Do you have your rental agreement? I threw it away.

January 9, 2011 2:15 PM

Ugh, I kept a pair of boots too long and now I can't return them. They're fine boots, but need some tailoring, I suppose. Can this be done in Chicago?

Well, hellfire. I'd planned to return my order of these Columbia Winter Transit Tall boots from 6pm.com, but it turns out that unlike their parent company, Zappos, you only have 30 days to return orders.

I don't hate the boots, they just didn't fit my calves. What can I do to get them stretched or altered and where can it be done in Chicago?

posted by santojulieta to Shopping (12 answers total)

If you don't like them, another option would be to resell them on ebay. Even though you wouldn't get all of your money back, you might get a lot of it back. Looks like the boots were just over $100, and this recent listing ended for $84.99.

obviously minus ebay and paypal fees, which often account to 10% or more
posted by arnicae at 2:23 PM on January 9, 2011

Take them to any decent shoe repair shop and ask what can be done. Leather stretching isn't terribly complicated, so if they can be stretched or tailored, the staff there will know. If they're too big, they can be taken in. If they're too small, they can likely either be stretched, or if they're much too small, a spandex panel can be added to give you some more space.
posted by decathecting at 2:28 PM on January 9, 2011

Can you email Columbia and explain it to them? Maybe they can help you somehow.
posted by anniecat at 2:45 PM on January 9, 2011

Take them to the shoe repair guy on N. Dearborn between Elm and Maple just south of Division next to 1122. He is a miracle worker.
posted by mbx at 3:17 PM on January 9, 2011

Have you contacted 6pm to ask for an exception?
posted by bluedaisy at 3:36 PM on January 9, 2011

Ask the guy to add a gusset. They're cute!
posted by thinkpiece at 4:34 PM on January 9, 2011

I was able to return something to 6pm.com one time three months after I bought it. I used their contact form to get in touch and ask for an exception. They said "just this once" and let me return the shoes-- might be worth a try.
posted by bonheur at 5:10 PM on January 9, 2011

Like thinkpiece says, it should be pretty easy for a good shoe repair person to add an elastic gusset to them. Those are really cute boots!
posted by apricot at 5:51 PM on January 9, 2011

If you contact them and ask for an exception, perhaps offer to take a store credit vs. a refund.
posted by sundrop at 6:00 PM on January 9, 2011

For gusseting, stretching, altering, etc., how much would that run, if you had to guess. I know YANACobbler.
posted by santojulieta at 6:44 PM on January 9, 2011

I had a pair of boot calves made narrower and it was $60.
posted by 8dot3 at 8:16 AM on January 10, 2011

FYI: I emailed 6PM.com and they let me return the boots outside of the return window "just this once."
posted by santojulieta at 9:08 AM on April 10, 2011