ironplanet uk900 Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 If I wanted my own shoes repaired I would not hesitate to use the services of half a dozen or more on the forum, the work that is posted for the world to see is superb and you can hold your heads high.. I agree, some of the work shown on here is outstanding. What I would not do however is pay £100 for a bloody shoe repair for a a pair of shoes I had bought from a shop... Please remember Hugh that the quote I gave was the worst case sinario, The guy had had the shoes butchered, by having them nailed on. Its imposible to give an accurate quote off the Pictures supplied. YOU yourself have said recently that only the customer has the right to say whether the shoes are worth the repair. As !!CAD!! said he was attached to the shoes, so was after a good long lasting repair. You yourself know the work that would have gone into the rewelting and complete reconstruction of these shoes I would have let the guy repair them who had given me good service over the years and completed the repairs to my satisfaction. ... You mean you'd take em back to the guy who caused all the damage in the first place. I'd have taken them to a quality repairer in the first place and paid £40ish for a proper repair that wouldn't have put the shoes in an early grave. Failing this I would tout for estimates which the guy has done to the best of his ability.He obviously got the quotes wheighed up the potential job against cost and plumped for a decision that suited his circumstances.. Yes thats what I would have done. No bodies bothered about getting the work. Who knows if the job he gets will be satisfactory only time will tell. The job can not be worse than the last repairers effort. Personally I would have gone for a new pair from M&S and got a permanent guarantee on them, no need to get them repaired, just take them back as a complaint and get a new pair until they come to their senses and twig whats happening. well its a good job the population isn't following your lead or we'll all be doomed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Taking this entire topic at face value, using the facts presented The shoes I have were made for me The replacement cost of having a pair of shoes made in the UK will run into hundreds if not thousands of pounds. I have never had to replace a pair of shoes but do know the public well enough, that despite the law being on my side to stand & tell them their shoes are worthless would damage my reputation & create all manner of problems, for what they cost & how often it doesn't happen I would replace new for old any shoes I damaged or lost. As for almost a Tenner postage I can get a pair out of the sales for not much more than that and have done for less last week. however we are not talking about a pair at a tenner, cad has gone to great lengths to find information on the internet and obviously holds his shoes dear to his heart, for just an extra 4.30 he could have got his shoes insured at an appropriate level to reflect this value.The postal system is definitely the weak link in this transaction. I would like to send my shoes to someone who cares about what they do. I based my decision on a number of three obvious factors: quality, price and backup. You only know the quality of the backup you are going to receive when things go wrong hugh, insure all stages of your service & then you won't have to fob your customers of with M&S shoes when & if things do go wrong! The best is cheapest at any price, That's my backup! Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Point no 1 Dont knock M&S shoes they are the biggest retailer of footwear in the UK and they stock only shoes that give them the least trouble. Cheaney being one, try their gent formal footwear and you will wonder why any buys any that is not as comfortable. M&S shoes are just as repairable as anyone elses. Your real problem is going to be when the Chinese flood the market with Goodyear Welted cos they have now perfected the proccess. Point no2. Hand made does not always mean £400 or more, hand made in India, hand made in Egypt, hand made in Thailand are not the same animals that are hand made in Europe. Do not think Hand made Church, bespoke by british craftsmen. Point no3 to PlanetUK900 This is what I wrote: I would have let the guy repair them who had given me good service over the years and completed the repairs to my satisfaction. Then I said "Failing this" which meant that he was not able to do this because he had bad service from the previous guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 = Point no3 to PlanetUK900This is what I wrote: I would have let the guy repair them who had given me good service over the years and completed the repairs to my satisfaction. Then I said "Failing this" which meant that he was not able to do this because he had bad service from the previous guy. OK I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, due to you not making yourself clear But you still don't know a rivet from a nail...........ROFLMAO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 A very short tongued Frog said, "Rivet Rivet, Have you seen the size of this bloody Thnail" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 A very short tongued Frog said, "Rivet Rivet, Have you seen the size of this bloody Thnail" If ya can't handle technical...............................go daft, you in the fridge again fatty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 No I'm in the garden looking for sNAILS, got my Garlic & Butter ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfman Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 1 or 2 things puzzle me here and they are if the gentlemen concerned is happy to go with mr harris of timpsons becouse the look the market leaders and they won the competition . 1 why are they not sent to the competition winner 2 why is mr harris of timpsons not doing them himself 3 why if all timpsons staff are trained to a high standerd do they need to go to a repair center at timpsons hq Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 In answer to part of your questions elman what I can tell you is this, Timpson like Minit and most other multiples have to have a specialist centre employing repairers of the highest calibre. This is partially because it is not possible to train hundreds or thousands of shoe repairers to top standards, my bet is that many of the managers of multiples will have been in the trade for just a few months and have not got the skills to carry out complicated work or work of a standard required for the likes of Hand made footwear, so they (the shop workers) have this alternative in place to send them away. Roughly about 4 years ago at an Exhibition in Kettering, Timpson had a trade stand where you could examine the standard of the day to day repairs and get treated to a display of re-welting. After viewing all their work in great detail as you would expect of a cantankerous old git like me, I can assure you that the standard was probably as good as competition level within the top 3 places of the shoes on dislay for that years entries on show also at the exhibition. If you or anyone else had gone to the exhibition you would have seen this for yourself. My bet would be that some of the past winners of competitions are employed at these centres. I remember Minits centre in Sheffield putting on an excellent display when I visited them many years ago, as did AutoMagic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 In general there seems to be an aura of sour grapes running through this thread, just like the same variety of sour grapes that used to run through the competitions after the event, it does the trade no good to see this taking place. Negativity has no place in business be it yours or your oppositions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 In general there seems to be an aura of sour grapes running through this thread, Its interesting your comment Hugh, I haven’t made any comments to show sour grapes. CAD clearly turned this into a mini competition encouraging us all to engage in his topic, pass our views & quote him our prices. Eventually he settled on who he felt best for his circumstances. My self & UK would have both loved to have shown off a bit with the shoes & our competitive natures showed through. Once beaten I also wished CAD luck with his work. Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Perhaps I should have used different wording such as negativity rather than sour grapes, my choice of words was done on the spur of the moment after reading elfmans post. It would have been nice to see the end result and who knows what the outcome will be but personally I think we are pushing it a bit and should relish in the fact that the forum has been instrumental in providing the opportunity for a member of the public to find access to a better service than they have received in the past from our fellow trade members and leave it at that. I for one will not be posting again on this subject, not unless I have a memory relapse anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfman Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 sorry hugh but i fail to see any sour grapes come into this ,i simply asked a few questions,i do not have any axes to grind against timpsons or any other multiple or any other repairer , and in fact i was at the exehibition and did look at the winning entrys and agree they were of a high standerd and i did make a comment about them on the site but they wer not negative in any wayand how you percieve them as sour grapes is beyond me was it not you who said that the halfsole and heel was one of the more complecated repairs that we are asked to do and then turn around and say that some of the managers in the multiples do not have the skills to do the more complicated work whici is why the have repair centers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 I have previously stated that I used the wrong words elfman, read the post before your last one. It is right that the fears and misgivings be brought to light ,but let us do it in a positive way, what I read itno the topic is that you/we as a forum body are trying to undermine the current stuation with the sponsors. I I can read this into it then others can too. The way forward would be for all of you to get involved directly by taking an interest in a positive way, get the forum members to enter the competitions, get to win or get placed in the results then you have a legitimate voice to carry you forth. Upsetting Apple Carts mean that there are no Apples to feed on and it is with this in mind that I urge you all to act very cautiously and wisely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cad Posted January 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 All, Well the shoes are back. Total £45 in postage both ways - I don't know if that is good or bad for the work done, however my shoes feel revitalised. Pictures as promised.... p.s. as to the sour grapes .... I was touted as being full of faeces...perhaps not sour but not a great taste..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Is this Timpsons usual price or a special price because the customer used the forum( good pr and all that). I certainly wouldnt do JR long sole,LH1/4R,back liners and postage for £45... Looks a nice job though,Fair play CAD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cad Posted January 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Good point... I didn't tell the Timpsons' staff about the discussion untill after they had quoted and got the shoes. There was no need to re-welt (just through sole) so their quote was right on the money, 40 without re-welting, 60 with. I maybe wrong with my terminology here.... They said they mainly deal with repairs from large manufacturers (I guess Churchs and alike) but welcome private work. I guess their bulk purchasing helps with material costs and also since they don't have to deal with the general public this I expect this does reduce costs as I have no doubt us GP members do push up costs in terms of time. Ofcourse time will tell as to how the repair lasts but it feels great although I have slipped over 3 times already as I have forgotton how slippery new soles can be! cad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x minit uk Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Strange how they now use JR stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Looks like a decent job cad and a rather generous size of Back Lining, dont think I would have used one that large. But........... tell me why there is no Steel tips on the heels, did they persude you against them of did you change your mind.? The price is very very good for a leather of that quality, methinks your uppers will not last as long as the soles now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter / Sweden Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 You all comlain abut Mr T and he was the one who finaly fixed the shoes.... How come? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cad Posted January 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Hugh, The back linings are substantial but they haven't had any effect on the comfort. As to the quater tips in steel - I heeded the advice given..... Will the soles last longer than the uppers? Probably....... I'm on my 4-5th year with these and they are worn all day almost every day.... cad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Julia Roberts Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 I took a pair of my husbands shoes in for repair. They were expensive shoes and it was there first repair. I paid £65 for the job, and within a week the sole started coming away along with the lip around the edge. When I took them back the repairer said they were beyond repair because of faulty stitching by the manufacturer !!!!!! My husband sent them back to Barkers, who told him that the stitches had been damaged by the repair. We never had any problems with the the repairer we used to use before he closed down. So how can you tell if the job is done properly. Julia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 So how can you tell if the job is done properly. Julia. Julia This is a difficult one to answer! However I would say its not what IS done but quite often what isn’t Ask the repairer you are thinking of using to have a look at a pair of shoes they have repaired previously (on the self ready for collection) If they don’t have any, they are not very busy! (why) Are they are reluctant ? Do the shoes “Look†Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 I took a pair of my husbands shoes in for repair. They were expensive shoes and it was there first repair.I paid £65 for the job, and within a week the sole started coming away along with the lip around the edge. When I took them back the repairer said they were beyond repair because of faulty stitching by the manufacturer !!!!!! My husband sent them back to Barkers, who told him that the stitches had been damaged by the repair. We never had any problems with the the repairer we used to use before he closed down. So how can you tell if the job is done properly. Julia. This is impossible to judge before leaving shoes for repair. Even the best repairer can stitch a pair of soles on and damage welt stitches, I have done it several times over the years, due in part to incorrectly adjusted or worn welt guides. This is a case for compensation from the repairer, a letter from the manufacturer and a visit to Citezens advice should solve the problem. More often than not this problem arises due to the welt stitching perishing with age and only materialises when stress is put upon them during repair. This is not the direct fault of the repairer but one which they comonly have to fix quite wrongly at their own expence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 Even the best repairer can stitch a pair of soles on and damage welt stitches, Hey, Speak for yourself. I don't damage shoes in any way shape or form, If the welt is coming unstitched we repair it, if its more serious we stop and tell the customer. Thats one of the reasons we never nail waists I have done it several times over the years, due in part to incorrectly adjusted or worn welt guides., This is a case for compensation from the repairer, Come on Hugh. You can see if there is a problem when they bring em in. a letter from the manufacturer and a visit to Citezens advice should solve the problem. More often than not this problem arises due to the welt stitching perishing with age and only materialises when stress is put upon them during repair. This is not the direct fault of the repairer but one which they comonly have to fix quite wrongly at their own expence. I don't come across this problem. Most of the problems caused in Julias case are caused by the repairer scouring the welt stitches, due to ingnorance of the shoes construction. Now I've seen that a million times. and you always know when they bring them in for a second repair. Just by looking at the state of the job. If there one thing I hate, is repairing welted shoes that someone else has had thier hands on before.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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