MooShoes — Local services in New York

So glad this place exists! I've scoured the Earth, traveling to the four corners of Mordor just to find a pair that didn't involve killing a cow. And here we have heaps of them.

They've got a range of options, from dress shoes to boots to a few more casual (but still classy) pairs. Their selection for men is pretty extensive. They've also got some accessories, like belts, handbags, backpacks, and thin wallets. I picked up a Baggu shoulder bag. Faux leather belts are incredibly hard to find, so I'm glad they have them, although the one I looked at was $75.

I got dress shoes that look quite elegant. Many of the dress shoes for men are tacky, with blocky toes and rims on the bottom. Also, some warp strangely when you try them on (poorly designed, I think, or perhaps the material doesn't bend well).

The product is very, very expensive. Around $110 to $170 (a few pairs farther out, like $65 and $260). I'm willing to eat the cost because having responsibly-sourced shoes is more important than me, but this will be a non-starter for many. I'd love if someone manufactured non-leather shoes (they are plastic, after all) and sold them at mass market places. Vegetarianism shouldn't be the exclusive domain of the wealthy.

They also have limited sizes of some pairs. You can get added to a waiting list if they don't have your size. Most of the shoes are imported from Europe, so they use European sizes. The staff can help you out. I got a size lower than was recommended (I'm a US 12 / EU 45, but EU 44 fit more snugly).

Staff are rather icy at first, but I bonded with the cashier over T-Swift. They've also got a cute cat roaming around, although it sticks to itself. I wanted to pet it!

Giving this extra stars because they're doing something so important. I'm so...

I'm a big fan of the products offered by Mooshoes and have made a point of buying my last couple pairs of boots from their store. Unfortunately, I've learned that their customer service leaves something to be desired.

Last year I bought a pair of Vegetarian Shoes brand boots, which turned out to have defective toe seams. I wrote to Mooshoes... twice... and provided photos and details. Eventually I heard back from someone named Lisa who said that they were contacting the manufacturer and would "let [me] know as soon as we hear back." Well, that was the last time I ever heard from anyone at Mooshoes. After two months of silent treatment and multiple requests for an update, I gave up.

I'm incredibly disappointed because I loved this store. But I won't be buying another pair of shoes from a business that can't be bothered to follow up with me, let alone replace the defective product...

This is written as a review of their website and the attempt at purchasing a gift card online. I've never set foot inside their retail store, but their attempt at ecommerce is a complete fail. Despite three separate attempts, they seem completely incapable of emailing out an electronic gift card.

First, I filled out the info online and it said it would email the gift card to my brother. When he said he didn't receive it, I phoned their friendly customer service rep who apologized and said they'd resend to both his email address and mine. No dice. I then contacted them again, another friendly rep said they'd cancel the first card and set up an entire new transaction and email the gift card and confirm to our respective email accounts. Another promise unfulfilled.

If I were you, stick to the...