Johnston & Murphy Shoes

[johnniegold]

I give them alot of credit. I went in there the other day with a pair of 7-year old shoes and they gave me a store credit.

Don't get me wrong, I used to live in the local store and bought many, many shoes there but after collecting most of their "business shoes" in most of the colors, I moved to Alden where I find myself firmly entrenched these days.

The pair of shoes I am talking about I purchased approximately seven years ago. They were a "cordovan-colored" Aldrich II model which back then retailed for $250.00.

I have several pairs of this model shoe and they are all comfortable shoes. But this particular shoe, the leather seemed somewhat stiff (it was not one of the other lines, it was an Aldrich II) and the creasing of the leather became somewhat discolored and the creases were somewhat rigid.

Anyway, it didn't bother me enough to return them at the time but the shoe was worn maybe 20 times in all the years I owned them. Eventually, I stopped wearing them altogether.

Well, I stopped there the other day and the salesperson, who has worked there for years, told me to bring them back. I did and he gave me a $150.00 store credit. Not bad for a pair of shoes that were not going to get much use but more importantly, I didn't enjoy wearing them.

Don't get me wrong, I know I was a very good customer there but I haven't purchased a pair of shoes there in probably 5 or 6 years. Point is, he didn't have to extend that courtesy. He could have apologized and said there was nothing he could do and I would have understood that.

Kudos to J&M.

So to make a long story longer...

I applied the credit to a pair of Georgetown II shoes. I purchased a pair of these some 10-12 years ago. I think I had them re-soled at least twice by J&M.

Here are some side-by-side pics of the old and the new. Farewell to the old pair. They served me well.

My dad always said (he was a Florsheim guy back in the day): "Always buy good shoes, they will never let you down."
How right he was.

Thanks again Johnston & Murphy.

 

[Austin]

Nice!!!

 

[D.Irving79]

that place is great. comfortable shoes.

 

[professorchaos]

Great to hear! I've all but given up on Johnston & Murphy shoes.

 

[Cuttingboard]

I have the same pair of cap toes as you that I bought about 8-9 years ago when I first began working in the business world. Unfortunately, these were the last J&M shoes that I bought because their quality has seemed to have dropped some since then. Now that I'm making a little more money, I really like other manufacturers (Alden, AE, Church, etc.) and do not mind paying a little more money for quality leather and craftsmanship because I know that I'll take care of them and will never have to buy another. I'm planning on going to London this fall and would love to have a pair made...maybe a monk or chelsea boot. I can't decide!

 

[Jim]

Your wife sees those shoes on the bed and there will be hell to pay!

 

[johnniegold]

Your wife sees those shoes on the bed and there will be hell to pay!

Truer words were never spoken.

 

[rickboone1]

I've been wanting to try this brand. Going through about 6 pair a year I need a comfortable shoe that will last and take a resole if needed. Good to see positive results.

 

[Denny]

I agree with most of what has been said about JMs; decline in quality, skyrocketing price, haven't bought any in years.
I did have the good fortune to pick up 4 pairs of Ralph Lauren Polo benchmade English wingtips and cap-toes at one of their factory-outlet stores a few years ago. Beautiful shoes of superb quality, if you can find them.

 

[Cuttingboard]

I've been wanting to try this brand. Going through about 6 pair a year I need a comfortable shoe that will last and take a resole if needed. Good to see positive results.

If your going through 6 pair of shoes a year, you need to invest in another brand. I have several pairs of shoes that I bought more than 5 years ago that still look like new and I didn't spend more than $300 on them. Quality shoes will last a life time.

 

[mark the shoeshine boy]

I've been wanting to try this brand. Going through about 6 pair a year I need a comfortable shoe that will last and take a resole if needed. Good to see positive results.

my first question would be: What is wearing out on your shoes...the soles or uppers?

What do you walk on? concrete or some other material?

I walk on asphalt, rough concrete, tile and finished concrerte. Leather soles shoes will not work...The Johnston Murphy Signature Series works pretty good with there rubber sole over the leather...however they can wear quickly on theses surfaces.

So far a vibram sole has been great and the Ecco Brand shoes have been terriffic for me...

 

[Obsessed]

Your wife sees those shoes on the bed and there will be hell to pay!

 

[Matt S]

I have two pair of the same J&M shoe, one in brown and the other black (the "Dobson Moc Toe" if I recall). Between the two, the brown was a much more supple leather out of the box. The black felt, well a bit cheap and stiff. Not sure why. My brown get a lot more use just due to my current wardrobe (probably 4 times a week) and have held together quite well over the last 1.5 years. I use the J&M shoe cream every now and then to clean up the occasional scuff mark and they look good again. These have the rubber and leather sole, so wear on the sole has yet to be an issue.

Even without this story of great customer service, J&M will be my first stop for the next pair of shoes, mostly for the styles. When I was trying to buy a decent pair of black shoes a while back, I ordered about three pair of Cole Haan to decide I didn't like them once I saw them in person.