Did a bad job shortening a Feragamo Italian leather belt. Didn't even bother to use the right thread color (black)... I kept my mouth shut because at one glance I knew there was no point in coming back. I brought in a pair of Goodyear welt John fluvog for a full resole, they did a poor glue job direct to the original sole instead of doing a proper Goodyear welt resole. It would have been fine if they had discussed the options. The shoes I can forgive because it's recoverable, the belt is unforgivable because this should have been simple and instead they left me with something that hurts me to look at. read more

See all

Got three pairs of shoes resoled along with a zipper replaced on the pair of boots. WOW. They all look like new and for significantly less than the cost of replacing. Will absolutely be a return customer. read more

I decided to try this place at least twice before rating it as in the past shoe repair places are hit and miss with quality. This place gets a 5 star as it has done consistent quality work. My first visit was to have my dress shoes re-soled and amazing work with new leather soles (not rubber) and cleaned and shined to boot! The second was just some new soles on my boots and again amazing work with a polish included! I will be back read more

1. Never open during posted business hrs. 2. 4 out of 6 times I've ugone there for basic repairs or modifications he told me he wasn't 'ABLE' to perform the work. 3. The 2 out of 6 times he could do the work (replacing heel tips), the price was outrageously jacked up compared to cobblers in silicon valley. 4. Unprofessional, Unqualified, unreliable & over priced. read more

Love this shop. Just took a pair of Jordan 3 Backflips in to have the soles re-attached. Pricing was great. Could not be happier with this shop. We have had fantastic service in the past as well. Five stars EZ. read more

I needed to have a new hook put on my son's boot for camp. Problem was I forgot to get it done earlier, so it was an emergency. Able shoe repair to the rescue! Friendly, prompt service. Done on time and right the first time, what more can you ask for? read more

I purchased 3 pairs of sandals that originally cost $90 each. The company I bought them from is now using cheap methods to produce them. The strap between the toes breaks in a month or so. My first pair lasted 3 years. I brought them in to get the straps secured to the soles so that I can wear them for years. I explained that the strap needs to be shorter and showed him how long I wanted them. Each pair cost $60 to repair. Yikes. I paid the money in advance and he gave me a date to pick them up. I called ahead just in case they weren't ready...and they weren't. He said they'd be done by Saturday. I picked them up and noticed the straps were very long. Ugh. One of the pairs wasn't even done yet. He needed to know what color I wanted the strap to be. I had told him 2 weeks prior when I dropped the shoes for repair. He didn't listen to me. So, I had to wait another two weeks to get them. Two trips to Scotts Valley. So now that the straps are secured to the soles, I will cut, shorten and sew them together myself. I had to purchase large leather sewing needles, thread, and some leather adhesive. I will never use Able again. I'll go to cobbler school and learn to do it myself before I take any shoes back to Able Shoe Repair. I'm beyond disappointed. read more

I have used Able shoe repair for 20 plus years. I moved and his services are so good that I still remain a customer. Very talented and kind, kind man. He recently was forced to move his business and the new address didn't show up on my Google Map directions. Able shoes is now in the Nob Hill Shopping Center in Scott's Valley next to the key repair near Wells Fargo. read more

I have been searching for quality local shoe repair for quite some time. I have problem feet so need expensive shoes and as a result have a nice collection of shoes that need to be repaired from time to time. I am so happy to have found this place! The owner is not only experienced with all types of shoe repair but also has a wonderful enthusiasm, and happy energy. Guaranteed to leave his place of business with a smile on your face. read more

He does a great job and is very honest. I'm so glad that he didn't close shop but just moved to the King's Village shopping center.

The service is good and on the less expensive side, on the other hand his language barrier is quite severe and he didn't take or leave calls as to when my shoes would be done. And the hours he's open are a bit interesting. I'm impressed with the workmanship and the price but the customer service can use some work read more

Able Shoe Repair - Shoe Repair Near Me - Scotts Valley, California

See all

Excellent, reliable service. The shop owner did a great job of turning a pair of vintage bowling shoes from the 60s that I thrifted into a pair of outdoor walking shoes thanks to some great rubber sole fitting. His work was clean and precise and exactly what I wanted, nothing more, nothing less. He is extremely kind and quick too. He charges before he works to ensure that you actually come to pick them up rather than just abandoning them there after he put in his hours to fix them up, and I was perfectly happy to pay beforehand. I am shocked by the handful of reviews calling him "overly friendly." He is indeed very energetic and a little eccentric, but only in the best way. I suppose people would prefer an angry old pout to work on their shoes, but I personally found him to be very welcoming, and he did a great job and charged a fair price! Thank you! read more

My shoes are both back in action and the cobbler is just the best person i have ever met. He fixed one pair in 5 min and they are completely fixed! I love supporting a business like this and will be a lifelong customer. The prices are FAIR, i mean you have to consider time and effort and making a living and how this all fits together in this business. All in all I am extremely impressed and grateful to have this local business in my town. Thank you! read more

Super friendly, love talking with him. He does what he does pretty well and his prices are low. However, the language barrier has lead to my shoes being worked on incorrectly a few times and when I went to pick them up, I had to explain and show pictures of what I originally asked for. I'll be much, much more prepared to show what I need next time. However, now I will have to fill nail holes in my outsole and midsole by myself. Also, I did not get notified of a hardware change that was decided by himself. The chosen hardware by me would be flush mounted fasteners, because it's the bottom of the shoe. He went with sharp, protruding nails that would scratch up any floor I walked on. read more

fixed my zipper. would have been nice to know he was moving when i dropped off. He now has a good sign on old building showing new location. read more

The overly friendly owner does poor work and is unreliable. I brought five pairs of shoes here for repair. I returned to pick them up a week after the day quoted and found them closed early. The next time I returned, he said they weren't ready because he's still waiting for parts (which was what he told another frustrated customer when I was dropping them off). So I finally retrieved them, got home and looked more closely only to find very poor workmanship and the uppers are already separating from the lower/soles. These are expensive, quality leather shoes and he basically did a hack job with as little work as possible. Overpriced to boot. Pun intended. read more

I brought a suede slipper here to repair-the suede upper-which completely covered both the top and the bottom of the foot-had separated from the rubber bottom. It just needed to be glued. This repair shop told me it would cost $25. I said that was too much and the man told me that he had to order the glue. I found some glue on amazon for $4.00. Just buyer beware- read more

Able Shoe Repair - $25 just to glue this shoe together. - Shoe Repair Near Me - Scotts Valley, California

I was pretty nervous and apprehensive but I brought in my Mark Nason italian boots that I totally love. Mr. Lim put on new wooden heals and resoled both boots. They look awesome and like totally brand new. The color of the heal matches perfectly and the grain looks just like new. I am very satisfied with the workmanship and am glad to have my boots back, I brought them in on a Monday morning and they were done by Wednesday afternoon. I will be bringing more of my hard to find rare boots back to him to be resoled or have new heals done. Great Job! read more

I have had really good experiences with this shoe repair. I've dropped off multiple pairs of heels, and recently some boots, all of which they made look like new again. So nice to have someone that can bring my shoes back to life again! He is pretty flexible as far as when you need them back, but plan on about a week for things like boots that take more work. The man who works there is very nice and polite, and will take great care of your zapatos! read more

Probably one of the most intense and fun experiences I've had in a while. I took a pair of Lucchese cowboy boots in for new heels and soles. $72 up front and ready in a week. I came back, the quality of the replacement soles was top notch (Italian) and the boots looked like new (polished and shined). I think Mr. Lim's enthusiasm is cultural (I was in a rush or I'd have stayed to talk with him for a few minutes), but I will absolutely take any shoes there for repairs in the future. read more

Very friendly, animated gentleman and great service. This fellow saved me on a recent trip... fixing a detached heel on my boots. And he cleaned them up for me! Reasonable prices. read more

I came in with a special request to put a heel wedge into one of my flip flops. Three days later I picked them up. Price was very reasonable. They held up great so far. I'm happy about the work and the friendly customer service. read more

I took a leather computer bag in for repair. The shoulder strap had ripped from the main body of the bag. Not only did the owner re-attach the strap to the bag, but he double stitched it and double stitched the other side also. The repair made the strap to bag better then the original designer created it. I am more than pleased. This is a business that goes above and beyond. read more

This place is great! The owner is friendly and professional. I've taken my boots and leather jacket for repair. Each time I was completely satisfied with the workmanship and customer service. read more

I never have had to write a negative review for any business up until today. STAY AWAY from this shoe repair shop in Scotts Valley! I was charged $25 (and had to pay in advance) to repair a very simple metal ring on my wristlet purse. When I first went in, he quoted me $30 to repair it so I started to walk out. Then he called me back in to tell me it would be $25 and he would have to replace the zipper as well. Well, when I came in today (1 week later) to discover my wristlet was not repaired as promised. He told me he needed to order the metal ring and that I would have to return next week. Not true! I returned later in the day requesting my $25 back and my non-repaired wristlet. He just handed it to me and said he had found a metal ring and had repaired it. Obviously, he had NOT replaced the zipper. I will NEVER return to this shop. OVERPRICED for all services and you must PAY IN ADVANCE. Extremely difficult to communicate with him due to his limited language skills. I will find a new shoe repair shop elsewhere even if it means driving a short distance. read more

Brought in a black pair of combat boots that had been sitting on the porch for a few months. Not really that dirty just wanted them cleaned. He asked for payment in advance $25.00 which I thought was kind of extreme but whatever. Picked up the boots and when I got them home noticed that they still had dirt inside. I thought well maybe it wouldn't come off. I licked my finger and wiped it right off. I then undid the laces and saw that they didn't clean any of that area. Only way I can describe it is they wiped the outside off and that was the end of it. I don't care how overly friendly you are. When I pay for a service I expect it to be done correct. I would not suggest this place unfortunately. Extremely disappointed. read more

Horrible. I bought in a pair of shoes to get some rubber put on the heels to slow down the wear. I was very specific with what I wanted. The shoes were in good shape and I just wanted to prevent problems. Instead of adding rubber, the man chopped off the heel and added a big, bulky piece of rubber that stretched out wider than the shoe! It totally changed the look and feel of the shoe shifting my heel in a weird direction making the shoes unwearable! The repair looked sloppy with black stuff creeping up the side of the shoe too. These were my favorite shoes and fine before this with only minor wear. I fear they are ruined and I hope another shoe repair can fix the damage. I can't believe he totally removed the heel! Don't go here for even for something simple. I've had this addition done to shoes at several other shoe repair places and NEVER had this happen. Horrible Horrible Horrible. :( Friendliness does not equal good work. He also charged up front twice as much as any other repair place. read more

Brought a pair of John Fluevog platforms here which were in desperate need of repair. The bald headed Asian man behind the counter said he would try but could not guarantee that they could be fixed but he would try his best. A week later I came back: the bald headed Asian man was honest and said that he tried but could not fix my beloved shoes and did not charge me. Honesty these days is a rare virtue. read more

Able's is way way WAY over priced, slow as hell too, but they do a really great job! I had a pair of shoes completely refurbished there and I was really impressed with the outcome. I've had some boots repaired there too. Minor issues like sewing a zipper, and replacing those heel thingies. Always slow and overpriced...but it all works out in the end. I think in the future I will travel over to the valley though. Cash only place - kind of shady. read more

I was told that it would take a week to dye and repair my shoes. I showed up (after driving across town) on the day he told me to come in and was told that they were not ready because a delivery had not occurred. He said to come back 4 days later. I showed up during business hours and he was not there. Continued: I just picked up my shoes. The dye is all over the shoes not just the parts that were supposed to be dyed. I hesitate to even wear them. Sad result, especially given what I paid. I will not be going back. read more

I brought in a gray boot . The friendly man said he could repair the boot , gave me the price and asked for payment in advance ..I could not pay in advance because I didnt have cash. Picked up my boot a week later and was unhappy to see it repaired with a noticeably different colored material that does not match the boot at all. The man did not make me pay. When I tried the boot on at home the stiff material and the thread had not been trimmed on the inside which makes the boot uncomfortable and unwearable. As I examined the repair more I noticed my boot had a been cut! Sloppy work, my boots are ruined. This place does not deserve the tip I left but does deserve this negative review! read more

I needed the heels in a nice pair of pumps fixed & they were done in a timely fashion. The work is solid & for $15 it was worth saving a nice pair of shoes. I'll be going back soon for a purse repair read more

I'm sorry that I can't agree with the experiences of others. A good shoe repair store is so important. I brought in 4 pairs of shoes for minor to major work. One pair was a $200 pair of Ecco's that needed restiching. The price for the 4 pair repair was nearly $200 and the Ecco's were not right. I returned them for another attempt. Still not right. The stitching was not even tied off and it fell apart in 2 days. A third time return has left me completely frustrated. Way too expensive and very poor quality. When I tried to talk with the owner, I just got the very strange impression that something was not completely right. I won't be returning. read more

I'm giving this place 5 stars because so far he (sorry don't know his name) has done a GREAT job on everything I've brought in there. I just brought in two pairs of my daughter's boots that were TRASHED! He charged $25 for one pair and $30 for the other. So I guess I might agree that he's a bit expensive but it's a craft and getting to be a rare one. Anyway, we couldn't believe how great the boots came out. If you have a well-loved pair of shoes/boots it's probably worth trying to save them considering the cost of shoes/boots. As for turnaround time, he gave me a date and I asked for a few days sooner, he agreed and they were ready when promised. I recommend this shop! read more

The work appears competent, but if you go here you MUST negotiate the price before you leave your shoes. We had a new pair of boots with hard heels that tended to slip. We had a new rubber bottom put on the heels. About $2 worth of materials and probably 5 minutes of labor. I expected it might cost no more than $10. I was shocked to be charged $30! That's what the boots cost. This price isn't just a bit high, it's a rip-off outrage. The person I dealt with was extremely hard to communicate with (not sure what language he speaks, but almost unintelligible. I dropped two items off (the other isn't done yet, god knows that it will cost...) That pair just needed new heels, but he tried to talk me into resoling. (The heel had been damaged, but the sole was like-new, so this was an attempt to sell something that wasn't needed.) UPDATE: went back once, was told work wasn't done, come back in a week. At that time I asked the price, and was told $30, which I thought was really steep but I just wanted to be done with it so I said OK. Came back in a week, was told he didn't do the work because it was really going to be $40!!! There is something wrong with this guy. I strongly recommend that you GO SOMEWHERE ELSE unless money is meaningless to you. read more

This... I don't have worlds for that... This Chinese took 2 bags to repair... First he hold it for 3 month... Promising me every week that it will be ready next Friday... Then I pay him money in advance... So after 3 month of job not being done, I decide to take my bags because why not, right, then I want my money bag... He scream that I never paid him, even with a bill, he is just such a bad person, he drove me crazy... If you have free money to present this human go ahead... Work not done, money didn't come back... Shoud I go to the court? Just for such a coincident... That's why he is doing it... I'm very angry!!! read more

I made the same mistake as the other reviewer... I dropped off two pairs of men's shoes to have the heels re-glued and never asked for a quote. When I went back to pick them up, I was charged $75.00! I paid, and will never return to have this place to repair any of my shoes again. Since I work over the hill, I now take any future repairs to a fantastic place in Sunnyvale, called Bernardo Shoe Repair. I really try and shop local, but when it's so cost prohibitive, it doesn't make sense. read more

I have taken my boots to be reheeled here numerous times and he always does a good job. Today I thought I would visit the other shoe repair in Aptos. First, there was no place to park, so I parked at a neighboring business and went in. They wanted to charge $30 a pair. I left and went to Scott's Valley where I was charged $70 for three pairs of boots needing heels. Parking there is always easy and the man, as usual, was smiling and friendly. I will continue to do business here and will not visit the place in Aptos again. My curiosity has been satisfied and I have no doubt which shoe repair I prefer. read more

I have been taking my shoes here for years. Always a great job, fair price. I moved out of Scotts Valley last year, but I will drive back there to take my shoes to Ables. I wholehearedly recommend them. read more

People review more often when they are frustrated or annoyed, causing a lower overall rating than is fair, I looked up the phone number and noticed he only had 2 1/2 so I read through them to see why it was so low. After reading the negative reviews I wanted to add my two cents. I have used him on quite a few occasions for many years sometimes for unusual requests. Yes it is always cash up front (not convenient) but his work is very good and he always does what I ask of him. I recommend him to everyone. Cobblers are hard to find these days and he does great work. read more