Converse All-Star Cutbacks Leave Reader Shoeless And Sad
Gather 'round, Consumerists, for a tale of footwear-related woe that not even Zappos can fix. No. NOT EVEN ZAPPOS.
Jim has large feet. He wears 18 shoes, and a size 17.5 in Converse's Chuck Taylor All-Stars, his footwear of choice. Yet he recently received some dismaying news from Converse. Here is his story.
I've been wearing Chuck Taylor All-Star high-tops for many years. For my two cents, it's impossible to go wrong with classic canvas in basic black. I not only love the style, but the reasonable price, durability and comfort have kept me a customer for years. Year 'round, and into the ground...That's how I roll.
Unfortunately, they do wear out eventually. But that means I get to buy a new pair, and there's nothing wrong with that. At least, not until recently.
See, beyond the usual reasons people wear "Chucks," I enjoy additional benefits. First, I'm a drummer, and the flexible, low-profile soles help me stay connected to my bass drum pedal in ways other shoes are too clunky to allow. But another, more important reason is: They've always come in my size. And finding shoes in my size has never been a small feat for me, being as I don't HAVE "small feat" either. I wear a Men's U.S. size 18. And, given the "wear the size that's one-half size smaller than yours" formula that's been in place for as long as I can remember, that's always meant that I could put on the 17.5's right in the store, and I knew they'd fit like a glove the first time, every time.
But I recently went to Zappos.com to order my next pair, and when I tried the "shop by size" option...The black hi-top Chucks I've always worn weren't there. No problem, I thought. I'm sure they're just out of stock at the moment. I can probably get a few more weeks out of the ones I have. But in the intervening months, repeated visits to Zappos have revealed nothing. Occasionally I've seen them in other colors, and sometimes I've seen the low-tops...but not the black hi-tops I've always worn.
So, I figured I'd try your site. I navigated to the "Buy" section, and started picking out options. But when it came to sizing, I noticed that the U.S. size options now top out at 16.5...A full size too small.
Suffice it to say, if you've discontinued the largest size, I'm going to be pretty heartbroken. I mean, yeah...I'll find other shoes, I guess. It's not like I'll go barefoot, certainly. But It'll be a pretty major "end of era" for me. Plus, I'll have to re-learn a lot of my bass drum technique. And I'm getting to be the proverbial "old dog" that new tricks are becoming increasingly tough to teach to.
Please, please let me know you're still making my size...? And if not, I guess I'd like to know that, too. The sooner I get the bad news, the sooner I can start working my way through the traditional stages of grief, and the sooner I'll arrive at "acceptance." I'd hate to find another shoe, but to paraphrase another old saw: "If the shoe DOESN'T fit, I CAN'T wear it."
Thanks for your time. I look forward to hearing from you, and hopefully, remaining a customer.
Someone at Converse wrote back the very next day, with some bad news, but also a helpful suggestion.
From: Estore@converse.com
Subject: RE: Product questionHello,
Thank you for being such a loyal Converse customer! We appreciate that! However unfortunately we do not carry the size 18 or 17.5 Converse any longer. We do have a customized shoe section on the website but you are only allowed to customize up to a size 17. We realize how much of an inconvenience this is to you and we sincerely apologize for that. We can offer a suggestion, we have a retail locator on our website. If you go there and click to see all Converse Outlet stores, you will be able to see all the phone numbers to these stores. You can try to contact any of the Converse Outlet stores and if they still carry these shoes in your size you can place an order for them over the phone. They will mail the shoes out to you. We hope this helps. Again we apologize for all the inconvenience this may have caused you. Thank you and have a great day!Thank You,
Marina
Converse.com
Customer Service
At least the answer wasn't "sorry, pal, no more shoes for you." Still, as I write this blog post wearing size 5 pink low-top Chucks, my heart aches for him.
What would you do if you were Jim? Would you just seek out another brand of shoes and try to move on somehow? Would you call every outlet store in the country and build a massive sneaker stockpile? Would you hope that eBay will provide in the future? Jim welcomes any other suggestions.
(Photo: Kyle T. Ramirez)
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Comments:
He should start hoarding shoes.
Im only a size 15 and have a hard time finding shoes i like locally...and am crazy picky otherwise. I cant imagine trying to find size 18...
Id would (and have) bought an extra pair or 2 when I found shoes I really like (I like plain black boots most of the time, but only in certain styles). I hate the shoes this guy is talking about, but which him the best of luck.
To paraphrase other commenters, he could start making his own shoes at home.
The fact that someone might be unable to get Chuckies might just anger me more than anything on the planet.
No, I'm not kidding.
But, seriously, try for another shoe....Jim just might be out of luck.
There's a limited supply now, and it's only going to get tighter. I'd recommend he should get at least a couple years' worth of Chucks while they're still available, and start shopping for a substitute before he's desperate.
It sucks when a company discontinues an item you've counted on for years.
If I were in his shoes, I'd start making phone calls.
Oh god, that poor man. Chucks are the best shoes. If I were him, I'd call around and hoarde the fuck out of them. Check eBay or Amazon.
::hugs her lowtop black chucks close:: I am SO GLAD I have small feet now.
As a fellow drummer, who loves chucks but find they don't fit his crazy wide feet, let me suggest : wrestling or driving shoes. You might be able to find some of those in 17.5-18, and they feel GREAT on the kick pedals, with very little adjustment needed.
I'll hold a one-man candlelight vigil for him tonight and every night until he can purchase a pair of these hideous shoes.
@Eldritch: Then flip them for a profit to other giants who prefer shoes with no structure or support.
@Eldritch:
hid⋅e⋅ous /ˈhɪdiəs/ [hid-ee-uhs] -adjective
1. horrible or frightful to the senses; repulsive; very ugly: a hideous monster.
2. shocking or revolting to the moral sense: a hideous crime.
3. distressing; appalling: the hideous expense of moving one's home to another city.
4. Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars.
@Traveshamockery: I have high arches and feet that are really too wide to wear Chucks. Does this stop me? NO.
Cross-country running shoes, while not hightops, would be another good choice. Or ninja shoes - if you don't mind the stupid divider they put between your big and next-biggest toes (so you can fling throwing stars with yer feet).
@Eldritch: I'll sit here and hug my black hi-tops and my grey low-tops too...I wear an incredibly small size in chucks haha, like the kids sizes fit >.>
I wish they still sold red hi-tops though...to have them customized is expensive.
@bainelaker: I want bowling shoes! Not for drums, just because it feels so sweaty and special when you put them on.
@Eldritch: Going on the offense is going to help your case. Shoe preference is purely subjective. Some people like Crocs which I also describe as hideous.
You can wear Chuck Taylors, or Crocs, or house slippers; it's your feet. But I still think they are ugly and wouldn't be caught dead in them.
amputating the toes might work.
@HiPwr: I used to wear them as a kid (4-10 y/o) but yeah, when I was a kid. They don't appeal to me that much now either.
@katstermonster: Just get some men's shoes for those Peggy-Hill-sized feet. ;) You could also start a foot fetish site and get custom-made shoes with the money you make.
@katstermonster:
I'm in the same boat. It's impossible to find 10 1/2 women's shoes. Size 10 is too small, and size 11 is too big. We need a revolution.
Don't most CC shoes have the thicker soles, though? That's what gets annoying for drumming.
I already Stockpile. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a nice looking pair of womens shoes in a Size 11!
@bohemian: I think so, too. If he can afford it, and he truly loves these shoes, he should call every shoestore he can and buy up every pair he can find. I know how it feels to lose a perfect shoe, and years later I'm still reeling. Keep strong, Jim!
I am the big-sized shoe queen (family of giants, what can I say?). My brother with size 17 shops at a GREAT shoe store in Portland, Oregon called Oddball. They also have an online store. Check it out and expand your show repertoire.
@bainelaker: i don't have any particular model in mind, but New Balance have always fit my oddly-shaped feet nicely (9.5 4E). and i think it's one of their promotional slogans... "all types of shoes for all types of feet"
He mentions he's seen other colors aside from black - if these are important to his drumming, perhaps color can be substituted? If even for the drumming, then get a different type of shoe (or even the low tops in black) for regular use?
@HiPwr: I don't know, a pair of black or natural low tops are pretty classic.
If you don't mind me asking, what's your around the house/neighborhood footwear of choice?
Bad moment for that person but there is a reason behind stores not stocking certain sizes
Some people may say why cant they at least stock like 5-6 pairs but the reason why if because in order to get volume discounts, a store would need to purchase like 100+ from the manufacture, so if a specific size doesn't sell well they wont buy a lot because if the shoe goes out of style then they will have a lot of shoes that they may be forced to sell at lower than purchase price to get rid of
@katstermonster: Hear, hear! Add me to the size 10.5 revolution. Please let me know how I can assist.
No. They're like track spikes, but without the hard plastic plate and spike mounts. Very thin under the foot, and very flexible.
I wear women's 12.5, and that just doesn't exist, except at Barefoot Tess, which won't help him that much. :) But I totally feel his pain. Converse are the only sneakers I can really wear, and if my size disappeared, I don't know what I would do.
i would write a letter to the converse company and send a copy of these two letters. perhaps you can make a large order and receive a discount price and just stockpile a bunch.
@Con Seannery: He's tied himself in knots trying to get a pair. At least the customer service rep has a sole.
@katstermonster: this may the only moment in my life that i have been glad to wear a women's 10.
sadly, most shoe manufacturers haven't yet figured out that a size 10 may need a shoe a little wider than a narrow or medium.
10 wide, people, 10 WIDE please!
[and 10 and half for the other ladies here!]
also - what is up with not making women's dress shoes in sizes larger than a 9? i have had to buy dress shoes from stores that specialize in outfitting drag queens before!
@kym_21: yes, try stores that specialize in outfitting drag queens. i've had to do that before to get 10 wide women's shoes that weren't orthopedic, boots or sneakers
Been there when my favorites we discontinued by another maker. I started calling around and built a small stockpile.
That's what I'd suggest he do - fast!
Ooh, I might have to look into these for sure.. think they'd hold up for pavement running (urban) as well? I run with good technique, not heel impact.
At least he can go to other stores to find shoes. I wear a 9 1/2 wide which is nearly impossible to find anywhere so I am always stuck to either have way too small shoes or to have my feet slipping and slinding around in shoes too big.
I feel his pain. I wear a women's size 10.5, which you may be shocked to hear most manufacturers DON'T MAKE. They do half sizes 6-10, 11-13. It's bizarre and completely ridiculous. I can get Nikes in my size, but not a lot of other shoes. Converse always fit me, though...if they took away my size, I'd be heartbroken!