Footwear at the faire

[Radu the Gypsy]

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT BUY FROM CATSKILL. My own experience with them was

1) They promised the boots by end of fair after ordering them opening weekend.  They did not deliver them till 2 months after faire was over.
2) The boots were not correctly sized to my feet.  They were, in fact about 1 1/2 sizes too small and painful to wear when I could even get them on (which was a struggle)
3) Attempts to contact Catskills about this problem failed for 2 weeks, until I finally left a message that they could call me back that day or talk to a lawyer tomorrow.  Strangely, I got a call within minutes.
4) The owner of Catskill suggested several fixes, including putting on the boots and soaking them in hot water for several 30 minute sessions to allow them to Stretch, and to buy some expensive glop to apply to them to make them more supple and stretchable.  He flatly refused to replace them, and said there was simply no possibly way the boots were as small as I was describing, and that it must be a problem on my end (Aparently my feet grew 2 sizes over those 4 months waiting for the boots, in his eyes)
5) And lastly, when I told him I was in no way pleased with his product and was sending them back for a refund, he told me to look at my receipt for the words "No Refund under any conditions, products are As Is."

What I dont get is these guys knew I worked the faire.  THey knew I would tell people looking for boots and shoes to go elsewhere.  I've stood right in front of their shop when people have asked me my opinion of them, and loudly declaimed their actions.  And they continue to do this crap to others.

[Hey- Arent You?]

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT BUY FROM CATSKILL. My own experience with them was

1) They promised the boots by end of fair after ordering them opening weekend.  They did not deliver them till 2 months after faire was over.
2) The boots were not correctly sized to my feet.  They were, in fact about 1 1/2 sizes too small and painful to wear when I could even get them on (which was a struggle)
3) Attempts to contact Catskills about this problem failed for 2 weeks, until I finally left a message that they could call me back that day or talk to a lawyer tomorrow.  Strangely, I got a call within minutes.
4) The owner of Catskill suggested several fixes, including putting on the boots and soaking them in hot water for several 30 minute sessions to allow them to Stretch, and to buy some expensive glop to apply to them to make them more supple and stretchable.  He flatly refused to replace them, and said there was simply no possibly way the boots were as small as I was describing, and that it must be a problem on my end (Aparently my feet grew 2 sizes over those 4 months waiting for the boots, in his eyes)
5) And lastly, when I told him I was in no way pleased with his product and was sending them back for a refund, he told me to look at my receipt for the words "No Refund under any conditions, products are As Is."

What I dont get is these guys knew I worked the faire.  THey knew I would tell people looking for boots and shoes to go elsewhere.  I've stood right in front of their shop when people have asked me my opinion of them, and loudly declaimed their actions.  And they continue to do this crap to others.

and I have heard the same type of story many many times.
if you want boots like that...... go with Native Earth.... and if your feet are at all abnormal, pay the extra for a custom fit.
and do not believe the "wear 'em barefoot" thing.  get ultrasuperthinalmostlikestockings sox.

[Serenity]

Ok, I'm not in Colorado, but I had to reply with all the Catskill bashing.  I purchased my mocs at MDRF (my home faire) and everything was perfect.  I had no problems getting in touch with the employees, including the woman making my mocs, and they were sent just around the time they said they would.  Mine fit perfectly and are so comfortable.  And yes I wear them without socks.  I couldn't imagine wearing them with anything.  I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Catskill, but please know this wasn't how they treated me or anyone else I know on the east coast who has purchased from them. 

Best of luck to the original poster looking for shoes. 

[Hey- Arent You?]

Ok, I'm not in Colorado, but I had to reply with all the Catskill bashing.  I purchased my mocs at MDRF (my home faire) and everything was perfect.  I had no problems getting in touch with the employees, including the woman making my mocs, and they were sent just around the time they said they would.  Mine fit perfectly and are so comfortable.  And yes I wear them without socks.  I couldn't imagine wearing them with anything.  I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Catskill, but please know this wasn't how they treated me or anyone else I know on the east coast who has purchased from them. 

Best of luck to the original poster looking for shoes. 

and, yes, in all fairness, I do know of many people who swear by them, and love them too.

go figure.

[ladybootlegger]

Thank you everyone for the response!  I had heard some negativity regarding catskill before, but if I remember correctly it was all third party, no one directly affected.  

I will have to check out the new leather shop, and pop in to Native Earth.

[Francisco Paula]

You also got to remember that the ones that got burnt are more likely to talk about it than ones that have had a good experience. In Radu's case there is several things that could have happened, one calling Radu back to find out the problem instead of ignoring it and hope that it goes away. Now Rabu could have also taken them to shoe repair shops and have them size it so when talking to Catskill he could say they have been sized and you made them the wrong size. On Catskill could have asked for them to be shipped back so they could look at it incase it was a mistake on there part and replaced it. When you are talking a custom order the customer is paying that what he ordered is what he gets and people do make mistakes.

But thank you both on the negative and positive posts but for me just knowing the negative i will not shop there.

[Demetrius]

I've always liked the look of the boots at Catskill and I see them all over the place. I got mine from Native Earth though, and I love them.
My boots also cost about half of what I would have paid at other places, and they were already made- not custom fit- and they fit me perfectly nonetheless.

I too believe it is good to have a good shoe argument every now and then. I disagree with Sir Garath however, when he says "shoes is where the soul be!"  Yep, he said that right in front of my booth while someone asked if they could feel his shoes and someone else asked for funnel cake.

[Radu the Gypsy]

You also got to remember that the ones that got burnt are more likely to talk about it than ones that have had a good experience. In Radu's case there is several things that could have happened, one calling Radu back to find out the problem instead of ignoring it and hope that it goes away. Now Rabu could have also taken them to shoe repair shops and have them size it so when talking to Catskill he could say they have been sized and you made them the wrong size. On Catskill could have asked for them to be shipped back so they could look at it incase it was a mistake on there part and replaced it. When you are talking a custom order the customer is paying that what he ordered is what he gets and people do make mistakes.

But thank you both on the negative and positive posts but for me just knowing the negative i will not shop there.

My problem was primarily that they went out of their way to do absoutly nothing about the problem.  The dodged me right up until the legal threat (We're talking an $800 pair of shoes here, this isnt exactly pocket change).  I asked them to fix the problem, they claimed there wasnt one.  and when I insisted, they did everything they could to pass the buck to me.

Now, yes, I've heard people say they like their Catskill boots.  But I dont.  I got screwed and I didn't even get dinner or a kiss on the cheek for it.

[Francisco Paula]

Oh and on an $800 product they would stand behind there product which in your case they did not. To me sounds like they either missread the size or sent the wrong size to you but refusing to even investigate it so see if its there mistake and get it fixed.