Soliciting advice on how to "write" an unbiased" review" (but not really a review) on a freebie

I think at that price point and those designs they aren't going to become the new Carmen Mirandas or Meerkats of SF. Neither are most of those designs going to appeal to cashed up shoe nuts. They are shoes for people who don't read forums.

I see the web site talks about hand made shoes !!!! Well I suppose someones hand does indeed hold the shoe at some point. I doubt the AV status is worth more than 3 months @ $600 a month (plus the cost of a free pair of shoes - $200) to this vendor.

You do realise Mr C Horn - that all self righteous hell will break loose on SF when you mention you got given the shoes. Mr S Tit Ches will insert around 20 posts in a day, after he has ascertained which way the wind is blowing, and either make a small bid for iconoclast status, "I don't care I like their sprezz" or, as is most likely, jump in with an imagined response from his idealized younger hipper Mantonesque self. There will be a sustained charge against you for selling out while your followers over here have just blasted SF for much less.

The only way out for you is to claim these shoes are mostly vintage, after all they do offer a "patina", with some reproduction by inkjet.

I would however suggest you will gain much respect if you take the shoes, review them, wear them for a few weeks non stop - report on them, then cut them up to see what the workmanship is like - especially looking for glue, stitching, bits of plastic and gemming. Extra points if you ask DW the (humble) Boot Man, for advice on Topy for soles and pads to make them fit.

HTH
 
I know that was sarcasm, but I REALLY like the idea of cutting them up and seeing what the construction is like inside.

Hey, if you want to be original and bring a fresh angle to your "write up/pictorial" what better way to do it?
 
Well, if all hell breaks loose, it'll at least be entertaining. But fortunately the seller has been upfront about it, and I'm being upfront about it (as far as I know, he was looking to make similar offers--just to own the shoes and if they aren't crap vouch that they aren't crap if they aren't, in fact, crap--to several people, but I don't know who else). It seems the biggest complaint about the practice is that nobody is up front about it.

And yes, this'll give the brand publicity, but if they product isn't good, it'll give them bad publicity. And I am a good enough photographer, and I think that the people of SF are good enough at using photographs to infer quality, or lack thereof, that should they not be an excellent product, it'll be quickly apparent.

It'll be easier, I think, if there are obvious problems for people to point out. Harder if there aren't. If I censor nothing, I'll hopefully be perceived as less of a sell out, if at all. Especially if flaws are found and I do nothing but photograph them/much the shoe about to further bring attention to the flaws to be studied.

Though of course I hope they're excellent, even if their style isn't a good fit for the SF aesthetic.

I don't know how I feel about tearing apart a pair of shoes to the point that they can't be used. But I'd definitely consider donating them after a few weeks of wear. Or dunno. I might take them over to Resh at Unipair and have them taken apart. But that would definitely invite all sorts of holy hell.
 
Christ, a video review of the guy at Unpair taking them apart while giving commentary on the construction would actually be pretty fucking awesome.
 
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Rambo said:
I know that was sarcasm, but I REALLY like the idea of cutting them up and seeing what the construction is like inside.

Hey, if you want to be original and bring a fresh angle to your "write up/pictorial" what better way to do it?
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It would bring a JefferyD vibe to it. He was cutting up high end jackets for a while.

The destruction would be a noble end to the freebie and shut people the fuck up if they are getting on your case
 
Rambo said:
I know that was sarcasm, but I REALLY like the idea of cutting them up and seeing what the construction is like inside.

Hey, if you want to be original and bring a fresh angle to your "write up/pictorial" what better way to do it?
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Not sarcasm. Straight up.

But the real test of shoes isn't wearing them on your parent's carpet, or if they photograph well or if they can be saphired every week, or if the schoolgirls at the bar comment on them, it is the price and wearing the fuckers, on human feet, for a year in rain and heat and for your actual, y'know, walking stuff, without cleaning them except occasionally.

You need to scam two pair - one to wear for a year and one to cut up on video now.
 
I'll be wearing them hard. 4 days, 10+ hours a day, treed day of rest between. Ideally I'll post updates after a few months...if I don't take them apart.
 
Chorn said:
I'll be wearing them hard. 4 days, 10+ hours a day, treed day of rest between.
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that's not enough. anyway.

tell him/them that sf is not their target group send them back. saves you a lot of headache. understood, that the guerilla marketing mercenaries are already watching the thread and posted in them. you won't get them off your back. no way.
 
See, I was thinking that, but the more I ponder Jimmy Frost Mellor's idea, the more I like it. It would really be a breath of fresh air. So, here's my proposal:

-Get shoes, take pics, write notes for later use, post online and do your whole "this isn't a review but it's still a review so tell me what you want me to talk about" business. Also, take them to Unpair before your first wearing, and get him to give you his detailed professional opinion. For the moment, keep those notes to yourself. A video review would be good marketing for Unpair.

-Wear them every other day for 2 months straight. Take a series of pics after 1 month, and then after the second month.

-After 60 days, take them to Unpair to get him to review them again. But, this time, have him literally take the shoes apart and check everything from soup to nuts. Maybe cut into them across the center of the shoe horizontally so we can see the internal stitching that way. Have him take off the heel, etc.. Again, a video here would be fantastic.

-Post it online with an actual review of your time with them. If they caused pain, if they wore unevenly, if the leather didn't take polish well, etc..
 
Man, that seems like a lot more effort than I'm willing to go through. Every other day for two months? I don't think I have a pair of shoes I wear more than 4 times a month.

I do like the idea of getting the opinion of the shoe from Unipair, but that also strikes me as a bit...odd...given that they're another Affiliate Vendor.

I've messaged him to suggest he donate a pair to someone (not me) to be dissected.
Perhaps one with a superficial flaw that prevents him from otherwise selling it.

-----

re: SF aesthetic

I've long since given up trying to understand which AV's will get their money's worth and which won't. Elite Suits is an example of an AV that I would have expected to gain nothing from SF affiliateship, but they're still sending 600 a month on to SF a year and a half later.
 
tI think you underestimate the number of non members who find sites like SF/AAAC through search engines and click through to an ELITE suit or similar based on price and some looks. Most don't bother to read any posts or at best one or two on a subject or more likely a brand.

OTOH marketing is notoriously full of bullshit and no one knows what works or not. But then any AV worth their salt would be able to see how many site views come through SF, how many of those convert to sales - a bit nebulous perhaps - but at least how many click through and have a good look around a site.

Most retail people are pretty bad at using data sensibly to gauge their market and who the customers are. So its not hard to see people spending money unwisely but convincing themselves they are building "profile" and /or the lamest of all "its strategic".

Still at $600 pcm or $7200 pcy its a big spend that needs to justify MORE than $7200 pcy of sales above other costs to be continued. I'd suggest thats at least 4 extra ELITE suits a month or 50 or so a year. Maybe. Maybe not.
 
Though I just realized this thread has gotten entirely off topic, as it started under the assumption that I would be keeping the shoe--and then explore whether an unbiased, equivalent system to a review were possible, if we assume a primary function of a review is to bring good publicity to a good product and bad publicity (or perhaps just "negative attention") to a bad product.

We know it's possible to provide an unbiased review if the gift is destroyed and returned (not ruling out the dissection idea though, as that would certainly be cool).
 
I don't really see it as a big issue.
Treat it like a film or book review. A guide for the potential buyer. Does it fit TTS, is it comfy. Does it look like it will stay together and last ( see that - LAST!). A few pics of it in the wild. Tell the price. People should be grown up enough to make up their own minds. Anyone who acts on a "Gee Whiz this is the best shoes since my Alden seconds in 2011 for $149.98" review is an idiot anyway. Everybody on forums is too precious about bloody clothes and more so about shoes.

Edit:: make it real.
How do they stand up to being pissed on in a public urinal, vomit on them - see how they recover, drop kimchi or beer on them, photograph and see how they brush up. How does your main squeeze like them, how do they work without a fuckin' nancy boys shoe tree every night. Can your occasional G/F slip them on to take garbage out. What happens if you fall asleep drunk in them, can you sniff coke or crystal meth off them, are they fine to play hacky sack or kick someones arse. Good for pedaling a bike? or kicking a rabid dog out of the way. How do they perform holding a elevator door open.
 
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Jimmy Frost Mellor said:
Edit:: make it real.
How do they stand up to being pissed on in a public urinal, vomit on them - see how they recover, drop kimchi or beer on them, photograph and see how they brush up. How does your main squeeze like them, how do they work without a fuckin' nancy boys shoe tree every night. Can your occasional G/F slip them on to take garbage out. What happens if you fall asleep drunk in them, can you sniff coke or crystal meth off them, are they fine to play hacky sack or kick someones arse. Good for pedaling a bike? or kicking a rabid dog out of the way. How do they perform holding a elevator door open.
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this
 
I don't think he's talking about Unipair directly. Unipair has an independent cobbler, Resh, that contracts with them and has space in one of their locations. Resh is the best cobbler in Seoul. Granted, South Korea isn't a place I'd associate with quality footwear, but with a metropolitan area of like 25 mil, being the best has to count for something.


Hmmmmm...so I guess technically that isn't going to be a conflict of interest on their (Resh's) part. I know they thought highly of Howard Yount's boots given their price point. I think I'll definitely take them there for a once over, though probably after a few wears.
 
Jimmy Frost Mellor said:
Edit:: make it real.
How do they stand up to being pissed on in a public urinal, vomit on them - see how they recover, drop kimchi or beer on them, photograph and see how they brush up. How does your main squeeze like them, how do they work without a fuckin' nancy boys shoe tree every night. Can your occasional G/F slip them on to take garbage out. What happens if you fall asleep drunk in them, can you sniff coke or crystal meth off them, are they fine to play hacky sack or kick someones arse. Good for pedaling a bike? or kicking a rabid dog out of the way. How do they perform holding a elevator door open.
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This. 1000x this. Especially the bolded.
 
Chorn said:
I don't think he's talking about Unipair directly. Unipair has an independent cobbler, Resh, that contracts with them and has space in one of their locations. Resh is the best cobbler in Seoul. Granted, South Korea isn't a place I'd associate with quality footwear, but with a metropolitan area of like 25 mil, being the best has to count for something.
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Correct
 
I promise to provide a video of the shoes being repeatedly closed on by elevator doors. Perhaps a compilation of elevators around Seoul.
 
Chorn said:
I promise to provide a video of the shoes being repeatedly closed on by elevator doors. Perhaps a compilation of elevators around Seoul.
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Its really too bad you're not in Japan. I could see us spinning this into a lucrative porno empire.
 
i think with the morphing of your initial plan into a true test drive/report you have a real opportunity to provide a new level of iGent reportage that is rarely seen. adding a cobbler's take is another nice angle that brings a professional opinion to augment your experiences. destructive testing is now a MUST.

don't start coke or meth just for the sake of this review. hopefully you are a user already
 
Meth is for plebs. Coke is for the unoriginal.
wVQ1ZwG.png


----

In seriousness, I probably will not tear it a part. Two reasons:

a) 65% I want a free shoe
b) 35% I want to explore the extent that one can be systemically objective when given free stuff.

Though I may take the heel off and other things that can easily be repaired by a cobbler.
 
sigh. go back to them, explain why you want a second pair to wear after the destructive testing of the first pair.

if you don't i will never read you posts again. see, i've already stopped "liking" your posts
 
Fame is more desirable than a poxy free shoe.

I wasn't suggesting you start taking coke and meth. I just assumed you'd have easy access and tbh I couldn't think of any other stuff you could easily and productively sniff off a shoe. Feel free to lick saphir polish, although I can say from experience that Kiwi hits the nasal cavities better.

I hate to get all sober here, but there's not reason why you can't carefully disassemble the shoe stich by stitch then have your Seoul Sole Man skilfully reassemble it back to near new. After that's what they do isn't it? Should only cost half the price of a new shoe and, for bonus points, demonstrates your commitment, honesty, cleverness, integrity and moral superiority to Crompton et al.
 
I suggested the deconstruction video yesterday. It is something he will pursue. I'm encouraging him to use a third party rather than doing it himself.

I also asked what was done by hand. He says they are dyed by hand and hand lasted (?). And some of them are hand stitched while others are machine stitched guided by hand. These are all details which I am not going to include but which he will be welcome to should he want to

EDIT: I LIKE that idea, JFM. I will inquire with Resh. Still maintains the moral dilemma while going as far as possible in destroying the shoe

But free shoe > fame
 
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W walker

Alright man, gonna need your help (and others). Received the shoes today. Will be taking them to Unipair tomorrow (if I have time). I've decided that I will have Unipair take them apart if M Andrews decides not to have some taken apart on his own (though I think he is).

Walker, I know there is no substitute to actually holding a pair of shoes in your hands, but if you had to only examine a shoe visually for quality, what ten images/pictures would you ask for? What parts of the shoe, at what angle, in what position, how close, etc etc etc.

On a related note, what is this (what looks like little staples below the footpad):

 
I would guess that's some sort of heel attachment, but I have no idea what the fuck it is.
 
ad hoc.

clags, I get back to you later on the "pecularities". unfortunately, the start is not overly promising but it is what I expected and what I already described as industry standard. they are in good company, no pun intended.

actually, I didn't update my advice to you. use this particular pair for dissecetion(unworn). In an ideal world Mr. Resh is capable to reassemble it, but also the guys at M. Andrews. that's what I would do, if I were in your shoes.

ask for the moc toe as gratification. whether they are your style or not, atm. you'll thank me later. they are really something and this is a model which speaks to some folks on sf. think of the bontoni fanbois.

to be continued...

ps: ramboni, heel attachement is serious business. not found in RTW, though.
 
TBH, I'm glad you can spot that it is less than promising. It means that the quality will be readily observable in the picture and I won't have to deal with "Claghorn('s camera) is taking it easy on those shoes because he was given them for free"

The Moc toes are actually the only ones of the current collection that really speak to me. There is another coming out that looks nice, though brownish-olive is an unusual shade. Good call on those.

Also, the leather is wayyyyyyyy softer than anything I've felt on a shoe. Zero stiffness (except the toebox). No idea if this is a good thing or not (durability issues?), or what causes it. The leather is very supple. I don't know what the opposite of "dry" is when referring to leather, but this is it. It feels as though it should be oily, though it isn't (at least nothing that comes off on my hands). Any ideas what type of leather or finishing this could be? It also doesn't smell like any leather I've come across.
 
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Chromexcel? Its stuffed with oil. Kinda like botox lips. Only softer and more kissable.
 
So for the sake of journalistic integrity, I must kiss these shoes?
 
I think the situation demands kiss, lick, perhaps even wear and most likely frottage.
 
I don't think it's chromexcel; isn't that exclusive to Horween? Also, it's pretty shiny.
 
Wearing them today. The leather is really, really soft. There is no resistance in it whatsoever. Less pliable than really thick canvas, but barely. Don't know what that means, or if it is a good thing or not, or how it will affect durability.

I took a few pictures today. I'll upload them at some point. There are two blemishes, one in the finishing and the other in the leather. In the finishing, there is just a dark smudge, out of place. The leather has some sort of.....I don't know....scratch? Probably about a 1mm x 2mm. You can feel it. Both are in the heel area. Took pictures of both for the initial post.

The finishing is a little uneven. The darkening of the toe on one shoe doesn't quite extend as far as the darkening on the to of the other shoe.

I took a picture, facing the shoes, from a 180 degree angle to see the balance (?). The shoes aren't perfectly even, with on toe elevating a few millimeters more than the other.

Anyway, as I think the camera is doing an excellent job conveying these issues, I'm not mentioning anything about them in the thread. To be fair, I'm also not mentioning that the shoes are super comfortable and can that the laces can actually entirely close over my high arch (rare, for me). The latter, I might show. The former, I'm assuming is a product of Blake construction and therefore will be assumed by most people.

W walker , what I should/could I be photographing? I pulled out the footpad entirely and took a picture of the inside of the shoe. Those weird staple things only were on the heel portion of the insole (?) and there are little dots running around the rest of it (the Blake stitching?)
 
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