My love for Fluevog shoes began about five years ago in San Francisco. We were in the Haight and wandered into a store that seemed to have been stocked by Lewis Carroll and Tim Burton. The shoes and boots were dreamy with curvy heels, rainbow colors and an array of patterns that completely charmed me into spending a couple of hundred dollars for a gorgeous pair of shiny red pumps. I arranged to have them shipped across the country and delighted in becoming reacquainted with them upon their arrival. The box was filled with swag and treats and encouraging phrases and I continue to love those shoes years later.
When I was back in San Francisco during the summer, my friends and I revisited the same Fluevog store. My hope was to find another pair of fun shoes to mark my milestone birthday, preferably on sale. I was attracted to a pair of low heeled, red patent leather shoes, but decided that I really would get more use of a pair of black shoes that I could wear for work. The rubber sole of Fluevogs provides excellent footing for floors that might be wet or slick, as well as being comfortable for hours on my feet.
I narrowed my choices to two – one pair being on sale, while the others were full price. As I debated the expense, my sweet and generous friend made me an offer: buy the more expensive pair and accept a gift of $100 towards the purchase as a birthday gift. Touched and appreciative, I went ahead and bought the more expensive pair and, once again, asked that the purchase be shipped to my home.
About 10 days later, the shoes arrived in a box filled with fun items such as a boot shaped cookie cutter, mini bag of Nerds and other trinkets.
I was in love!
Until I wore them that is…
The shoes were unexpectedly tight. My left foot (just like my left boob,) tends to be a bit larger than my right and I felt an uncomfortable impression in my heel. I chalked it up to afternoon swelling on a hot summer day and placed the shoes back in their box.
I detailed what happened next in an email I sent to Fluevog after wearing the shoes.
Hello –
Last month while I was in San Francisco, I made a point of visiting the Fluevog store in the hope that I might find a pair of on sale shoes to add to the pair in my closet that I bought on my last trip to the store.
I say “on sale” because I don’t regularly purchase expensive, albeit fantastic, shoes for my upstate New York life.
While I was attracted to a pair of fabulous shoes that were sale priced in the mid $350 range, the pair I truly loved came in at just under $500. This was a definite stretch of my budget, but the friend I was shopping with told me he’d sponsor the purchase with a gift of $100 in honor of my upcoming 60th birthday.
We were assisted in the purchase by the lovely, Dee. After finding the right size, I asked if the shoes could be shipped to my home so I wouldn’t have to find space in my carry on only luggage. Dee confirmed that this could be accomplished and promised to add some special goodies to the box, including a cookie cutter. Wonderful.
Birthday shoes it was – sold!
I received the shoes the first week of September and excitedly opened the box, uncovering my beauties from underneath some fun, Fluevog only swag and tried them on. They felt a bit snug, particularly on my left foot which tends to be a tad larger than my right. I chalked it up to humidity related swelling and tucked them back in the box to await their debut.
Last night was the night. I paired them with a sweet 40’s style, sailor vibe chiffon dress and they looked great. They still felt snug, but I was confident that they would work.
Spoiler – they didn’t. What ensued was an uncomfortable, pinched toe and blistered left heel night. When I got home and looked more closely at the box, I realized they were a size 7. My feet, post children, have been consistently a 7.5 – 8.5. My other Fluevog’s that I adore and find wildly comfortable are an 8.5.
Is it possible I was shipped the wrong size?
I just don’t know what to do or what options might be available. I’m not really in a position to have a $500 pair of shoes sitting dormant in a box in my closet, yet recognize that in having worn them and thus nullifying the return option.
Can you please advise? I would greatly appreciate any assistance you might provide.
Sincerely – Silvia Lilly
Almost immediately, I received a standard email response saying that had received my email and would reach out to respond soon. About 10 days later, I realized I hadn’t yet heard anything and emailed the address again to ask if they had any further communication to share.
Later that afternoon, I received a phone call from my original sales associate in San Francisco. She apologized for the delay in response and told me that she personally was accepting responsibility for shipping the wrong sized shoes to me. I was advised to watch for an email, print the attached mailing label and return the shoes. Upon their receipt, the correct size shoes would be delivered to my home address.
They’ll be here next week – and packed in my luggage for my visit to Italy next month.
Customer service is not dead and Fluevog will forever be a destination for me when I visit Haight-Asbury. Thank you, Dee. ❤️
Do you had any exceptional customer service experiences – positive or negative to share? Are there stores or companies to which you have pledged your loyalty because of the way you were treated by representatives?
