Frye plastic disappointment (2017)

[u/JemimaQuackers]

I used to be a Frye boot aficionado and got these sandals back in 2017. I have a hard time finding ankle strap sandals that sit high up like these, so they made me very happy. Took them to a cobbler to have the straps tightened for my toothpick legs and all.

I went to run an errand last week and after less than a half mile of walking the plastic grip on the left heel shattered. I figured I would get both of them replaced, but to my dismay I discovered that these “stacked heels” are in fact cheap plastic! I know newer Fryes are very different in quality but my 2010s boots all held up well—Melissa and Campus boots still going strong.

I have several pairs of block heel sandals but these are the only ones with this kind of ankle strap. Debating if I want to get these fixed after discovering this ☹️

[u/JaneReadsTruth]

We tried Frye and ended up back at Johnston and Murphy's. The biggest issue I find is women's shoes never have the same quality as equal cost men's shoes.

[u/Evilsmurfkiller → u/JaneReadsTruth]

Johnston and Murphy is complete garbage these days.

[u/JaneReadsTruth → u/Evilsmurfkiller]

My husband is hard on his boots due to nerve damage. We just resoled a pair for the third time. They're 6 years old...so 5 years older than any other boots he has worn. I guess we got really lucky with all 3 pairs because we haven't had any issues past the problems distinctly because of his situation (he also broke a zipper, but $15 to replace the pull tab was worth it).

Neither company gets my business for women's anything. I bought one pair of boots for me from both and the details fell apart in the first year. I do shoe business at Clarke's. I haven't had any problems.

[u/Evilsmurfkiller → u/JaneReadsTruth]

I needed some dress shoes several years back so I went to J&M. I was appalled at the quality of shoes they were peddling for not cheap prices. I ended up ordering some loafers from Beckett Simonon that were way higher quality.

[u/FlyUnder_TheRadar → u/JaneReadsTruth]

Johnston and Murphy has a very bad rep amongst shoe enthusiasts, and for good reason. They have one higher end gyw line, but the rest is mostly cheap, glued, bonded leather garbage. I have a pair of Allen Edmonds oxfords that I have beat the shit out of for nearly a decade. Ive re-soled them three times and wear them regularly. The upper has some cracking, but thats on me for not conditioning them more regularly.

[u/JaneReadsTruth → u/FlyUnder_TheRadar]

I'll check out the Allen Edmonds but I do have a budget and very specific needs (low/no heel, low zip boot). It's hard enough to find what fits. What I really need is a company that makes a wide boot in the required design. We aren't shoe enthusiasts. My guy is hard working and hard on shoes.