Complaint Review: Hakky Shoe Repair - Huntsville Alabama

This is hands down the worst experience I've had in regards to shoe repair, or lack there of. I origianally went to this shoe repair kiosk because it was convienant, location wise. The gentleman who runs the stand is of asian descent. He mumbles, speaks very little english...so in terms of communicating the experience starts to turn downward. After, carefully, explaining what exactly I wanted done to the boots he said agreed. For the record I wanted the soles replaced, the stitching on the exterior of the shoe needed to be restitched and there are eleastic straps that hold the buckle in place. They straps were completely worn out, they needed to be replaced. Again, he agreed to each item I showed him specificially because I wanted to be sure he could do the different tasks.

I picked up the boots a week later. The re-sole job was half hearted at best. It appeared the sole had to be cut down to size. Apparentlly this is done with some sort of dull knife or a heated instruement that left traces of melted rubber along the sides of the soles. The stitching was done, but it was clear it was already coming un stitched, apparently tying off a completed stitch isn't something a shoe needs. The elastic straps looked really good. I was at least happy about that. These boots are my riding boots, so they didn't have to be picture perfect but they needed to be fixed properly so they are safe to wear.

Two weeks after wearing the boots the sole on one of the boots starts to separate, the stitching on the sides had all but come completely out. I took the boots back to him. When I showed him the work he simply said "No Charge, come back Thursday."

I didn't make it back until the following Tuesday. When I arrived I gave him the the reciept he had given me and I literally spent the next thirty minutes waiting on him to locate the shoes. This kiosk is about 5x12 working area. He's got so many shoes piled up behind the counter and they are not in any order, just piles of shoes. Finally we locate the first boot and 30 minutes later he holds up the second boot. He gives them to me. I looked at the soles and made sure they were glued back together, they were. The side stitching however had not been done. When I brought it to his attention he just stood there looking at me. No response, no apology nothing..just dead awkward silence. I guess part of me was waiting on a response from him. Finally he throws his hands up in the air as though he's totally forgotten about the stitching, but there was no follow up with an offer to fix the shoes. In disgust I finally said "just forget it" and I walked out. I was so mad at his crappy work, the time I'd spent running the shoes back and forth and now I've paid for services I didn't get.

I got up this morning and put the boots on I figured I'd wear them until I could find some place to do the stitch work again. As I'm going down the hall at work the boot tumbles off my foot and lands about five feet in front of me. When I look at the shoe I realize the elastic strap that holds the buckle has come un stitched from the side of the shoe. So now I'm at work with a pair of shoes I can't walk around in, as they'll just keep falling off.

The man that runs shop obviously could care less about his work, his reputation or customer satisfaction. I will not ever go back to the store. I'm curious if Hakky shoes has some sort of complaint department since I've learned this is a franchise type business. I'm sure not all Hakky Shoe Repairs are this bad.