Disappointing Quality Control and Customer Service - Two Defective Pairs in a Row
Disappointing Quality Control and Customer Service - Two Defective Pairs in a Row
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
I wanted to love these shoes - the style and craftsmanship concept are exactly what I was looking for in handmade Italian dress shoes. Unfortunately, my experience has been deeply frustrating.
First Pair: Visible separation defect at the vamp where lacing begins on the right shoe. After providing photos and follow-up, the company agreed to exchange them.
Second Pair: Even worse quality issues:
- Right shoe heel completely lacks a burnished finish - looks like two entirely different shoes from behind
- Noticeable streaking in the toe burnish
- Damaged, ripped box held together with tape
- Missing all standard packaging materials (wrapping, shoe stuffing, cardboard separators, and shoe-shine towel)
- Strong indication this was a previously returned pair.
Customer Service:
The customer service representative was genuinely helpful and responsive once we connected. They were professional, empathetic, and efficient in processing the first exchange, even upgrading the shipping. However, getting initial responses consistently required multiple follow-up emails and voicemails from me. Most concerning: after documenting the second pair's extensive defects with photos and following up immediately upon receiving the shoes, I still haven't received any response - a stark departure from their earlier helpfulness.
Bottom Line: The quality control is unacceptable for "luxury" handmade shoes at this price point. Receiving two consecutive defective pairs suggests systemic problems. While the representative provided good service during the first exchange, the complete silence following the second defective pair, and the strong appearance that I was sent a previously returned item, raises serious concerns about this company's standards and practices.
I genuinely wanted these shoes to work out, but I cannot recommend this company until they address their quality-control and customer-service consistency issues.
26 December 2025
Unprompted review