Cobblers.... aren't just delicious hot fruit-filled desserts! A "cobbler" is actually a person or shop that fixes, alters, or even creates shoes and boots! Let's face it, cobblers are getting harder and harder to find; especially in this day and age of fast, disposable fashion.
However, that's what Al's Redlands Boot & Shoe Shop is. They are located smack in the middle of Downtown Redlands. A long, thin building that hugs the side of neighboring Shop Suey along Redlands Blvd. They are also located next to Parliament Chocolate and a few doors down from The Tartan. Since the building is quite small width-wise, it can feel a little claustrophobic inside as they pack a lot into the space they have.
I'll be very honest here. My wife and I haven't used this shop in a good while. We've had mixed experiences here. I'll try to be as far as can be.
So my wife used to use a similar place in Highland/San Bernardino that was in the same plaza at the Regency Cinema on Sterling. They were there for a long time but went out of business around 10 years or so ago. Being that we're often in Redlands to do our shopping and whatnot; we were very aware of this place and thought to give it a try. My wife has diabetic foot issues and sometimes has to have her shoes altered in order to accommodate her. Mostly this consists of bringing down the heels of some of her favorite shoes so they are of a more reasonable size so she's more stable on her feet (due to her neuropathy). This is a fairly common ask of places like this.
To be fair, the first two or three times we've taken shoes here, the wifey loved the results and was very happy. After that is when their weirdness began. The following 4 pairs of shoes we brought shoes here to be altered, we noticed when we brought them home and inspected them it appeared as of nothing had been done to them at all. No alterations. No height adjustments. Nothing. Perplexed, we brought them back in to ask the employees about them. The employee that does most of the work on shoes took a brief look at them and then assured us that he remembered the shoes and that he indeed did the work we asked.
We then insisted that no he didn't, and measured them in front of him to show they were still the same size as when brought them in, and not the heel size we requested. He begrudgingly took them back and said he'd "try again" with them.
Okay first off... if he's "trying again", why did we pay him the first time to begin with?! 'splain this to me?!
Anyway, a few days later we came to pick them up again after they called to say they were ready, aaaaaaannnnnnnnd no they weren't. This time it appeared as if they had sanded down the heel approx 1/4" and glued some kind of protective rubber pad on the tip of the heel.
HUH?!?! We asked that the heels on all 4 pairs be taken town like 1.5". This looked like the employee had just made a cursory effort to make it look like SOMETHING was done to them, hoping we'd be okay with this.
What made it worse is that they wanted to CHARGE US AGAIN for this additional work they (didn't) do!! I think not! Fortunately, we inspected the work there in the shop this time when we picked them up and refused to pay this time as the work wasn't done. We even questioned why we paid the first time since the work was never done that time either. To this, we got a blank stare.
That was the last time we've frequented here. I will grant that it was a number of years ago, but after reading some of the other reviews; it seems like it's a mixed bag when coming here. This review reflects our experiences here when we used to regularly use them. We might try using them again in the near future to see if they've become more honest.
With all politeness and respect, I urge everyone patronizing this business to make sure to check their work to make sure it meets your expectations and quality requirements before taking it home; and certainly before paying for it.
Like Reagan once said... "Trust...but verify!" read more
