Allen Edmonds — Local services in New York

Rude!

My first time experience was not bad at all. The salesman there (think his name was Todd) helped me pick up out a belt as a gift for my husband. The one they had in stock was flawed so he offered to order me a new one. About a week later he called me to pick up. When I asked about gift wrap while in store, he said certainly. My positive experience ended there, and the two stars are both for him. (Would give 5 for him alone)

Today when I walked in for pick up, a different salesman was there. He handed me my order and started to help another customer who walked in after me. The belt was sitting in a ziplock bag, and I wanted it to be gift wrapped, so I stood there waiting for him to finish helping the other customer first. Seeing me standing there, apparently wanting something from him, the salesman decided to pull up the sales history of the other customer, discovered they were both from Texas, and excitedly started to exchange their home address and recommended a local salesman in Texas. For the record, the other customer was only there to grab a replacement shoestring.

Finally the other customer left, I asked for gift wrapping. Very reluctantly, he took over the belt, ripped some tag off, and rolled it in a thin white wrinkly tissue paper, and asked me if that was enough. I politely asked if there was a box, he said he was only at the job for three months and don’t know where they are. I really didn’t want to take that ugly wrap home, and pushed harder, finally he said he could call someone and ask, but very unwilling. I had to say please again before he picked up the phone. The box was not hard to find. It was in a lower shelf in front of him. He threw that tissue paper in the awkwardly large box and said was it enough. I didn’t dare to bother him further, asked for a bigger shopping bag that would fit the box, and left. It was a terrible shopping experience. If it was not for my husband, who liked their shoes and wanted a matching belt, I would return my stuff on the spot and never walk in to their store again. I’ve shopped a wide range of stores, this is the only place that made me disgusted their product by “gift wrapping”. Maybe, this gift would cure my husband’s fondness...

although they try to be helpful, they seem really disconnected with reality. For example, the rep told me that he could order two size (of a shoe I was hoping to purchase) for me and that way I would not have to go back and forth on purchases and returns. Needless to say, it was a shallow promise. A week later, there was no shoe. In addition, the rep informed me that because they had not charged me they would actually come by ground shipping. Whereas to and fro returns are free if I just ordered on the website. I believe their shoes are great, but now I have had issues with two of their three stores in NYC. So I guess, online is the best way for me to get new shoes. I highly recommend the products; BUT...

Was in the area and decided to stop in to buy some cedar shoe trees, heel dressing, and carnauba wax for the multiple pairs of AE's that I own. When I walked in the associates were busy helping customers. I was patiently waiting to be helped when another customer walked in the store who was wearing work clothes (I was wearing a pair of joggers and a t-shirt). The store associates immediately went to help him and I had to wait even longer. When I was finally helped, they were shocked when I told them the items that I needed. I guess they didn't expect someone like me to be buying shoe care...