Do you get your shoes repaired?

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
These days pretty much everything is made to be disposable, whether it’s clothing, appliances, furniture, whatever.

Cobblers/shoe repair places are becoming obsolete and that’s of particular annoyance to me because we still have shoes that need repair and the last place I used just closed down and I have to find another.

Good dance shoes are expensive and I get them repaired from time to time.

I mentioned cowboy boots in another thread…they need to be re-heeled. Ron has a pair of boots and his good loafers that need to be re-soled. I’ve also used a cobbler in the past to repair a broken purse strap (leather)

Do any of you still use a cobbler?
 

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Not anymore.

Since I retired I don't seem to wear them out as fast and when I finally do they are beyond hope.

We do have a couple of excellent shoe repair shops and also a couple of local shoemakers.

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Sometimes, depending on the details. New heels are a lot cheaper than new shoes. And Victor (or what's her name) shines them up like new after repairing them.
 

The shoes that I wear any more are almost entirely "flats" or walking shoes. When they wear out, I just replace them. My shoes, either from DSW or Amazon, are inexpensive enough that I'm sure repairing them would cost a lot more. And those kinds of shoes are probably not repairable anyway.

But you did bring up some fond memories of a cobbler who had a shoe repair shop in my neighborhood when I was a kid. He was unusual in our largely Jewish neighborhood, as he was an Italian immigrant who barely spoke English. He seemed pretty "exotic" to me.
 
I'm the grand-daughter and Daughter of shoemakers.. and cobblers.. I have always had my shoes repaired... but not now , not since I retired and I'm not on my feet 10 hours a day and wearing my boots and shoes out quickly..
 
Manatee said:
Unless I am going out, I wear slippers. Shoes last a long time.

A covid side effect was that I lost weight. I took a couple of belts to the shoe repair and had them made shorter.
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you might want to try these... they're elastic so you don't feel pressure or tightness when wearing them, because you push pin them on the buckle into the material exactly to your own level of comfort...

My O/h who has always worn real leather is a convert, and has several different colours of these now ... and even I have a couple of them for my jeans....

https://www.amazon.com/Elastic-Stre...&keywords=elastic+belts&qid=1632166580&sr=8-6
 
Yes, I get the heels of my leather shoes repaired. Since they’re not worn everyday lately, it’s been awhile. I walk heavy on my heels. I even had the liner replaced on a pair of quality sandals that I used as my house slippers. When the Velcro strap wore out, I quit.
 
Shoe repairmen are a vanishing breed in my area, and one must search long and hard to find one. Many shoes are made differently than in my youth, too, when shoes had stitched all-leather construction. With today’s molded soles glued or fused to the uppers, they tend to eventually crack, and there’s no way to repair or replace them. Shoes must then be thrown out despite fine uppers… 🥾
 
Whenever I think of shoe repair shops, I think of that smell. I think it’s the combination of that glue they use on shoes, and leather. Whatever it is, every shoe repair shop I’ve ever been in smells exactly the same! 👞👠
 
I haven't been to a shoe repair shop in ages. I used them to shorten the heels, repair a strap on a handbag. And mostly to place one of those slip resistant things on the heels. Back then I did alot of walking at my jobs (all hospitals).
 
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When i was a 20-something living in NYC i bought a pair of very good leather boots. Since my extremities have always gotten cold easily and and if my feet are cold, all of me feels chilled, i could use them even in S. Texas, at least for a few months a year when a 30-something single Mom, the heels/soles had been redone once. But then i broke my middle toe on right foot--lengthwise. And for a couple of decades i could not wear anything more than a 1 inch heel on anything without that foot aching after. Sold or gave those boots away.

Now i've reinjured that foot, the other and my legs over the years--so for me it is all about comfort and warmth. Like many on this list most of the shoes i buy are cheaper to replace than repair. i wear boots for outside chores, but very flat soled ones. i've heard 'Sketchers' are good casual wear shoes, but i want to know how long they last before i invest in those for everyday wear.
 
feywon said:
When i was a 20-something living in NYC i bought a pair of very good leather boots. Since my extremities have always gotten cold easily and and if my feet are cold, all of me feels chilled, i could use them even in S. Texas, at least for a few months a year when a 30-something single Mom, the heels/soles had been redone once. But then i broke my middle toe on right foot--lengthwise. And for a couple of decades i could not wear anything more than a 1 inch heel on anything without that foot aching after. Sold or gave those boots away.

Now i've reinjured that foot, the other and my legs over the years--so for me it is all about comfort and warmth. Like many on this list most of the shoes i buy are cheaper to replace than repair. i wear boots for outside chores, but very flat soled ones. i've heard 'Sketchers' are good casual wear shoes, but i want to know how long they last before i invest in those for everyday wear.
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I have several pair of Skechers. I love them…the comfort, and ease of washing (gentle cycle cold waters or dry) are big selling points for me, as is the huge range of styles. Athletic shoes, casual slip ons, flip slops, sandals, wedges…so many choices!
 
Ronni said:
I have several pair of Skechers. I love them…the comfort, and ease of washing (gentle cycle cold waters or dry) are big selling points for me, as is the huge range of styles. Athletic shoes, casual slip ons, flip slops, sandals, wedges…so many choices!
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The casual slip ons of most interest to me, as in knowing how long they last for 'daily wear'. I'm hard on shoes, wear boots for outdoor chores like moving, splitting, stacking firewood because they give my feet some protection.

But for shopping, running errands, medical appointments, taking DD to work and picking her up a slip on that lasted more than 1-2 years (preferably long enough the price per year wouldn't exceed the $8-$12 in typically spend on canvas slip-ons) would be nice.

I rarely have more than 3-4 pairs of of footwear at one time unless i just havent thrown out the worn out ones yet.
 
When my first wife died, I donated all of her clothes, including her shoes, to charity. I kept track of everything for tax donation reasons, but I quit counting her shoes at 100 pair.

I spend most of my days bare footed, and haven't had shoes resoled/reheeled in 30 or 40 years.
 
Ronni said:
Do any of you still use a cobbler?
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I just wear hiking boots

My good shoes (for going out or funerals) don't get much wear.

Sooooooo
It's shoe goo for me

I just put a pair to rest not all that long ago

Drained a couple tubes of goo to no avail

shoes 2.jpg



Sadly, the tread still had miles on 'em

shoes 3.jpg



But, after several years, I had last rites

shoes.jpg

I've still got three pair in the box
When I like something, I buy in quantity
 
feywon said:
When i was a 20-something living in NYC i bought a pair of very good leather boots. Since my extremities have always gotten cold easily and and if my feet are cold, all of me feels chilled, i could use them even in S. Texas, at least for a few months a year when a 30-something single Mom, the heels/soles had been redone once. But then i broke my middle toe on right foot--lengthwise. And for a couple of decades i could not wear anything more than a 1 inch heel on anything without that foot aching after. Sold or gave those boots away.

Now i've reinjured that foot, the other and my legs over the years--so for me it is all about comfort and warmth. Like many on this list most of the shoes i buy are cheaper to replace than repair. i wear boots for outside chores, but very flat soled ones. i've heard 'Sketchers' are good casual wear shoes, but i want to know how long they last before i invest in those for everyday wear.
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Skechers aren't what they used to be. Originally they were nice shoes but they have since gone to sh*t with that memory foam. I prefer New Balance.
 
Ronni said:
Do any of you still use a cobbler?
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Not exactly, but I do use a cordwainer. A cordwainer is a shoemaker who makes new shoes from new leather. The cordwainer's trade can be contrasted with the cobbler's trade, according to a tradition in Britain that restricted cobblers to repairing shoes.

My shoes are bespoke, when they are made the smooth leather soles are scored to create a rough surface onto which a reinforced rubber sole is steamed on using bonding adhesive. The heels have a three quarter steel tip. That simple process adds great longevity to the shoes.
 

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