Thoughts on these Longwings?

[bjmcgeever]

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Anyway, I understand that you've got to try to do damage control here and save face for your brand. That's fine; I think my evidence in the post above speaks for itself even with you deleting the authors to try and hide the truth. You can say whatever you want to act like you had nothing to do with the posts on reddit, but I'm convinced you were behind all that. I'll never buy from you and I will recommend against you to others whenever possible. It's all too easy to take advantage of the trusting posters who want legitimate unbiased advice on communities like Dappered and reddit. I'm taking a stand against companies like yours who are out to make a buck even if it means sacrificing your company's integrity and the integrity of the community in the process.

This is not a place to personally attack other members, no matter what they've allegedly done. Please refrain from doing so in the future.

[LesserBlackDog]

That is fine; however, I think I speak for many here when I say I don't want to see any thread, including this one, turn into a mere fight. A thread that impugns on someone's integrity or honesty, however accurate, has the potential to quickly spiral into a mere flame war. If that looks like it is likely, I or another moderator may be compelled to close the thread. Honesty is no virtue if it is untempered by civility.

[nicholas]

I'll never buy from you and I will recommend against you to others whenever possible. It's all too easy to take advantage of the trusting posters who want legitimate unbiased advice on communities like Dappered and reddit. I'm taking a stand against companies like yours who are out to make a buck even if it means sacrificing your company's integrity and the integrity of the community in the process.

As previously mentioned, I'm here to answer questions (I already provided one about the insoles). In our previous interaction I invited you to test any of our Goodyear Welted shoes completely free so you could provide the community with a trusted and accurate opinion. I hoped you could provide your own personal opinion and advice, but I wonder why you didn't respond to that? Maybe you are affiliated with another footwear company? Who knows? But I'm no one to question your decision, and frankly, we are totally fine with that. I simply believe that you've got to check a product properties live before you publicly discourage people to at least try it. Particularly if you are the one talking about legitimate unbiased advice.

I will forward the Reddit case within my team and have Legal take a look on it. Our promotion strategy goes towards Blogs and Magazines, but once again not even a large company can't control what promoters do to gain referral credits.

Once again, with all due respect I publicly invite you to accept our proposal of testing one of our products, it would cost you nothing. I understand your personal preferences towards brands, I also admire what Allen Edmonds or Alden do, but I think the community will appreciate your legitimate feedback. Particularly because that's the reason/question this thread started and also because that's what I think would provide the unbiassed opinions and feedback you strongly defend.

Just in case "AJG Esq" don't accept, is anybody else up for a test run? If so, please let me know in this thread. Thanks!

Nicholas.

[jackbauer24]

here's a review of their shoes:

http://putthison.com/post/6027506522...s-im-genuinely

[Johdus]

Hope I elaborated enough above. My statement may be "harmful and destructive" but it's only that way because of your actions.

My issue with you has nothing to do with referrals. Your posts were blatant attempts by your company to drum up business by pretending to be independent customers offering unbiased opinions.

Anyway, I understand that you've got to try to do damage control here and save face for your brand. That's fine; I think my evidence in the post above speaks for itself even with you deleting the authors to try and hide the truth. You can say whatever you want to act like you had nothing to do with the posts on reddit, but I'm convinced you were behind all that. I'll never buy from you and I will recommend against you to others whenever possible. It's all too easy to take advantage of the trusting posters who want legitimate unbiased advice on communities like Dappered and reddit. I'm taking a stand against companies like yours who are out to make a buck even if it means sacrificing your company's integrity and the integrity of the community in the process.

Oh brother......

Thanks for looking out for us poor, simple-minded sheep.

[Welsh Wizard]

Nicholas, I would be interested in doing a "test run" and providing a review. Just let me know if you want to, thanks!

[Vicious49]

Just in case "AJG Esq" don't accept, is anybody else up for a test run? If so, please let me know in this thread. Thanks!

Nicholas.

Sure, why not. I am always trying out new shoes anyways. Plus I've been around long enough for everyone to know it's not a shill account. As long as you know that I will be honest about the shoes, be it good or bad.

I know nothing about BS besides what I've read on the dappered main site and the forums here. At this price point, I expect them to be about on par with Banana Republic shoes. That is my baseline for BS shoes going in. I obviously can't expect them to compete with AE level and above. But they should be able to compete with BR shoes otherwise I'd suggest skipping them and waiting for a BR sale.

[LosRockets]

Sure, why not. I am always trying out new shoes anyways. Plus I've been around long enough for everyone to know it's not a shill account. As long as you know that I will be honest about the shoes, be it good or bad. I do realize going in that at this price point, I expect them to be about on par with Banana Republic shoes. That is my baseline for BS shoes going in. I obviously can't expect them to compete with AE level and above. But they should be able to compete with BR shoes otherwise I'd suggest skipping them and waiting for a BR sale.

I'm totally in support of Vicious giving these shoes a test run. I'm not a fan of how BS shoes look in the least, but I'm also really sick of the back and forth on this brand. I know this won't settle things but he's got a wide range of shoes and so I trust his input.

[nicholas]

Sure, why not. I am always trying out new shoes anyways. Plus I've been around long enough for everyone to know it's not a shill account. As long as you know that I will be honest about the shoes, be it good or bad. I do realize going in that at this price point, I expect them to be about on par with Banana Republic shoes. That is my baseline for BS shoes going in. I obviously can't expect them to compete with AE level and above. But they should be able to compete with BR shoes otherwise I'd suggest skipping them and waiting for a BR sale.

Excellent, I just responded your private message with my e-mail.

[drocpsu]

I'm totally in support of Vicious giving these shoes a test run. I'm not a fan of how BS shoes look in the least, but I'm also really sick of the back and forth on this brand. I know this won't settle things but he's got a wide range of shoes and so I trust his input.

I agree with this. He has done good reviews of different shoes in the past as well. If you're looking for more than 1 person to do a review, I'd be interested as well. While I dont have the vast shoe experience that Vicious does, I have a pair of AE Strands that I could compare them with. While I'm not crazy about the look of all of your models, if they are nice quality, something like the black oxfords could be a decent, more affordable option to something like the Fifth Avenues for someone who's not looking to spend in the high $200/low $300s for a pair of shoes. I'm intrigued.

Nicholas, with the Goodyear welted shoes, will your company be providing any options for shoe servicing (resoles, etc) as well?

[Vicious49]

I'm totally in support of Vicious giving these shoes a test run. I'm not a fan of how BS shoes look in the least, but I'm also really sick of the back and forth on this brand. I know this won't settle things but he's got a wide range of shoes and so I trust his input.

This is the first time I've visited their site and to be honest, there's not too much there That would appeal to me. The shapes on most of the shoes are eh. Looking at size 9, the only ones that I think look decent are the Bailey chukka boot in British Tan. I'm not sure if ill be given a choice to choose the shoe I want to test, but if I am, is that fine or would you guys like to see something else?

Excellent, I just responded your private message with my e-mail.

I'll send out the email by tomorrow morning if that's ok. It's easier to type when I'm not on my iPad. Looking at your site, I do notice that there's no pics of the bottom of the shoes. I personally like seeing the sole when purchasing shoes so maybe that's something you can add in the future,

[ChrisRasco]

Looking at your site, I do notice that there's no pics of the bottom of the shoes. I personally like seeing the sole when purchasing shoes so maybe that's something you can add in the future,

Agreed. Sole and insole are 2 things I definitely check out before considering a shoe.

[nicholas]

Agreed. Sole and insole are 2 things I definitely check out before considering a shoe.

Totally, we will include that soon. Thank you for the feedback!

[nicholas]

Nicholas, with the Goodyear welted shoes, will your company be providing any options for shoe servicing (resoles, etc) as well?

We are still debating this internally. We may do that but not in-house, we will probably partner with a third-party for that service. But nothing is sure yet, we are at a very early stage on that front. What we have next on schedule is shoe care products (cedar shoe trees, conditioners, etc.) Thanks!

[LosRockets]

We are still debating this internally. We may do that but not in-house, we will probably partner with a third-party for that service. But nothing is sure yet, we are at a very early stage on that front. What we have next on schedule is shoe care products (cedar shoe trees, conditioners, etc.) Thanks!

^ I really don't know if that's a smart decision. Most people buy their shoe trees absurdly cheap at Jos A Bank or Nordstrom Rack, and at the low end, Allen Edmonds sells their shoe care products in the sub-$10 range and they come pretty well-reviewed, and these products also often go on sale (and on the high end, well, your shoes aren't competing with C&J/Alfred Sargent/and above so I'm pretty sure your creams aren't competing w/ Saphir). Obviously I have no idea how your sales are doing and if your customers are asking for shoe care products, but if they're young men starting to care about how they look they are probably using sites like this and/or Reddit and will see sales for JAB/AE shoe care products advertised regularly. Maybe you can come out with a better set of care products at a price comparable to Allen Edmonds, but I don't know how successful you'll be in selling these because frankly the leathers y'all use are not the highest quality and so people will assume the conditioners aren't the greatest either. But again, you may be doing brisk business with a customer base you've developed and might have high margins on these products and in that case it could be a win for your company.