Michael Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Just had a dry cleaning lady I do shoe repairs for bring in a pair of mens Loakes in that I repaired last week with LS (execs.).The customer is complaing that he wore them on Wednesday and his feet got wet, bearing in mind it rained for approximately 18 hours non stop here. I have inspected the shoes and nothing has come away but he wants to speak to me. I know the problem is going to be my repair because "they never leaked before they were repaired". Gonna have to try and explain that the construction of the shoe means water can only come in over the top or completely soak through with large amounts of water. This is the bit of the job I hate as I am not a good arguer and tend to lose my temper pretty quickly, and always do the "I should have said this" for about an hour afterwards!!!! Oh well , we shall see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cazmat Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 stay calm with him and ask him to show you what or where the problem with his shoe is then then deal with his respose by demonstrating wth a bowl of water that the shoe don't leak during normal use hopefully this will help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 stay calm with him and ask him to show you what or where the problem with his shoe is then then deal with his respose by demonstrating wth a bowl of water that the shoe don't leak during normal use hopefully this will help Thats a great way of proving the point cazmat, I would also mention that Loake them selves do not suggest or guarantee that any off there range are water resistant (that I am aware off!) But above all else remain calm & in control! O' and welcome to the forum cazmat Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 the joys of customer relations.you never know the guy might be reasonable enough but if all else fails nut him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted July 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 the joys of customer relations.you never know the guy might be reasonable enough but if all else fails nut him That's the kind of advice I like \:D/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 =D> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auto Key Wizard Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Sell him some waders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Michael, It may just be the Executive Leather soles at fault, I've stopped using them. I believe they are NOT a good product. I thought they were at first, but after my first batch they went downhill bigtime. I sent them all back, to my reps disapointment. I've been told sinse that the wholesaler has sent or is sending all there latest batch back because of poor quality. On a positive point, at least by sending them back as an independant,it may have made CB take a look into them and send theres back. This will send a message to Wares that we will not except rubbish. I'm NO expert in the tanning of Leather but it appears to me that the mass production of a popular product has led to the demise in the quality of this product. Because at the end of the day the original batch was good......so whats gone wrong!!! maybe someone can tell us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k4mrc Posted July 15, 2008 Report Share Posted July 15, 2008 thanks uk, i acyually thought it was my imagination! there not as dark tanned as before which makes them look as 'normal wares' NOT apremium product were paying for! will be talking to 'the rep' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted July 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2008 But with an ordinary sole thats goodyear welted surely the only way for them to end up wet inside would be for the water to come over the top of the shoe or be soaked up through the sole,middle and insole.This would take a hell of a lot of water over a long period I would Imagine. This is all presuming the repair is of a good standard... I'm just dreading the line "..but they didn't leak before they were repaired..." How do I answer that without ummm or eerrrr!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted July 15, 2008 Report Share Posted July 15, 2008 But with an ordinary sole thats goodyear welted surely the only way for them to end up wet inside would be for the water to come over the top of the shoe or be soaked up through the sole,middle and insole.This would take a hell of a lot of water over a long period I would Imagine. This is all presuming the repair is of a good standard... I'm just dreading the line "..but they didn't leak before they were repaired..." How do I answer that without ummm or eerrrr!! Its far to say that quite possible the customer is telling the truth! offer to put a stick on sole on them which would help, or bite the bullet & offer to replace the soles FOC (remember your reputation) but replace them with a different make, even if it means buying a pack in. with 15 stone pushing the water through them it wouldn't take a lot of water to get wet feet. I always think with problems that after a week you would have forgotten the "extra work or cost" incurred, yet the customer will remember good or bad customer service for a life time. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windycity Posted July 15, 2008 Report Share Posted July 15, 2008 michael lees right just repair them again with normal wares as they ahve not been flexed they might not be so absorbant, as i have been told that flexing soles breaks the the fibres thus can lead to water penertration unless something is added in the tanning process to stop this, i beleive that jr do this. also the man will return to you in the future not the dry cleaner so will not have to do them at trade prcice. just beleive in yourself and use a bit of common sense and treat him how you would expect to be treated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest k@lsb Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 DID YOU PUT BALLS WAX ON THE BOTTOM?????????? also did you replace the complete card lining of the shoe,the bit that the customers foot sits on? point out to him that,the sweat and shapeing and sinking of this insole,ware he has worn the old soles out ,will also contribute to possibly,encouraging water to leak threw to insole,as this is a part of the fullsole,under normal circumstances you would not replace unless customer specially requested as when sent back to a facrory? ps.............we had a customer walk in and tell us ,that shoe repairs were free in haverhill all last week!!!!!!!!!!!!! DONT BELIAVE EVERYTHING A CUSTOMER SAYS ....................do what youre instinks are telling you when speaking to the customer.......there are shop scammers out there in there millions mate..............BE WARNED.............you are not tescos...youre youre own boss.....DONT WORRY...make a decision....take care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted July 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 DID YOU PUT BALLS WAX ON THE BOTTOM?????????? No, I ran out a while ago and cant get it anywhere after the factory fire.Just use Yankee wax neutral although no where near as good. ps.............we had a customer walk in and tell us ,that shoe repairs were free in haverhill all last week!!!!!!!!!!!!! No, it was key cutting.... \:D/ \:D/ BLOODY IDIOTS!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 DID YOU PUT BALLS WAX ON THE BOTTOM?????????? also did you replace the complete card lining of the shoe,the bit that the customers foot sits on? point out to him that,the sweat and shapeing and sinking of this insole,ware he has worn the old soles out ,will also contribute to possibly,encouraging water to leak threw to insole,as this is a part of the fullsole,under normal circumstances you would not replace unless customer specially requested as when sent back to a facrory? ps.............we had a customer walk in and tell us ,that shoe repairs were free in haverhill all last week!!!!!!!!!!!!! DONT BELIAVE EVERYTHING A CUSTOMER SAYS ....................do what youre instinks are telling you when speaking to the customer.......there are shop scammers out there in there millions mate..............BE WARNED.............you are not tescos...youre youre own boss.....DONT WORRY...make a decision....take care What a complete load of crap............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 instinks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 who pissed in your cornflakes planet?everybody has an opinion right or wrong no need to go ott with your opinion if you don't agree then fine but so brutal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 DID YOU PUT BALLS WAX ON THE BOTTOM?????????? if your talking about Glo-Fake its no longer available & would only give a resistance for a couple if not a single wear. If the soles porous, then changing the middling / lining or any other part inside the shoe won't stop the water penetrating. Has to be sole related, or excessive expectations from the customer. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 who pissed in your cornflakes planet?everybody has an opinion right or wrong no need to go ott with your opinion if you don't agree then fine but so brutal Don't talk so wet Dek...Brutal my ass, and it was a load of crap anyway lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 First port of call for leaking Loakes welted is the Welts themselves. Goodyear Welted footwear are not intended to be waterproof, Storm Welting helps but that itself is not waterproof. A good tip that I used to use in these circumstances was to cut the sole stitches and inset a layer of clingfilm or Tesco type carrier bag up to the edge of the Welt, then restick-em and re-stitch em, no water will penetrate. To seel the welts use a syringe with adhesive in to run a very fine bead into the welts and brush hard on the finisher brush before it sets. As for quality of the Leather try this bit of advice, Get your best quality Leather sole, (not JR though as it does not work with these). Weight the sole. Soak in cold water for 30 mins. Wipe off the excess water. Now weigh the sole and record it. Leave the sole to dry away from heated area for 6 hours. Now weigh the sole again. You will now have 2 recordings of 1.. water absorption rate 2...amount of water retention. You can now do the same test for any leather soles you purchase and compare. Look for the least amount of water absorbed and the fastest drying rate. Poor quality leather will absorb more water and retain it for a longer period. This will not work with prefinished or bonded leathers as these are pre-treated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auto Key Wizard Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 inset a layer of clingfilm or Tesco type carrier bag up to the edge of the Welt, then restick-em and re-stitch em, no water will penetrate. ...and no perspiration will get out either... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 inset a layer of clingfilm or Tesco type carrier bag up to the edge of the Welt, then restick-em and re-stitch em, no water will penetrate. ...and no perspiration will get out either... Oh yes it will.... through the Uppers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 A welted quality shoe in my view should be fairly waterproof (showerproof) But heavy rain and walking through puddles for longer periods of time will allow water in. Regular polishing with a good polish will improve them but they will never be watertight. I think the Topic is really about freshly repaired leather soles leaking/aborbing water, which is not good. This is why you need to buy quality products. If they don't come up to standard then send them back. A similar thing has been said about key blanks, you can buy cheap alternatives.....But be prepared for the problems that the cheap products bring, breaking, twisting wrong profiles etc. Thats why I buy from a quality English key blank supplier (Davenport Burgess) And if these Leathers come up to scratch from an English Tannery, I'll be using them aswell.......... You know it makes sence......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 I never have & never will be stitching a "tesco" type carrier bag into my repairs! Dear O Dear, Me not agreeing with this suggestion. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted July 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 I never have & never will be stitching a "tesco" type carrier bag into my repairs! Dear O Dear, Me not agreeing with this suggestion. Lee Sainsbury's fair enough \:D/ ..but Tesco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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