Buying Doc Martens online?

[Billygobig]

Can anyone recommend a good online supplier for Doc Marten boots? I've done several searches but a decent site with good prices is about as common as rocking horse *****!

Thanks all,

Billy :)

[markccfc]

What do you want, safety or non-safety ?

The company i work for is an engineers merchants
based in South Wales, and we sell DM's.

Please let me know exactly what you're after,
and i'll get you a competitive (hopefully) price.

We'll deliver FOC if the price is ok, or can arrange
to post if you want.

[Lik Mearse]

Fellow Footmen,

a decent site with low prices for DM shoes is what I'm after. Any pointers?

Yours Comfortably,
Lik.

[DamienB]

If you're near Northants, there are a couple of real shops to try - Wollaston factory shop and the Doc Shop at the Rushden & Diamonds stadium in Irthlingborough (north of Rushden where the A6/A45 meet). The boots are rejects, which generally means they have tiny glue marks or other minor defects that anyone without AnalOVision (tm) cannot even see. Top whack is about 30 quid for a pair of boots, but they can be as low as 15.

[Grumpy]

I used to live in Wellingborough, about 10 miles from the Doc Shop and boy I miss those cheap shoes and boots.
It's worth the trip to stock up because they are so cheap however the choice is sometimes limited.

[Elickser]

http://www.cloggs.co.uk/

dunno how their prices compare but they do have a large choice, got some lilac ones on special at the mo :nuts:

[puddleduck]

If you want vegatarian DM's (ie no leather) you can get them from http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk.

They last a lot longer than leather DM's too :)

[Billygobig]

Thanks for the replies all. Much appreciated. Cheapest I've seen so far is the Army Surplus store in Cardiff for £50 but still shopping around.

Originally posted by markccfc
What do you want, safety or non-safety ?

The company i work for is an engineers merchants
based in South Wales, and we sell DM's.

Please let me know exactly what you're after,
and i'll get you a competitive (hopefully) price.

We'll deliver FOC if the price is ok, or can arrange
to post if you want.

markccfc, I'm after 8 hole smooth black non safety size 8 boots if you can help. I work in Cardiff anyway so collection shouldn't be a problem.

Cheers,

Billy :)

[Tempest]

Funny you should mention DM's

I've been buying and wearing DM's for years and years, and they have always been great.

Eventually the heel/sole has worn out (after about 2 or even 3 years of daily use) and then get a new pair.

BUT......

This pair I have now, I've had nearly a year I guess, and some the the stiching on the top of the shoe (Holds the lace flaps to the main shoe body) has started to come away already.

Like the thread is no good.

Now, this has NEVER happened before and I have not changed my habits etc etc......

As they are nearly a year old, do you think they would replace them, as previous pairs in no way had this problem EVER.

Is there a contact no I could use. Trouble is I don't want to be without them for ages whilst I send them off for checking as I need them for work daily....

[Billygobig]

Tempest, you might get the info you need from.......

http://www.drmartens.com/

Cheers,

Billy :)

[DamienB]

Originally posted by Tempest
Is there a contact no I could use. Trouble is I don't want to be without them for ages whilst I send them off for checking as I need them for work daily....

Sound like they are clearly faulty to me. Head office number is 01933 653111; address is:

Airwair UK
Station Rd
Irthlingborough
Northamptonshire
NN9 5QG

I do not know if they deal directly with consumers on this sort of issue but it couldn't hurt to write a letter to that address. If you could enclose original purchase receipt and a picture of the current condition of the boots, it may help too.

Disclaimer: while I work for them, the above is purely my opinon and conjecture - I'm not speaking for the company.

[babylon]

Tempest, I know what you mean; I've been buying DMs for years and always used to buy the cheapest but they lasted (even as a motorcyclist). Last time I purchased the more expensive ones with the softer leather, but the linings trashed relatively very quickly- don't have the receipt or anything any more so I replaced them with Cat's. The retailer I bought them from sells both ranges - similar prices but in their opinion the Cat's are btter made (certainly very comfortable). According to them, although DMs are British made, it's only really the assembly that occurs in the UK, the bits are all made abroad; don't now if DamienB can comment?

[markccfc]

Babylon,

Nearly all the Cat boots these days are made
in China/Taiwan or the Far East.

The ones we bought used to be made in Portugal,
but are now seemingly Far East, yet the prices
stayed the same.

Mark Smith.

[markccfc]

Billygobig,

I'll check the price for you on the 8-Hole
DM non-safety tomorrow.

They'll certainly be cheaper than £50 i'm sure.

Mark Smith.

[DamienB]

Originally posted by babylon
According to them, although DMs are British made, it's only really the assembly that occurs in the UK, the bits are all made abroad; don't now if DamienB can comment?

Some styles do use uppers that are assembled in the Far East. The leather is still EU-sourced I think. Soles for all styles are manufactured in the UK. Closing, i.e. shaping the upper into a shoe/boot shape and attaching to the sole, is done in the UK.

If people are finding uppers to be of poorer quality than in the past I would highly recommend complaining to the head office address above. Personally I don't think cost-cutting like this should be carried out :(

Some of the sillier excursions into trainers etc. have been manufactured abroad in their entirety.

[markccfc]

.

[Tempest]

Thanks for your advice on my faulty DM's

I'll take this issue up with them.