Cobbler/shoe repair recommendation in Vancouver, BC?
June 1, 2012 12:58 PM Subscribe
Cobbler/shoe repair recommendation in Vancouver, BC?
Feeling a bit overwhelmed on where to take higher end shoes for service... I've been told Quick Cobbler (looks to be very popular) by Gravity Pope, but one glance at the Yelp reviews (both very great, and very awful) and I'm not convinced. Can anyone recommend a personal favourite who they trust and love?
Feeling a bit overwhelmed on where to take higher end shoes for service... I've been told Quick Cobbler (looks to be very popular) by Gravity Pope, but one glance at the Yelp reviews (both very great, and very awful) and I'm not convinced. Can anyone recommend a personal favourite who they trust and love?
Here's the thing about The Quick Cobbler: the Nijdams (father & son owners) are true Dutchmen, for both better and worse. I say this as someone very familiar with Dutch culture, having lived in The Netherlands for many years -- a country in which many a foreigner has said that the concept of "customer service" doesn't exist.
They're very competent. They know their stuff. If anyone can do a good job of the actual repair, it's them. I've had them fix many pairs of shoes for me.
They're also very arrogant guys. They don't believe in the North American philosophy that "the customer is always right". If the shoes are beyond repair or the job ending up being more trouble than it's worth, they'll tell you very bluntly. If you have a disagreement or complaint about something, they won't bend over backwards to accommodate you...in fact they can be downright rude. I've twice personally witnessed them telling customers to "fuck off"...though in both cases I thought the customers were throwing self-entitled tantrums and deserved to be shown the door. I imagine that on the rare occasion that they make real mistakes, they are too proud to admit it / rectify it...but they seem like the kind of guys who know they're usually right and not afraid to tell you that.
I would recommend you go there if you have a thick skin and the job done right. If you want to be treated with deference, fake-friendliness and unconditional accommodation as is the norm in most retail joints these days, go somewhere else.
posted by wutangclan at 2:18 PM on June 1, 2012
They're very competent. They know their stuff. If anyone can do a good job of the actual repair, it's them. I've had them fix many pairs of shoes for me.
They're also very arrogant guys. They don't believe in the North American philosophy that "the customer is always right". If the shoes are beyond repair or the job ending up being more trouble than it's worth, they'll tell you very bluntly. If you have a disagreement or complaint about something, they won't bend over backwards to accommodate you...in fact they can be downright rude. I've twice personally witnessed them telling customers to "fuck off"...though in both cases I thought the customers were throwing self-entitled tantrums and deserved to be shown the door. I imagine that on the rare occasion that they make real mistakes, they are too proud to admit it / rectify it...but they seem like the kind of guys who know they're usually right and not afraid to tell you that.
I would recommend you go there if you have a thick skin and the job done right. If you want to be treated with deference, fake-friendliness and unconditional accommodation as is the norm in most retail joints these days, go somewhere else.
posted by wutangclan at 2:18 PM on June 1, 2012
I recommend Nika in gastown (abbot at water street). They will treat your shoes right! And the owners are very nice people.
posted by platebowl at 8:49 PM on June 1, 2012
posted by platebowl at 8:49 PM on June 1, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks for the recommendations so far!
wutangclan - It's interesting to get your personal take on the customer service complaints I'd read. With these reviews, I'm never sure if it's actually the customer that is being a diva. Anyway, it's good to have reassurance the skill and quality of work is there, in spite of the arrogance. I'm not the type to need someone to kiss my butt at all, but I'd prefer not to have my head ripped off if there is the chance they make a mistake or if I have a question about the work. If you say it's rare though, then that shouldn't be an issue.
posted by branparsons at 10:41 PM on June 1, 2012
wutangclan - It's interesting to get your personal take on the customer service complaints I'd read. With these reviews, I'm never sure if it's actually the customer that is being a diva. Anyway, it's good to have reassurance the skill and quality of work is there, in spite of the arrogance. I'm not the type to need someone to kiss my butt at all, but I'd prefer not to have my head ripped off if there is the chance they make a mistake or if I have a question about the work. If you say it's rare though, then that shouldn't be an issue.
posted by branparsons at 10:41 PM on June 1, 2012
I usually go to quick cobbler, and can confirm that they aren't always very friendly (depends whom you talk to). I haven't always been satisfied with their repairs either; once I needed them to re-do some stitching that they had restitched (they did this for free), and sometimes they will ignore obvious problems without saying anything. I get the impression that there are a lot of interchangeable elves in the back room. I think I will check out some of the other suggestions from this thread.
posted by blue grama at 1:20 PM on June 3, 2012
posted by blue grama at 1:20 PM on June 3, 2012
Response by poster: Good to know, blue grama... Both Feet on Main is close to me so I'll probably try them.
posted by branparsons at 1:58 PM on June 5, 2012
posted by branparsons at 1:58 PM on June 5, 2012
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posted by miles1972 at 1:04 PM on June 1, 2012