 price. I explained to the customer that as repairers we have no control over the amount of wear and tear that a customer puts on their shoes. In this situation I said there was a very slim chance that the soles were not up to standard and that we should see how long the next pair lasted in comparrison. The customer went away happy and has been a regular ever since never having complained again. I do feel though that people sometimes expect far more than is realistic. Especially young ladies who have theitr stillettoes repaired. Then proceed to attempt a 3 week trek across the roughest muddiest, ground they can find and come back horrified that this top piece which is smaller than my finger nail has worn out already! And I think I this applies across the board when it comes to wear on a repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 The Industry Standard from way back in time (before Lee was born) was that 3 months was an exceptable period of time under normal circumstances. Bear in mind that the Leather was very much harder then and people walked a great deal more than they do now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windycity Posted October 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 both chaps have been in and have gone a way happy chappies the john lobb gave me £5 tip which runs in the 11.45 at chepstow.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the dutch cobbler Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 I do feel though that people sometimes expect far more than is realistic. Especially young ladies who have theitr stillettoes repaired. Then proceed to attempt a 3 week trek across the roughest muddiest, ground they can find and come back horrified that this top piece which is smaller than my finger nail has worn out already! And I think I this applies across the board when it comes to wear on a repair. When they come back with this problem, I try to learn them something! I ask them if they know something about atmosphere pressure! (Is that good english?) I explaine that one atmosphere is one kilo per sqaure cm. A lady weighs about 50 kilo's (be save in kilo's ) and there is 50 atmosphere pressure on a stiletto-heel! My press for the half-soles is using approx. 3 atm. and I can't put my fingers there, they will be destroyed! The most of the lady's better understand than why stiletto-heels can't stay long! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Brilliant analogy dutch cobbler, never heard it put that way before, must remember that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perplexus Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Some years ago my father had a problem with a pair of shoes that were brought back to the shop every fortnight by a (non-British) customer, who complained that the leather soles had worn out in only two weeks. He made some discreet enquiries, and found that the shoes were being shared by three men who worked in a local foundry. They were each working an eight-hour shift, and swapping beds (and shoes). The soles were getting virtually 24-hour wear in a foundry environment! He did not encourage the customer to return! Whenever I'm asked how long a repair will last, I simply suggest that if the customer leaves the shoes in the bottom of the wardrobe, they will probably last forever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 I remember several female customers having boots of a very well known make that were in the wardrobe from new and the sole units had perished without being worn!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 still happens hugh, usually with the older ladies' styles now though, i think the same make as you're referring to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Hi guys I find that 3 months can go very quickly and sometimes find it hard to believe some people that sound like they just pulled a number out of the air (like the ones that come in and say you cut this key last week and it has Mister Minit on the top). Before you glue your sole you can write the date on them in biro (maybe not in the middle where they will wear through) then when you remove them 9 times out of 10 the date will still be there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 I like the idea of the date on the sole, but what is stopping the customer from saying "you wrote that on just now"? I would prefer a guarantee with all soles (could be a different time scale for premium quality soles) Guarantee notice visible in the shop stating the words "on production of the till receipt". Should sort out most problems, though you will still get the tryers,(you didnt give me a receipt brigade) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jamesstratton Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 if you write on the leather before you glue it, the glue makes the ink spread a little, so if they say that you have just done it you just need to draw on the sole and show that it doesn't spread after it has been glued Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 if you write on the leather before you glue it, the glue makes the ink spread a little, so if they say that you have just done it you just need to draw on the sole and show that it doesn't spread after it has been glued Ah but you just put some more glue on it to make it look like it had been done previous, you cobblers are all the same, that's the Last time you put my shoes on your Last and the Last time I'll be coming here, your soles dont Last long enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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