Tip & Top Shoe Service

Friendly service. Got two pairs of shoes (both flats) back within one week, resoled and sturdy.

The Owner/​Craftsman of Tip & Top Shoe Service knows his craft. I am grateful that I now have a shoe repair source I trust, having found it on Unilocal recently. Top quality shoes (quality materials, comfort, construction) are expensive to manufacture, and to purchase. It’s great to find a good deal on Ebay, etc. And, if they’re shoes one relies on daily, it is worthwhile to take good care of them. For the repair expertise and materials of this business, the prices are reasonable and fair. Thank you, for the «second lives» on my Robert Clergerie, Fausto Santini sandals, Max Mara Boots, husband’s Boot New York shoes. This is our go-​to shoe repair expert in the City, hands down.

I’ve only ever seen one guy working here. He’s alright. His work is dependable, however his prices have gone up quite a bit in the years that I’ve been going here. His turn-​around time isn’t too quick, but it’s never more than a week. The one thing that really bothers me about this place is the fact that he ridicules you on your choices in footwear. If the style of the shoe makes it difficult for him to repair, if the shoes are somewhat cheaply made, if the way you walk makes the shoe wear unevenly… he’ll lecture you. It’s kind of unnecessary.

My first experience with this business was a recommendation from an employee at Home Depot in another city. I was looking for a rare vacuum cleaner part and had tried many different stores. The manufacture had basically said I could order the part from Amazon which would have taken a week to receive. I came to this business from the referral and the part was there on the shelf what a blessing.
Second experience I brought my daughters worn boots that I thought needed to be tossed for a heel replacement. it took a week to get the boots back, but the boots look better than new. Highly recommend this shop… No thrills, but excellent service.

They do a great job and knows how to take care of designer shoes. So far, I have brought in Jimmy Choo wedge, Prada boots, Valentino stud flats, and rag and bone boots. I’ve been very pleased with their repair work!

I brought in my leather Karen Millen ankle boots, that had cracked soles and worn heels. He fixed them up like new — maybe better than new. Gave them a good polish too. Can’t remember what he charged me but it was a good price. Very pleased.

Appreciate the quality workmanship here! I had picked up a vintage used pair of Ferragamo which needed cosmetic surgery, and they did wonders with it within a week! Coloured the leather and he advised me to fix the sole tip — which showed his expert knowledge in shoes! Yes he may appear not the most jovial but it’s probably a different generation thing, I did not find him difficult to work or communicate with. :)

I brought my Louis Vuitton tote and had the strap repaired and shorten. He did a great job. I guess is was an easy fix and a reasonable price of $ 20.

I have been going to Anthony’s before but since they moved to new location, it is no longer convenient.
I tried this place once, they did a good job. Recently, i put together a pile of shoes and brought them all in for repairs. I had 6 pairs requiring various level of repair. I think the total bill was $ 120, i felt it was a totally reasonable investment (considering the original cost of shoes). I also have to say that the job was just outstanding, top notch. I was very impressed with the way the shoes looked when I got them back.

Let me start off with this guy does a good job fixing shoes, no doubt about that. His attitude absolutely stinks and he takes too long. He is rude and thinks he knows everything.
My two experiences are :
1. I came in to get an eyelet fixed on my shoes, he did the job, did a good job but it took him over a week. I wasn’t concerned this time because replacing an eyelet takes opening up the stitches and is a careful job,
2. I came in to add vibram to my boots and heel taps. The owner looks over my shoe tells me i don’t need it, i told him i know but its a preference. Then he pulls out some generic tread that looks like garbage and tried to convince me that its just as good. On top of all that he quoted me 1 week to do the job. My other cobbler had a 1 day turn around. At this point i took my shoes and left.
Great work but lousy attitude and wait times.

These guys are shoe artists!
My shoes look brand new, what I appreciated most was the thought and craftsmanship put into the choice of materials used to rebuild the 3 pairs of designer shoes I dropped off… Upon return I was handed 3 pairs of shoes that retained the style I paid for when I first bought them.
Even the two star reviews admit that the quality of craftsmanship is excellent:
«Does very good work but has major attitude.»
Personally I didn’t experience any «attitude» but I could see a disconnect with someone that wants to just drop-​off their shoes and doesn’t appreciate artisans.
I’m a very satisfied customer!

I took a pile of shoes here for repair and shine. They did an excellent job. The repair work was perfect. The shine was good, but I’ve had better, hence 4 stars. Overall, I’m happy with the service and will definitely go back.

My new (barely two months old) Prada shoes had their soles torn. I was looking for some place through Unilocal!to find someone to stick them back and this was already frightening (what if glue be visible after?).
This place was the only one in the city with that much of reviews and 1* ones were only about price and rudeness, which I could perfectly deal with, not a single «i should’ve checked reviews first» like in many others.
When I came there, I was told I need to have an extra layer in my soles to be _​sewed_​in otherwise it will continue breaking. So I agreed. And never regretted. It was made so neatly I couldn’t see a stitch. I also found the price more than reasonable ($ 45 for sewing something it and then sticking soles back). No rudeness was detected, in fact the owner was super friendly.
I’ll definitely come back if I ever have any problem again, but «hopefully with not this pair again» — as the owned said: D

I recently purchased a pair of Wolverine 1000 Miles and was worried that constant walking on the leather soles in SF would ruin it faster. I came to Tip & Top Shoe Service to add rubber soles on the bottom for grip and protection of the soles. The work was done professionally and in a timely manner. It looks like they also polished the boots as well. I would definitely. One back and recommend them to others.

Great leather repair at really fair prices — the owner (I think he was the owner) is super nice also!

fast and very reasonably priced
I brought 3 pairs of boots for minor repair — install heel protector. The lady at the front counter was nice and I asked her if I could wait for them to install and she said yes. Anyway I gave her the shoes and I was done in less than 10 minutes. The price that was given to me was cheaper and unlike the other shoe repair shop that I went to, who always tell me to go back for the shoes the following day. Happy with their work, I found myself a new she repair shop!

High quality repair for re-​heeling two pairs of Kurt Geiger heels.
At first, I accidentally took them to West Portal Shoe Repair walking in thinking it was Tip Top. I quickly took those pairs of shoes back once I noticed the bill was for $ 22 and not $ 24 – a mere $ 2 difference in cost for the 5 to 3 star difference was a no brainer.
Happy with my heels, professional, quick, high quality service at a reasonable rate. Suede, leather, and clasps were even touched up a bit to look really stunning!
Solid local shoe repair. Will definitely be back.
Thank you!

I’ve been going to Tip Top for years. They’re two levels up versus anyone else in the city for shoe repair and maintenance. If you own high quality shoes and need them maintained, I highly recommend Tip Top.

Chung and Tip Top are outstanding! I have been taking my shoes there for the past 16 years and wouldn’t even think of going anywhere else. He is a really nice guy and very friendly. My shoes and boots are done so well that they are better than new. By that I mean that his repairs are really high quality and he uses the best materials to resole. I even trusted him with a 20 year old pair of Frye boots. He stretched them and repaired them. I couldn’t believe how beautiful they looked when he got finished with them. Chung takes genuine pride in his work. I do believe his artistry is a rare thing among cobblers today. If you care about your shoes and like to hold on to them for a long time, this is the place to go.

Tip Top have over and over proven to me why I drive across the bridge to give them custom.
Two pairs of custom boots and one pair of amazingly modified cycling shoes later and I am a believer.
If you, like me, think that spending a wee bit more for an object that will last a lifetime is worth the expense and you share a fetish for high-​end shoes, do yourself a favor and get yourself some hand-​made in SF, USA Tip Tops. Worth every penny.