Working Shoe for Young Exec

[thundermarch]

This. I've actually never been hit by GST when local EMS service is used; not even for EG - where the declared customs value is enough to qualify for GST 4 times over.

It is important to note that thundermarch is a wanted shoe smuggler though.

Haha. i almost forgot about that.
Hmm... Which reminds me. I better keep a low Internet profile

 

[striker22]

I hope i am not offending anyone with this but it might be better not to discuss this on a public forum as if one has scored a prized trophy.

 

[BallGag]

I hope i am not offending anyone with this but it might be better not to discuss this on a public forum as if one has scored a prized trophy.

No kidding. Btw I'll see you at my dealer's place next week. 4kgs?

 

[dark_aLLeY]

Be careful with this benefit though. For a single pair of shoes that cost more than 8000 sek that would be good.
I had on one occasion bought 3 pairs. And though shipping became free, perhaps due to the large conspicuous package size. I was hit by gst when it should normally not be the case.

Thank you for highlighting this.

Btw, for carmina rain vs simpson, do you size up for simpson last? Or remain same size as rain last?

 

[striker22]

I'll text you. I'll send for a transport so dun bother driving down.

 

[benz1987]

Interested! Do keep me in the loop on this! Thanks!

Hi guys, don't mind me asking but I am trying to see how is the interest level here if I were to open a preorder/mass order on Loakes (all ranges), if I can hit the desired quantity needed I can give all a good price, for example the number floating in my head now is for 1880 range, 300 SGD (all in gst plus shipping). Needless to say discounts for more pairs of shoes are included in my mind

Disclaimer: if this does happen, I do earn a slight profit (low margins) for all the administrative and logistical issues. as I am working a day contract job which pays low and also have a interest to pursue such an avenue as a business experience.

Thanks guys let me know how you think!

 

[All in a Day]

Thank you for highlighting this.

Btw, for carmina rain vs simpson, do you size up for simpson last? Or remain same size as rain last?

Depends on your feet type. Have you had any carmina experience already?

For most people (based on unsubstantiated & anecdotal whatever-u-can-gather-from-the-internet data) it seems like Rain will fit 'true to size' (hate that term) and simpson requires going up 0.5

Some people may find Rain too spacious and either downsize 0.5, live with the extra space (because overall shoe length does not permit downsizing) or skip the last entirely. These people are likely to take simpson last 'true to size'.

 

[All in a Day]

I hope i am not offending anyone with this but it might be better not to discuss this on a public forum as if one has scored a prized trophy.

'this' as in GST or shoe smuggling?

 

[thundermarch]

Thank you for highlighting this.

Btw, for carmina rain vs simpson, do you size up for simpson last? Or remain same size as rain last?

i size up by half for simpson on most occasions apart from loafers. Sometimes i feel i might get away taking my "true size" (Which is typically 8.5) for simpson suedes. But i repeatedly chicken out at the last minute.
Rain 8.5 fits me pretty good.
As a comparison,
Simpson 9
Rain 8.5
Inca 8.5
Uetam (loafer last almost exclusively) 8.5
Forest 8.5
Oscar - I'm not going to try again. Omg

 

[dark_aLLeY]

Depends on your feet type. Have you had any carmina experience already?

For most people (based on unsubstantiated & anecdotal whatever-u-can-gather-from-the-internet data) it seems like Rain will fit 'true to size' (hate that term) and simpson requires going up 0.5

Some people may find Rain too spacious and either downsize 0.5, live with the extra space (because overall shoe length does not permit downsizing) or skip the last entirely. These people are likely to take simpson last 'true to size'.

Yes, I had tried on the Rain last, wholecut (owned by my younger brother), and fits ok, but the instep is kinda high, making the top of my feet (not toe) kinda snug instead.

 

[thundermarch]

Depends on your feet type. Have you had any carmina experience already?

For most people (based on unsubstantiated & anecdotal whatever-u-can-gather-from-the-internet data) it seems like Rain will fit 'true to size' (hate that term) and simpson requires going up 0.5

Some people may find Rain too spacious and either downsize 0.5, live with the extra space (because overall shoe length does not permit downsizing) or skip the last entirely. These people are likely to take simpson last 'true to size'.

This is quite true. I also do feel that Rain and Simpson are lasts that cater to fairly different feet types. Ie. You probably would fit well in only one of the two lasts and feel that the other fits slightly suboptimally due to sizing up or down with respect to the other

 

[koburn]

Depends on your feet type. Have you had any carmina experience already?

For most people (based on unsubstantiated & anecdotal whatever-u-can-gather-from-the-internet data) it seems like Rain will fit 'true to size' (hate that term) and simpson requires going up 0.5

Some people may find Rain too spacious and either downsize 0.5, live with the extra space (because overall shoe length does not permit downsizing) or skip the last entirely. These people are likely to take simpson last 'true to size'.

I don't even know what is the definition of "true to size" anymore.

 

[thundermarch]

I don't even know what is the definition of "true to size" anymore.

I would just take it to loosely mean -
The length that works most often for you, if the shoe was of "normal" or "F" width

 

[koburn]

I don't even know what is the definition of "true to size" anymore.

And to further add to the confusion, I just recently measured myself on the Brannock device and voila, I am a size 8.5US EE.

By the way, these are my sizings, if they are of any help to the folks in the forum:

Carmina Rain: 8.5UK
Carmina Inca: 8.5UK
AS 724 last : 8.5UK
Edetal : 43
Birkenstock(!) : 41

 

[dark_aLLeY]

i size up by half for simpson on most occasions apart from loafers. Sometimes i feel i might get away taking my "true size" (Which is typically 8.5) for simpson suedes. But i repeatedly chicken out at the last minute.
Rain 8.5 fits me pretty good.
As a comparison,
Simpson 9
Rain 8.5
Inca 8.5
Uetam (loafer last almost exclusively) 8.5
Forest 8.5
Oscar - I'm not going to try again. Omg

Thank you bro. I think this is pretty helpful.

 

[thundermarch]

Thank you bro. I think this is pretty helpful.

most welcome dude

 

[lirahs]

What's the damage? Where do u rate them on a scale of popular shoemakers?

Slightly below SGD$500 (no GST incurred btw. heh).

Personally, it's tad too early for me to judge as I have just received it the previous weekend. But, comparing QC & price ratio, I will rate it slightly below Carmina. The latter being better. Do note that Andres Sendra's RTW shoes are open channel sole stitching unlike Carmina's closed channel sole stitching. I prefer the latter anyway.

However, what I fancy about Andres Sendra is due to their highly interactive website that offers a wide range of customisation tool/options to their clients. Their occasional sales are enticing too! Last month, they had sales (15% off) in lieu of Father's Day. Currently, clients will get a FREE pair of shoe trees with every shoe purchase. This is applicable till 28 April 2015. On top of that, Andres Sendra offers gorgeous patina concepts too. Finally, their sales dept are prompt in replying queries as well; notably Mario Rodriguez.

All in all, if one wants to venture into unexplored, mid-tier realm, I suggest giving Andres Sendra a try.

 

[koburn]

Slightly below SGD$500 (no GST incurred btw. heh).

Personally, it's tad too early for me to judge as I have just received it the previous weekend. But, comparing QC & price ratio, I will rate it slightly below Carmina. The latter being better. Do note that Andres Sendra's RTW shoes are open channel sole stitching unlike Carmina's closed channel sole stitching. I prefer the latter anyway.

However, what I fancy about Andres Sendra is due to their highly interactive website that offers a wide range of customisation tool/options to their clients. Their occasional sales are enticing too! Last month, they had sales (15% off) in lieu of Father's Day. Currently, clients will get a FREE pair of shoe trees with every shoe purchase. This is applicable till 28 April 2015. On top of that, Andres Sendra offers gorgeous patina concepts too. Finally, their sales dept are prompt in replying queries as well; notably Mario Rodriguez.

All in all, if one wants to venture into unexplored, mid-tier realm, I suggest giving Andres Sendra a try.

Pretty fun website to explore how different colours look on different models.

EUR350 a pop for patinated shoes seems like an attractive proposition vis-a-vis those from SL.

 

[Jeremytanyewjin]

Thanks all for the expressed interest,

I have already settled the factory on their end, opening a hwz thread will only take a minute. What is left will be the pure logistical side of this.

I would say if all goes as planned. June will be a good opening date. Meanwhile you guys can prepare your budget ..

On a side note any one with logistics experience could pm me with your handphone number? I would like to seek advice so as to bring costs down, alongside reasonable freight times...

Thanks in advance!

 

[Incand3scent]

Thanks. The prices u quoted are reasonable imho n i believe there is definitely a market for loake at your pricepoint in SG IF there is more awareness and opportunity for sizing before taking the plunge.

On this forum, loake probably see a market in mainly 1st timers in GY welt shoes. Many of the rest here would be into higher tier brands. I have a soft spot for loake mainly becos their popular lasts work well for me.

Regardless, i wish u luck n let me know if a MO does materialise.

I'm one of the above-mentioned first-timers that might be interested. Please keep us posted. Good luck.

Along the same lines, if anybody orders those cedar shoe trees from Taobao as mentioned by yanbros and likehotbutter in post #9325, please hit me up! Thanks.