Quality Bootmaker

I spent $ 25 to have them condition the leather of a purse. They covered it in thick brown shoe polish that stunk of chemicals and ruined the look and feel of the leather. Disappointed.

Too expensive! The shoe repair store across the street was much more reasonably priced and pleasant to work with.

This was a terrible saga. I am writing this so others are aware. I have never dealt with such an uncooperative, unethical business owner.
took 2 pairs of shoes to the Bootmaker — I took them there because they were a expensive shoes: Gucci black suede loafers and a pair of good black suede kitten heels with an unusual clover leaf heel (Manalo Balanik).
The Bootmaker is in Willow Glen (1483 Meridian Ave, SJ, 408−217−3147), I live in Los Gatos, so I do not get there often.
When my husband went to pick them up, the owner’s son was on duty and looked for some length of time (45 minutes) without finding them. They called me to request the claim check number, which I gave them and the son was not able to find them. He said I would have to call back and talk to his Dad.
I called the next day and spoke to the owner who agreed they could not find them. He then said that the check was old and the shoes had been left there too long. I said, did you throw them out? He said, no, that is not what I said. I asked what had happened to them and he said that they took shoes to the storage and that was likely where they were.
He told me that they had been left too long — and that the claim check said not responsible for articles left over 30 days and when did I bring them in? I said I didn’t know because there was no date on the claim check. I asked him if it wasn’t sound business practice to call, especially with clearly expensive shoes. He said «we don’t call».
So, I said, can you please check to see if you have my shoes and call me one way or the other. He said, No, we don’t call. I could not believe this — so I asked him again if he would please call me if he found the shoes. He said, No, I will not call you. You must come down here. I told him that I live in Los Gatos and that to drive down and back would be an hour. could he not please just call me when he found them? He said no. I told him that my husband had spent 45 minutes with his son looking and we didn’t want to go through that again if they were not there and could he please call. He said no, I will not call you.
On Nov. 2, my husband went back once again to the shop with the claim check. The owner was not in, the son was there again. The son could not find the shoes and told my husband that he would have to speak to his Dad, that he «just worked there». My husband gave the son his phone number and asked that Dad call, but the son said he had no way of contacting his Dad to give him the phone number. The son said that my husband would have to come back when his dad was there. When my husband asked when the Dad would be in the son replied he is traveling for the next week or so and I do not know when he will be here. My husband concluded by saying that you are un-​cooperative and we are going to do our best to spread the history of this customer service experience on the internet.
I am very unhappy — I do not have 2 pairs of expensive shoes, I paid over $ 250 for each pair — and the owner will not call me, isn’t there when we do as told… which is to show up on site. I can’t believe this guy can stay in business. I intend to pursue this, but want others to beware. This is not ethical business practice.

Where do I begin? I wrote a previous review about my situation but for those who don’t know…
I bought Vintage Riding Boots online that I apparently couldn’t live without and obviously they were too tight and they didn’t come with zippers so I was in a tight situation. No pun intended.
I was so happy about going here because it was super close to my neighborhood and the young guy at the counter who’s there all the time seemed really nice and helpful and he definitely knew what he was doing. I told him I needed these boots stretched.“No problem” he said, as he proceeded to tell me that it might take a while because it was vintage worn leather. Whatever.
He charged me 35 $ and told me to come back in a week and a half. No problem.
I come back, eager to try my «new» boots on… so excited. Literally, the boot didn’t change it’s shape WHATSOEVER. Really. Did my precious boots just sit in the disgusting cubbies in the back? What the hell! It’s been a week and a half and it was as if he never touched them, or simply forgot about them.
Mad, frustrated and heartbroken, I tell him my boots don’t fit still after «a week and a half of stretching» and he offers to keep them for another two weeks to see what he can do… still frustrated, I agree.
I come back again after two weeks, even more eager than before. I sit down, slip it on, and suddenly find myself struggling AGAIN. It’s been three and a half freakin’ weeks and nothing has changed. NOTHING.
Feeling completely taken advantage of and again, even more heartbroken than before; I storm out with my unchanged, un-​stretched and still too tight boots.
I call the next day, ordering for a refund of my 40 $ because obviously nothing had changed, and the young guy on the phone literally looses it and starts claiming, «WE DON’T CHARGE THAT MUCH TO STRETCH BOOTS WHO ARE YOU? I’VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING!!!»
Seriously, guy? I will NEVER NEVER EVER do business with these self proclaimed «Leather cobblers» ever again and I will do whatever I can from getting every each one of you to avoid this place altogether to save your valuable time, money and heartbreaks.

After taking shoes to two other shoe repair shops (one across the street from this place) and paying $ 60-​$ 80 per pair to get heels, soles, etc., this shop was an absolute find. The guy was super nice inside and the prices were very low… all I would ask from a shoe repair shop. I feel like this place is a best-​kept secret that the others don’t want us to know about.
Walk, don’t run…

I have gone to this address for years for shoe work, however it has been sold to an apprentice of the former bootmaker, who has opened another shop across the street near Dick’s Bakery. So I went in, thinking it was the former owner, and was told it would be over a hundred dollars for what I needed: new soles and some top stitching. Okay, so bite the bullet so I can keep my favorite shoes. When I picked them up, they had been top-​stitched with a black thread in that area (the other top stitching was tan!). I complained and he said they only had black or white thread. So they redid it in white which I dyed with a tea bag. Fine. But the real problem was the soles, they were far heavier than the ones the shoes had previously and I feel like I’m wearing waffle stompers! They threw my knee out for weeks until I learned to walk differently.

The heel on a boot lost the end part that touches the ground… somehow, I have no clue how these things happen. In any case I brought the pair in to get it repaired. The worker remembered me by my last pair of sandals. I was able to use my credit from my previous faulty repair. Good thing I brought the both boots in (not just hte solo broken one) in since both will have to be done to make sure they are even. Not something I entirely understand and it seems like extra work but they were willing to make it right… a sign of good customer service.
I got my boots back at the promised time. The heel doesn’t match the original exactly but I think it is only something I will notice. (fingers crossed)

Took in 2 pair of shoes that were reduced to leather jigsaw puzzles. Thanks to our puppy! I thought it was hopeless… But the cobbler dude said no problem, come back in a week… A week later… and magically my shoes were fixed! Looks great… solid reconstruction. I am very happy! And all for $ 30.00 !!

Hrm… maybe this place is under new management (?) The sign out front and the name on my receipt is «Quality Bootmaker…» same address, though.
i have been walking around in my mended stiletto boots for two days now, and the caps on the heels seem to have stuck well enough. i only paid $ 9.95. i’m contented.

I brought some boots here to have the soles glued back on, expecting to pay around $ 20. He wanted $ 60, which seemed excessive, but he managed to convince me that I’d be happy with the results. Well, they came unglued about a week later, and then after taking them back they came unglued again right away. I went to ask for my money back, but he said all sales are final and he doesn’t refund labor. So I’m out $ 60, my boots are useless, and I’m stomping mad.
I eventually bought a tube of Gorilla Glue, smeared it around inside the sole, and they’ve held for 6 months. Go figure.