DogFacePonySoldier
New in Town
- Messages
- 38
The Underhanding Bootmaker
First of all. I wasn’t going to do this but I feel this is a PSA for any boot connoisseurs. When writing this I have that cheated sting residue in my soul. I was warned and still didn’t listen. Bel Biv Devo - That bootmaker is poison.
I was attracted to the photos of his sleek classic designs and heard people praise his fit when done correctly. His boots are nice, although I feel his toe track is a bit much.
People who liked his stuff really said it was top notch and comfortable, but with artists there are good and bad periods that catch their different essence of care and attention. I think Brian is in ego mode currently. His slogan of Pride may have transmorphed into Greed.
I also heard horror stories of sizing on forums even when done by himself. One fella had to get his remade by Unsung, and another reviewer also complained about his being too tight, he removed his review about Role Club, so I can’t double check to confirm this.
On top of sizing his prices are higher than usual. In the category of engineers Briselback Clinch Unsung Attractions too name a few Role Club is by far the most expensive.
Besides Kerosote of course since he has a 4 year waitlist on his hands I can understand why he puts a high price point on his product to ease the demand. There maybe others makers I am unfamiliar with.
-so What happened…
I was going to buy a standard pair from RC’s site but it was sold out.
In Email exchange
I was considering a custom pair since Brian said it will take 5-6 months to do it and it will be the same price mentioned on his website for a non custom size.
I declined since I didn’t trust my own measurements. Then I saw he went to Stitch-down’s Bootcamp by my neck of the woods and said cool I can get professional sizing and revisited the purchase.
Now for Bootcamp one of his selling point was that he will get the boots done in 5-6 months, which is the same timespan he originally quoted me.
After the bootcamp, post fitting and such. I asked how much I’ll owe him when the boots are complete..
Brian says to get the boots when finished it’s going to be an additional $1290.00 or $2,290.00 in total
not including shipping. So he ended up charging an extra $245 because the fitting was done in “Brooklyn and not in his workshop”!?
This additional charge was never mentioned in email exchange and was done to other patrons. Who were just as surprised and disappointed as I was of this shady ordeal.
A surprise surcharge on an already high priced boot is down right scummy and my boot buddies felt the same way.
I * was * going to justify this purchase by telling myself I am supporting a more ethical small business, someone who cares about their customers, and someone who is a positive contribution to what it means to be American made.
Brian’s surcharge spit in the face of all that. I know that there are some people in a position where an extra $245 is nothing much. I am not one of those people.
So I cancelled my order and ate a very expensive lunch to nothingville. However in light of the world’s woes a monetary loss is the least of it.
So PSA from personal witness just in case business ethics to customers is something you seek when making a purchase decision. And from word on the vine people complained about his custom boots not fitting correctly, yet I am not going to be one to confirm that.
I will never do business ever with Brian from Role Club because of this ordeal.
-darn shame
First of all. I wasn’t going to do this but I feel this is a PSA for any boot connoisseurs. When writing this I have that cheated sting residue in my soul. I was warned and still didn’t listen. Bel Biv Devo - That bootmaker is poison.
I was attracted to the photos of his sleek classic designs and heard people praise his fit when done correctly. His boots are nice, although I feel his toe track is a bit much.
People who liked his stuff really said it was top notch and comfortable, but with artists there are good and bad periods that catch their different essence of care and attention. I think Brian is in ego mode currently. His slogan of Pride may have transmorphed into Greed.
I also heard horror stories of sizing on forums even when done by himself. One fella had to get his remade by Unsung, and another reviewer also complained about his being too tight, he removed his review about Role Club, so I can’t double check to confirm this.
On top of sizing his prices are higher than usual. In the category of engineers Briselback Clinch Unsung Attractions too name a few Role Club is by far the most expensive.
Besides Kerosote of course since he has a 4 year waitlist on his hands I can understand why he puts a high price point on his product to ease the demand. There maybe others makers I am unfamiliar with.
-so What happened…
I was going to buy a standard pair from RC’s site but it was sold out.
In Email exchange
I was considering a custom pair since Brian said it will take 5-6 months to do it and it will be the same price mentioned on his website for a non custom size.
I declined since I didn’t trust my own measurements. Then I saw he went to Stitch-down’s Bootcamp by my neck of the woods and said cool I can get professional sizing and revisited the purchase.
Now for Bootcamp one of his selling point was that he will get the boots done in 5-6 months, which is the same timespan he originally quoted me.
After the bootcamp, post fitting and such. I asked how much I’ll owe him when the boots are complete..
Brian says to get the boots when finished it’s going to be an additional $1290.00 or $2,290.00 in total
not including shipping. So he ended up charging an extra $245 because the fitting was done in “Brooklyn and not in his workshop”!?
This additional charge was never mentioned in email exchange and was done to other patrons. Who were just as surprised and disappointed as I was of this shady ordeal.
A surprise surcharge on an already high priced boot is down right scummy and my boot buddies felt the same way.
I * was * going to justify this purchase by telling myself I am supporting a more ethical small business, someone who cares about their customers, and someone who is a positive contribution to what it means to be American made.
Brian’s surcharge spit in the face of all that. I know that there are some people in a position where an extra $245 is nothing much. I am not one of those people.
So I cancelled my order and ate a very expensive lunch to nothingville. However in light of the world’s woes a monetary loss is the least of it.
So PSA from personal witness just in case business ethics to customers is something you seek when making a purchase decision. And from word on the vine people complained about his custom boots not fitting correctly, yet I am not going to be one to confirm that.
I will never do business ever with Brian from Role Club because of this ordeal.
-darn shame
