I admit that this is based on an old complaint. But old complaints, in this case, are exactly like old shoes: they stay in the closet and show back up again, every now and then.
So take a look at the pictures I've uploaded of the shoes I purchased from Cole Haan -now quite a while back. Notice that one shoe has a significant hole in it, making it unwearable. When that happened, I wondered how. The shoes had not been worn very much. And the sole on the other shoe shows virtually no wear.
I am no Quasimodo, dragging one foot behind me. I walk normally and evenly. So how to explain the hole that developed so quickly on one shoe, but not on the other? I have to believe it was a maufacturing mistake. Perhaps the sole on that side was mis-cut and thinner. Or perhaps the leather wasn't cured properly on that one sole, causing it to break down quickly.
First, I tried to contact customer service at Cole Haan by phone. They were terrible. I just couldn't waste so much time and expense trying to get this resolved on the phone, and then sending in at my cost. I live in Manhattan and relatively near the store. So I brought the shoes there.
The manager told me he couldn't help me. All I wanted was an equal exchange or, at least, for him to send the shoes in for me to have them fixed. They are just penny loafers, but still cost well over $100. And the manager told me he couldn't even do that! This is their flagship store.
And yet I was left with defective merchandise. Cole Haan tries so hard to prevent returns, and avoid meaningful customer service that it won't stand behind its shoes. To my mind, like so many other companies, Cole Haan is no longer a fine american shoe company, but simply another name brand with 'dicey' merchandise.
Finally, I am taking these to a shoe man in midtown I like. For an additional $50, I'll get some use out of them. But I won't buy Cole Haan again. read more