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Footwear to go with our jackets

ojaw

A-List Customer
Messages
350
Location
Winnipeg
Got these Viberg 2040 service boots in Shinki horsebutt the other day. I immediately noticed the below pictured panel of the outside quarter of the left boot had some pretty questionable looking grain compared to the rest of the boot. I only tried them on for sizing and my concern for the quality of the leather only grew, as the top layer of the leather appeared to be delaminating further. What do you guys think, would you consider this acceptable for a 6 month wait for pre-order? I'm personally rather disappointed and have already contacted Viberg by email, waiting for their reply after the long weekend here in Canada. I'm hoping that I'm not being too picky in expecting a bit better QC, but I'm open to other's opinions on it too.
My $250 Moorbys look better than that, I’d send ’em back.
 

dannyk

One Too Many
Messages
1,812
Got these Viberg 2040 service boots in Shinki horsebutt the other day. I immediately noticed the below pictured panel of the outside quarter of the left boot had some pretty questionable looking grain compared to the rest of the boot. I only tried them on for sizing and my concern for the quality of the leather only grew, as the top layer of the leather appeared to be delaminating further. What do you guys think, would you consider this acceptable for a 6 month wait for pre-order? I'm personally rather disappointed and have already contacted Viberg by email, waiting for their reply after the long weekend here in Canada. I'm hoping that I'm not being too picky in expecting a bit better QC, but I'm open to other's opinions on it too.
First picture I could live with. Wouldn’t be happy but wouldn’t be a deal breaker. Second photo is just too much for the cost and supposed quality of Shinki leather. For the money I know Vibergs cost I would not be ok with it. If you picked them up second hand, sample sale, 2nds sale then fine. But I’m guessing probably a 700-900 dollar expense and a 6 month wait. Not my cup of tea.
 

Observe

One Too Many
Messages
1,207
First picture I could live with. Wouldn’t be happy but wouldn’t be a deal breaker. Second photo is just too much for the cost and supposed quality of Shinki leather. For the money I know Vibergs cost I would not be ok with it. If you picked them up second hand, sample sale, 2nds sale then fine. But I’m guessing probably a 700-900 dollar expense and a 6 month wait. Not my cup of tea.
Those photos are two angles of the same panel. Not my cup of tea either.
 

dannyk

One Too Many
Messages
1,812
Those photos are two angles of the same panel. Not my cup of tea either.
Well the second looks much worse haha. I suppose I should have noticed it was the same boot; but I was focused on just the wrinkling and didn’t notice. Yeah that second photo really shows how not great it is.
 

Observe

One Too Many
Messages
1,207
Well the second looks much worse haha. I suppose I should have noticed it was the same boot; but I was focused on just the wrinkling and didn’t notice. Yeah that second photo really shows how not great it is.
I requested a refund in my email, hoping that by being clear in my expectations we can quickly come to some kind of arrangement. I don't think there will be any exchange option as it was a pre-order, although I must say it'll be a bit of a let down to see them go. They were going to fill my "black boot with block heel and cap toe" niche, haha.
 
Messages
16,795
Got these Viberg 2040 service boots in Shinki horsebutt the other day. I immediately noticed the below pictured panel of the outside quarter of the left boot had some pretty questionable looking grain compared to the rest of the boot. I only tried them on for sizing and my concern for the quality of the leather only grew, as the top layer of the leather appeared to be delaminating further. What do you guys think, would you consider this acceptable for a 6 month wait for pre-order? I'm personally rather disappointed and have already contacted Viberg by email, waiting for their reply after the long weekend here in Canada. I'm hoping that I'm not being too picky in expecting a bit better QC, but I'm open to other's opinions on it too.

Why buy leather boots if you don't like the look of leather?
 

Tom71

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,680
Location
Europe
Got these Viberg 2040 service boots in Shinki horsebutt the other day. I immediately noticed the below pictured panel of the outside quarter of the left boot had some pretty questionable looking grain compared to the rest of the boot. I only tried them on for sizing and my concern for the quality of the leather only grew, as the top layer of the leather appeared to be delaminating further. What do you guys think, would you consider this acceptable for a 6 month wait for pre-order? I'm personally rather disappointed and have already contacted Viberg by email, waiting for their reply after the long weekend here in Canada. I'm hoping that I'm not being too picky in expecting a bit better QC, but I'm open to other's opinions on it too.

Totally normal, IMO.

Just to add more personal flavor: I think the boots look killer!
 

Harris HTM

One Too Many
Messages
1,879
Location
In the Depths of R'lyeh
Trickers Grassmere in Kudu, combined with a Platon Dubow a2.
AEA0117E-FEF4-4A1C-A2C0-B94957D811DA.jpeg
DA300BA7-4A84-4AD1-938E-4E0DC742BCD0.jpeg
 

Observe

One Too Many
Messages
1,207
Totally normal, IMO.

Just to add more personal flavor: I think the boots look killer!
I appreciate your input, but I'm still not satisfied with the look of it. I'm very OCD when it comes to uniformity. If all the panels exhibited similar characteristics to the one in question it would honestly bother me less, despite the overall (IMO) less appealing appearance. We'll see how it goes.
 

Observe

One Too Many
Messages
1,207
If you truly believe that this beautifully grained part of a high quality panel of leather is inferior quality, please return these boots asap so that someone else can enjoy them.
I would return them if I could, but they're a pre-order and thus ineligible. I doubt that this example would be showcased as what to expect when you spend a fair chunk of change and wait half a year for a pair of boots. I guess it shows that the hype behind certain makers and tanneries is not always reinforced by reality. I don't care who makes it, as long as it's good. If Viberg doesn't provide me with the option of a refund on the grounds that this level of QC is below par then I'll have to consider whether I wear them or sell. I highly doubt I'd get a decent price for them, considering the appearance of that panel, but I know that my feelings of disappointment would overpower any sense of enjoyment I'd get from wearing them.
 

Peacoat

*
Bartender
Messages
6,439
Location
South of Nashville
Got these Viberg 2040 service boots in Shinki horsebutt the other day. I immediately noticed the below pictured panel of the outside quarter of the left boot had some pretty questionable looking grain compared to the rest of the boot. I only tried them on for sizing and my concern for the quality of the leather only grew, as the top layer of the leather appeared to be delaminating further. What do you guys think, would you consider this acceptable for a 6 month wait for pre-order? I'm personally rather disappointed and have already contacted Viberg by email, waiting for their reply after the long weekend here in Canada. I'm hoping that I'm not being too picky in expecting a bit better QC, but I'm open to other's opinions on it too.
That wouldn't bother me one bit.
 

MrProper

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,285
Location
Europe
I would return them if I could, but they're a pre-order and thus ineligible. I doubt that this example would be showcased as what to expect when you spend a fair chunk of change and wait half a year for a pair of boots. I guess it shows that the hype behind certain makers and tanneries is not always reinforced by reality. I don't care who makes it, as long as it's good. If Viberg doesn't provide me with the option of a refund on the grounds that this level of QC is below par then I'll have to consider whether I wear them or sell. I highly doubt I'd get a decent price for them, considering the appearance of that panel, but I know that my feelings of disappointment would overpower any sense of enjoyment I'd get from wearing them.
Who tells you that the quality is below par?
I would say the shoes are flawless and the panel looks good. Just because it doesn't appeal to you visually doesn't mean the quality is bad?
 

Observe

One Too Many
Messages
1,207
Who tells you that the quality is below par?
I would say the shoes are flawless and the panel looks good. Just because it doesn't appeal to you visually doesn't mean the quality is bad?
It's my opinion that the quality is below par because of the delaminating top layer of the grain, which is distinct from normal grain break. I hate to be one of those "loose grain" types but here we are. You can see the veins bubbling out after only being tried on once. I can press down on those popped out areas and feel the gap between layers.
 

Tom71

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,680
Location
Europe
I appreciate your input, but I'm still not satisfied with the look of it. I'm very OCD when it comes to uniformity. If all the panels exhibited similar characteristics to the one in question it would honestly bother me less, despite the overall (IMO) less appealing appearance. We'll see how it goes.

Of course, your opinion is the only one that matters here. Sorry, that you don´t like the boots. What size (in US numbering) are they, if you dont mind me asking? I am really salivating over your pics...:)
 

Will Zach

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,804
Location
SoFlo
Got these Viberg 2040 service boots in Shinki horsebutt the other day. I immediately noticed the below pictured panel of the outside quarter of the left boot had some pretty questionable looking grain compared to the rest of the boot. I only tried them on for sizing and my concern for the quality of the leather only grew, as the top layer of the leather appeared to be delaminating further. What do you guys think, would you consider this acceptable for a 6 month wait for pre-order? I'm personally rather disappointed and have already contacted Viberg by email, waiting for their reply after the long weekend here in Canada. I'm hoping that I'm not being too picky in expecting a bit better QC, but I'm open to other's opinions on it too.
I think it is done on purpose. The rest of the panels show the leather super-smooth, the side panels are super-grainy. I am pretty sure it has been done on purpose, not a defect at all, if you don't like that look it is quite another matter.
 

Observe

One Too Many
Messages
1,207
Of course, your opinion is the only one that matters here. Sorry, that you don´t like the boots. What size (in US numbering) are they, if you dont mind me asking? I am really salivating over your pics...:)
11.5 Viberg size in the 2040 last. I believe their sizing is similar to UK sizing. I wear a 12 in most boots and a 13 in running shoes.
I think it is done on purpose. The rest of the panels show the leather super-smooth, the side panels are super-grainy. I am pretty sure it has been done on purpose, not a defect at all, if you don't like that look it is quite another matter.
This is the only panel on any of the boots with this issue, the rest are uniform.
 

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