Purchased a pair of shoes that turned out to be defective, they agreed to fix them so I bit my tongue and shipped them out at a cost of close to $40. They fixed them then asked me for another $40 to send them back to me. Poorly made and even worse customer service. read more

I have bought a few pairs throughout the years and recently wanted to pick a shoe just right for me and was able to talk to a young lady Emma Rose over the phone who was super helpful and friendly. She even sent me pictures of leathers so I could choose one I liked virtually. It was a wonderful experience! read more

Cute and artsy online. Not at all interesting in person. Returning for refund which is costing over $100 for shipping and restocking fees. Won't try again. read more

This is a great store. All shoes are made to order by hand and they are gorgeous and comfortable. You can watch through the window while they make various designs. read more

Update: I called back to see if they would revise their position on my "unfixable" boots. After all, they say their leather work is guaranteed for life and the stitching had come undone in several places. They told me they could fix my boots for $75. After being insulted and already having doubts on their level of craftsmanship I took my boots elsewhere to be fixed. They came back looking brand new- and for only $30! It's a shame that Cydwoq doesn't have more integrity as a company. read more

I love Cydwoq shoes/boots. I do not love that the owner of the company will not let stores do custom ordering anymore! I cannot look at any leather samples in person which means I cannot really order a pair of shoes unless I see them in person, which means I need to go to California if I want to buy a pair. Very few stores in Chicago are carrying this brand anymore and it's a bummer. It's becoming all too difficult to obtain a pair ~ wish the company would go back to how they used to operate!!! I ordered a pair of replacement buttons for my boots. The button popped off after the 2nd or 3rd time I wore them ($500 boots). Anyway~ I explained to the woman on the phone that I needed a pewter colored button. We had a discussion for 10 minutes about what color my button needed to be (there were only 2 colors we were choosing between) and she was 100% I was going to get the right buttons. Well, they showed up and they were indeed not the right color. This normally would not annoy me, but, there were only TWO colors of buttons to choose between. The customer service on the other end needs to change for sure. The boots LOOK great & they are, however, I have had both heals reinforced, new soles put on, buttons reinforced, etc.etc. They aren't thee most well crafted shoe, but, they are still great to have. I think the most annoying thing is that they will not take a return. This is lame. If you are not going to let other stores do custom orders, at least take a return. That is so dumb. If I can't try a shoe on in this state, then you should start taking returns. Your policies are becoming REALLY LAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish stores around here carried Cydwoq & I also wish I could do custom ordering as well. read more

Following the other reviewers, my distinct impression is that the owner, Rafi, is unprofessional and temperamental. Too bad. I collect and own over 200 pairs of shoes and had wanted my first pair from Cydwoq. Wish they would make custom minor changes too. read more

I recently purchased sandals online and the shoes have caused sores on my toes. When I contacted the company they said that I was not able to exchange or return the shoes. They said they would email me after they talk to a supervisor but I never received a call back or email. I spent $200.00 on shoes I'll never be able to return or exchange. I will shop at Nordstoms where they care about their customers. read more

This review is about the retail store, not the actual brand or quality of the shoes. Didn't get the impression that they cared about my business one bit, in fact I felt like they were annoyed by me shopping there. I went in 100% ready to buy two pairs of sandals but they were so rude that I left with nothing. They really should get rid of their showroom, it was such a bad experience I'm probably not going to choose this brand. At the very least, I suggest ordering online and not dealing with them directly, which doesn't speak well for their business. read more

Beware of this scam of a company when ordering online. We special ordered a pair of men's shoes after they were not available in a color that my boyfriend wanted. They assured us that they can make the shoes in the color he wanted, no problem, it would just take a bit longer. Great! Handmade shoes! The shoes arrived and they were not the color we asked for, so we called to return it and get the correct color we had discussed. The woman on the phone did not seem interested in helping, and said they didn't have leather in the color we asked, and that the leather would "age" and turn brown. Hookay, that is not how leather works, and it's odd that it didn't occur to them to contact us to see if we wanted the shoes in a different color (or maybe wait longer until they could get the leather in the right color). Anyway, fine, guess not, so we then decided to return the shoes to get a refund, as they were never worn. We put a label inside the box as well as outside as they had instructed. USPS tracking indicated that they received the shoes on Oct. 22. Since then, zero communication from the company and of course no money returned (today is Dec. 10). Thankfully the credit card company was able to reverse the charges. Awful customer service for such expensive footwear, basically a big middle finger for your customers. I am surprised this company is still in business based on the experience we had. read more

Cydwoq makes GORGEOUS handmade shoes with high quality leather. I'm not sure why anyone would have customer experience issues because my exchange of shoes that didn't fit went very smoothly. And they replaced them with a different pair with a custom color combo (that I chose) and took great pains to make sure that they understood how the shoes I returned fit/didn't fit so that the new shoes would be right. And they were! I have 5 pairs of their shoes and they're all wonderful. How often can you get shoes made to your specifications for $300ish? None times. This company is great and such an antidote to the badly fitting crap that comes out of China. Two pairs of nasty shoes at Nordstrom = one pair of great shoes from Cydwoq. read more

I,too, was hesitant after reading the reviews to make an order. I just loved what I saw on line so I couldn't help myself. I purchased a cross-body messenger bag, I must say the lines on this bag are so unique and the craftsmanship is unlike anything i've seen in a long time. It's great to find a company who takes pride in the product they create. I love my new bag and can't wait to order shoes. Thank you! read more

I used to adore Cydwoq and would tell people they are the most comfortable shoes I've ever had. For the price it was more than worth it for the style and comfort. However the last two times I've bought their shoes, the fit was too tight, the order incorrect and I had to return the shoes multiple times. This time, they are still the wrong fit and I'm really disappointed and beyond frustrated to have spent that much on shoes that are too tight. Especially when I paid for and ordered the correct size. Something is off with their quality control. This is the fourth time I've ordered the same shoe in 5 years and I can really feel a difference. Bummed out in LA read more

I had a wonderful experience with Cydwok! I've had my sandals for about six years and the heel was worn and separating from the right one. I took photos of it and emailed them to Cydwok. Rafi got back to me immediately and told me the steps to send them in and get them repaired. I think it cost me $30 which was totally worth the investment. I've never had sandals that have lasted this long and I do a great deal of city walking in them. I am a huge fan of Cydwok and would love to buy another pair! read more

I have eight pairs of CYDWOQ shoes from the "Vintage" line. Continue past the "highlighted" "great" reviews. Everything negative is true. If you fall in love with the shoes, purchase in hand at a retail shop where at least you'll be assured of the fit. Purchase on-line and be forewarned. Customer service is non-existent, even when assured that the owner, Rafi, will reply if contacted directly. Even when, if like me, you document your loyalty despite issues, tell him how much you love the concept and aesthetic of his shoes, and want to buy more, but do not appreciate the quality: heels that melt off in the countryside (not pounding pavement), seams that come unglued in less than a year's time, and high-heels glued off-center making it impossible not to wobble! My last purchase: the left shoe is visibly bigger than the right. Once I sent a pair of sandals back to be glued, waited months, and got them back unrepaired. Sizing is a complete hit or miss. I will sadly quote others: "your owner is a madman," "borderline psychotic." I have less than no opinion because he hasn't bothered to reach out to me. read more

I have 6 pairs of Cydwoq shoes and love, love them. I have never ordered through the Cydwoq website. My first pair were a custom order through Rainsong shoes in Mendocino, they were great doing the order and mailing the shoes to me when they arrived. The other 5 pairs I ordered through Ped shoes online, they have great sales! The only pair I paid full price for were the custom ordered first pair. I haven't had to deal with Cydwoq directly and from the other reviews I hope I don't have to. I have thought about stopping at the factory store next time I'm near Burbank, not sure I will bother. I haven't had any issues with the shoes, nothing has fallen apart etc. I will continue to just order through Ped shoes when they have sales. read more

Cydowoq.... yours are the only sandal I ever wear! Thank you for your quality and consistency for over 20 years. The workmanship is un-paralleled and boy, do they last! Worth every penny as they just keep getting better with age. As I live in a tropical environment, I have been buying 3-4 pairs per year since late last century. I even have a few pairs of their vintage shoes that are my go-to for days off that have endured the test of time both in style and tenacity. Comfort is exceptional and they run true-to-size.... always stretching a tiny bit early-on to form to YOU as you wear them. Thank you for the love and integrity you all put into every pair. With Gratitude.... read more

My 1st pair of Cydwoq shoes were purchased 4 years ago in San Francisco; they've held up perfectly! Had the pleasure of shopping in the showroom in Burbank today - so beautiful! And what an amazing array of shoes, sandals & boots. Bought a boot and a summer sandal. And they're made in USA. Can't wait for order to arrive in a couple weeks:-)) read more

I ordered my shoes with them and they came in waaay to big. I had several emails back and forth and I could return the shoes for rework. After that they came back fitting well for a few days but then opening up dramatically so that I have one inch !!! of air if I move my feet all forward. I had plenty of emails back and forth and got the final recommendation to soak them in water which I did but it did not do anything. They just delivered the wrong size beside the fact that I also actually MEASURED my feet and sent them the numbers just to avoid issues like this. Additionally they cut the left sole at the heel too short so that you sometimes hit the back of your shoe leather instead of the sole. You can imagine how the leather looks like a few months. The right shoe doesnt have that. His last comment was to buy some insoles for handmade shoes and of course he does ignore my emails now. I certainly can't recommend the waste of 350$. Total disappointment for great looking shoes. I try to attach some photos so you know I am not crazy. read more

measured my foot, showed me the clearance section in the warehouse, helped me customize my leather, and got my custom made show to me in a week! Love my shoes! read more

I cannot get over how great any pair of shoe those guys make feels and looks... I am hooked. They feel better than my slippers and look better than my more expensive shoe. So refreshing to find a real shoe maker like they don't make anymore ... thank you guys ... Would recommend their website as you can custom any leather with any shoes . read more

I have been a fan for a while. When I found the online shop, I was happy that I could order shoes in custom leather combinations and colors. I have purchased 7-8 pairs in custom colors, and probably another 15 non-custom pairs, and have been quite pleased. A couple of months ago I purchased a pair of 'Omega' boots, but they were a little wide, but they fit after adding an extra insole, sent to me by CYDWOQ. Most recently, I wanted a short pair of 'Concert' boots, but wasn't sure what colors would work. Ashley G. gave me some suggestions, and I eventually chose two complimentary crinkly leathers, in silver and black. Love them! I'm very happy to support a local business, and, quite honestly, Cydwoqs are my favorite, unique shoes and boots, with beautiful hand painted and worked leathers. I admit to having been a little concerned after reading other reviews, but I was happily surprised. I've spoken to Rafi, and Ashley, and they were both very pleasant and helped make my purchases all a success. Thanks again! read more

I love the quality craftsmanship and elegant, creative design in every pair of my CYDWOQ shoes. Wearing such exceptional shoes elevates the outfits that I pair with them. And now I have gotten my husband hooked on the men's CYDWOQ shoes. Great styles for both women and men. read more

Handmade in Los Angeles, we all should support them. Great looking shoes and sandals, great service on-line and in store, love them!

I have several pairs of Cydwoq, sandals, shoes and boots. I have ordered directly from Cydwoq, from Ped Shoes and through a local dealer (I live in Canada so it's rare to see Cydwoqs here). I would strongly suggest buying though a retail store as local as possible because the potential for things to go wrong seems high. I am so glad to hear that the rather rude customer service that I received was not down to something I said and seems to be the norm. I love my shoes (I would give them a 5 star rating if they got things right) but I ordered a pair of knit sandals and one was so poorly made with the seams off by about an inch with no exaggeration. It seems they have problems in the quality control area too. I sent them back and within a week of owning the replacement shoes my toes wore through the knit and the sandal opened up like a snagged sweater. I don't keep my toe nails long or jagged so this was unacceptable but it had cost me so much to return them once that I opted to have a leather store fix them. That fix lasted about 48 hours before my toe popped through again and this time the hole was almost too large to fix. I ended up somehow piecing the shoe back together and sewing them myself. So far, so good, but another word of warning. If you can wear something over your toes as they are more delicate than they look. read more

I'm a teacher who's been a Cydwoq owner for nearly 15 years. I currently own two pairs of Cydwoq shoes and a pair of boots. After years of continual wear -- and living in desert, snowy, and tropical climates -- all three pairs were getting worn. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of having my Cydwoqs repaired by my favorite local guy, and the shoes were not wearable (Don't do this!). I then mailed all the shoes to Cydwoq, along with a letter where I detailed the repairs needed. Today I received three pairs of gorgeously repaired shoes from Cydwoq. Each pair looks like new, even the oldest pair, and they feel fantastic. I've been wearing my boots around the house all day because they feel -- and make me look -- so great. Added bonus: the repairs cost about $30 apiece including shipping. That's a Target price for handcrafted shoes that I hope to wear for at least another decade. The service I received from Cydwoq was personal, because they're real, local people. As such, they make mistakes; that's what happens in small businesses. In my case, they shipped the shoes before I paid for them. (Where do you see that these days?) We're so used to the hand-holding of automation that we forget the value of a product made by real people. It's amazing that many of us have spoken with Rafi himself. It underscores how small this company is and how much pride Rafi takes in his work. His is a product I want. The initial cost of buying Cydwoq shoes is absolutely worth the money and small service issues. You'll get years of use, exceptional repairs, and hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind fashions. Plus, your body will love you because these shoes are very ergonomically friendly. I refuse to wear tennis shoes just because I'm on my feet all day. I choose Cydwoqs. read more

This is an amazing company! I ordered a pair of custom shoes online because I do not live close to any retailer that carries this brand. When the shoes arrived, they were too big so I had to send them back to be resized. When they arrived the second time, they were too small and it became clear that the style I had selected was not good for my feet. I sent them back again, but this time to exchange them for a new style. My second selection (The Cleo Boots) fit perfectly! I wore them for an entire day when they first arrived without any problems--it's as if they were already broken in. I was so impressed that CYDWOQ honored their claim that the shoes could be resized/exchanged if they did not fit. Not only are CYDWOQ shoes unique and fashionable, they are also incredibly comfortable! I love my new shoes! read more

Defective shoes, terrible customer service. I received a defective pair of shoes about a month ago. I contacted Cydwoq the same day with pictures of the problem, their response has been to simply ignore my emails. I recommend never making purchases directly from Cydwoq, it's not worth the aggravation. The shoes are beautiful, it's a shame they are not wearable. read more

DO NOT BUY SHOES ONLINE. I use to have a pair of these shoes years ago and thought it would be nice to get another pair for my birthday vacation. I ordered them early March. I get them a day before my vacation and they are a size too small. They said they would resize them so I paid to send them back. After that is was a long email and phone exchange about their sizes. Do you use European sizes? No, but they spent thirty minutes on the phone trying to convince me that I don't know what size shoe I wear... Do you have a size chart? No. What kind of shoe company that has been in business for over 10 years not have a size chart?? They finally decided to size me up one entire shoe size...I thought it was settled but I never heard back from them and often I had to email or call to see what was up with my order. Communication was pretty much none existent with them except for when I decided to open a dispute with paypal. The company called me to say they would not issue me a refund without me dropping the paypal dispute. They also wanted to charge me a restocking fee. Lucky, I used Paypal and just got my money back today- 3 months later but I got it back. What a horrible and unprofessional experience...buyer beware. read more

I got my shipment of my first pair of CYDWOQ shoes 5 minutes ago and I can already tell you I am spoiled for any other shoe. They were comfortable right out of the box, and that just doesn't happen for me. Shipment was super fast. Got these custom made shoes 1 week from the date I ordered them. the ordering process is a bit confusing, but if you have a question just email the site, you will get a super quick response. Super pleased with this purchase. read more

Ordered $500+ Move boots online. Was very careful to measure as directed by Rafi. Boots came in timely manner before Christmas, but are basically worthless because they have a horrible bulging sag on insides above sole. Very unattractive. Emailed company and was told by a service rep they'd try to do something and would get back to me. They never got back to me. Never offered to fix. Did not offer to refund or exchange. Took them to a local cobbler who said nothing could be done short of rebuilding entire boots which isn't worth it. Will never order again. from this company. Seriously poor customer service and not standing behind your product. I would have been much better off buying cheaper boots so as to not waste $500! read more

I would NEVER recommend buying Cydwoq shoes from the online shop. Although their shoes are beautiful in real life, this might not be the case when purchasing online. I purchased a pair of Cydwoqs from a local shoe store, City Soles in Chicago. Absolutely loved the shoes, still have them and still get plenty of complements. The online experience was horrible. The shoes arrived disproportionately long to narrow. I emailed about this and was given very short and nasty responses, like "Is your foot just too wide?" or, "These shoes are supposed to fit long, maybe your feet are too short and wide." If I have wide feet, this is the first time I am not purchasing shoes that are made narrow, since my feet are typically on the narrow side. It was horrible. I am not a rude customer, and I don't complain, but they were just plain rude and short. I did return the shoes, and they were "shortened", and also narrowed, even though they needed no more narrowing. After paying full price and another $50 in shipping, I have a pair of shoes that will fit triangle feet. Wide heels, extremely narrow toes. read more

What a sad story I could tell. While the shoes I eventually got (I ordered on July 6th and finally received on August 24th) were what I ordered, I just can't believe the difficulties I encountered along the way. Basically there is no customer service! The front desk service was dismal, innattentive, distracted, forgetful, disengaged and uncaring. These shoes are not cheap and one should not have to work so hard to have their order managed responsibly. I would like a closet full of Cydwoq shoes, so would my friends and colleagues, but I will not with good conscience recommend this business and sadly my first pair will likely be my last. Really sad. An example of how bad staffing can kill a business! I dread eventually having to obtain replacement parts! read more

I agree with the comments below. you're better off ordering from a cydwoq retailer than from the actual company First of all, the shoes are gorgeous. The shoes I ordered from the company didn't fit, so I worked with Cywoq to get them exchanged. I really like the shoes I got, but having to spend all that $$ and then having the hassle and extra expense of shipping was kind of a pain. read more

I wanted to write a review because after reading these reviews i hesitated to order a pair online. But they looked so beautiful i went ahead and ordered the most exquisite pair of sandals Ive ever seen. They are even more stunning in person and i found the costumer service excellent. I had to rush the order to make it for a wedding party and the shoes came in lighting speed! They also answered my emails promptly. The bottom line though-the shoes are works of art. read more

I can't believe all the bad reviews! I have been wearing Cydwok shoes since at least 2000. I love fashion, and I love my feet. Cydwok is so good to my feet, and so beautiful to wear. Except for the hiking boots and running shoes, these are the only shoes I ever wear. They are long lasting and beautifully made. My husband is European and I can get Italian and German shoes easily, but I don't. Cydwoks are my absolute favorite, hands down! read more

I love their shoes ;buying for the last ten years. My visit to the warehouse was being in a candy store.

Oh Cydwoq. You make beautiful shoes but your owner is a madman. Over the last 10 years I collected several pairs of boots, sandals and shoes. Every single pair I had repaired yearly (with leather-soled shoes you should expect to get them resoled every year and have buttons or zippers replaced every so often). I didn't mind. I love beautiful shoes and supporting my local cobblers. The problem came when my zipper failed on my boots and instead of taking it to my cobbler, who was retiring, I sent the boots to Cydwoq to replace the zipper. I'm not sure how to explain what happened next. I waited several months. Then one of my boots was returned to me. One of my boots paired with a brand new mismatched boot. One well worn 3 year old boot and one brand spanking new boot. I sent them both back, and asked for my old pair to be returned to me, broken zippers and all. And what happened next? Cydwoq sent me two brand new boots -two different sizes and two different leathers. I find this hilarious, but with too great a price tag. read more

I own 6 pairs of Cydwoq shoes and while I dearly love all of them, their sizing is not consistent. They definitely fit mostly bigger than they should. There is a limited number of boutiques in the country that sell these beautiful shoes, but I wear size 5, and it's really hard to find them in my size in those boutiques. I have bought 3 of my Cydwoq pairs from cydwoq website directly custom made in leather color that I chose. Size 5 (EU size 35) is the smallest possible size that I can order, and in all those instances the shoes were too large. Sure, I could have returned them, but the quality of leather, the uniqueness of styles and custom colors are just so unparalleled, that I chose to keep the shoes and wear them with insoles. I use Dr.Sholls Tri-comfort insoles that don't crowd the toes, don't take away from the natural Cydwoq shoe comfort (even add some) and add at least half a size if not more. These insoles would not work on the sandals, they only could be used in closed toe shoes. I have mentioned that the sizing is not consistent, because I bought a pair of size 35 Cydwogs from a boutique and another pair on Ebay (gently used) and they both fit pretty much fine. I also bought a pair of sandals on a small heel on Ebay (new) and they were just a bit wide. I pair of ball of the foot sandal cushions had solved that. read more

I bought a pair of CYDWOQ sandals on sale from a retailer in San Francisco 2 years ago. They were very simple, elegant and comfortable. I was concerned that the single leather loop over the arch, or the one over the toe would stretch, but this did not happen. They have been comfortable and long lasting. On the strength of this experience, I paid the full price for a pair of the oh so stylish and comfortable shoes from a retailer in Toronto. I wore them for a few months. I walk a lot. They stretched. The shoes are now a half size too big. The lifts also needed to be replaced. I took these shoes to the 'cobbler' for new lifts, and he did alright, but 2 weeks later, one lift fell off, and the other is losing its grip (This cobbler has always done good work for me). Thinking it must be difficult to recreate the CYDWOQ lift for this shoe, I wrote to CYDWOQ to ask about purchasing lifts. The response was ludicrous: " mail us the shoes and we will repair the lifts for $55." $85 (or more) plus one month (or more) for lifts?!!? so much for buying (North) American. I've never paid so much for such poor performance. My recommendation: DON"T buy CYDWOQ. Beautiful, but entirely unreliable. read more