SHODDY WORK--CAVEAT EMPTOR!
It pains me to write a such a…read morenegative review for a place that has heretofore done good work and provided good customer service. I am, however shocked and dissatisfied both with shoddy mistakes that were made in the course of the work and by how rudely I was treated by the owner (the same guy who does the repairs).
I usually take in well worn shoes (like black ankle boots) to be soled, and the work has been good. However, this time I took in a pair of brand new box fresh untouched Sophia Webster flats for rubber soles and metal tips. When I picked up the shoes there was a spot on the toe where the metallic color was rubbed away, several small black marks and numerous scratches on the sides of the shoes, and shoddy glue work--as can be seen in the photos below. (It seems that the black round mark on the top of the toe, because of the streaks (2nd picture) are the result of rubbing, possibly with a cloth, of perhaps a liquid or solvent (that also made the black dot-shaped marks on the white leather in the same photo). The black mark on the side of the right shoe next to the new rubber sole, and the sloppy glue work at the toes are clearly the result of putting on the rubber soles. The point is, that all of these marks would not have been on a pair of unworn shoes, and the shoes would not have been sold with this marks, which clearly came from some kind of handling.
When I complained, the owner immediately got really defensive and went on full attack:
--He said that the condition of the tip of the toes was just how all new shoes were, it was a "normal" manufacturer's flaw and that any shoemaker in Helsinki would agree with him.
--He accused me of lying: When I pointed to the round mark on top of the toe and asked if it had been there when the shoes were brought in, he asked if I had taken a photograph.
--He went on and on, saying that he did work for Stockmann and he literally went and got a bunch of shoes and presented them, wanting to prove that he did good work.
--He offered me a 20% discount on a second pair of shoes I was there to pick up.
--He dramatically pointed to the door and said I should never come back again.
Part of my shock comes from the fact that never once did the owner have the professionalism to admit that given the type of marks and the delicacy of the work required that there was even the very slightest possibility that marks might have resulted from putting on the soles and tips. So the point here is BUYER BEWARE.
