I updated my review to 4 stars because the people who work at Englin's Kokomo are awesome. They are super nice, helpful, smart, and capable. The Englin's approach to special orders is NOT the fault of the people who work in the store. I've kept going back to Englin's for years not only for the shoes, but because sometimes it's nice to talk to someone in a store who can help figure out what you need and ensure you get it. Englin's offers customer service that you rarely see these days, and I greatly appreciate that.
And yet,,,while Englin's used to have a great shoe selection, their inventory has been taken over by Uggs, most of which look more like poufs for dusting shelves than shoes for feet. Englin's also stopped carrying my favorite brand, Vionics, though you can still order Vionics through the store. I made the mistake of doing so.
I could have ordered new Vionics online through many sites for delivery within a day or two. Instead, I ordered them through Englin's and 2 weeks later, I am still awaiting their arrival. By the time I get my shoes, I will have waited 3 weeks. These shoes have been in stock (in the warehouse) and are not back ordered.
This is the second time I've ordered shoes through the store. The last time was just as frustrating. In this "modern world", there is simply NO REASON that it should take 3 weeks to ship something that is in stock domestically. There are very fast delivery options these days, so the problem with Englin's is related to Englin's. (It doesn't help that they used Ground and the shoes will spend over a week in transit.)
The ordering process at Englin's is obsolete and the company will not remain viable unless they can compete with modern companies that ship merchandise - often for delivery the very same day. There is either an ineffective process or a failure to prioritize customer orders. This is especially disappointing to me because, as Englin's has increased their Ugg stock and eliminated Vionics, there are fewer and fewer shoes in the store that interest me.
To keep and win back customers, Englin's should audit its ordering processes to identify inefficiencies, eliminate delays, and prioritize prompt shipment, including using faster shipping than Ground when the customer has already been waiting 2 weeks. read more
