Austin Shoe Hospital

My wife brought in a pair of my Teva sandals to get the soles reglued. The first time I wore them they started peeling back off, so she took them back. The clerk actually ACCUSED HER OF BRINGING IN ANOTHER PAIR OF SANDALS! He said there wasn’t any glue in there. Well, I agree but it’s the same pair. He then refused to repair the sandals again, or refund the $ 20 he charged to not fix them the first time.
I have filed a complaint with the BBB, and I suggest that you avoid this place like the plague.
UPDATE:
The BBB contacted the shop, and they are now willing to reglue the sandals.

Really bad experience!
My shoes were suppossed to be picked up on a certain day, i couldnt make it in. I tried calling and left a vm. My mom went to pick them up a few days later and the guy that was at this location was mad at her because she was picking them up «late» and as my mom was walking out he said offensive and racist words!
Good job!

I’m Disappointed. After reading the reviews it turns out no pole dancers anywhere to be seen. ;-) I’ll have to wait for the ROT rally. Just good service, boots ready as promised, and excellent workmanship for a sole replacement. Confidence is back when putting my feet down on my Harley. Grip is great!

There is one guy that works on the Ben White location that scares customers. My girl is not going back there no more. The guy donot take the orders exactly the way it should be taken, also, again, that guy is not treating customers RIGHT at all. In despite of the good job they do normally. Bad energy destroys your business.

I am new to the city and moved into South Austin area about 7 – 8 months ago and looking for a shoe repair shop. I saw this location and thought, well it looks a little shabby, but I will try it, it’s a convenient location for me. Man, am I disappointed. I have been in several times and it’s always inconsistent service, but the last 3 times in a row I am shut down almost, as soon as, I open my mouth. I started noticing that when this strange looking woman is in the back office, the cobbler is shorter and ruder than usual with me, like he wants me to leave, as quickly as, possible to get back to his womanl and I’m just an interruption… and the shop smells like cigarette smoke too, which is annoying!
Last Wednesday was «it» for me. I went into the store around lunch time with a simple request to have the heels replaced on my loafers and was quoted $ 90, which is ridiculous, so I left. The same woman was there again, (I could smell the cigarette smoke, tell-​tell sign) so maybe the inflated prices are his way to rush me out, so he could get back to what he was doing with her. On my way home from work about 4:00ish I stopped by to just run in to pick up some shoe laces, which I forgotten earlier. I parked my car and my cell phone rang, so I took the call and was on the phone for about 4 – 5 mins. As I sat on the phone, the woman that is was there 4 hours earlier came bouncing out puffing on her ciggie and I got a good look at her. I think I now understand the whole scenario that I have been exposed to for months. She looks like an «old» pole dancer, so maybe it’s a trade off… lap dances in exchange for shoe repairs. Now, I totally understand why I am rushed out the store with rude service and high prices, he has to get back to his entertainment. I drove off, never to return.
As you say in Texas, Adiós, Amigos!

I just read the review below claiming the shop smells like cigarettes and there’s an old stripper that hangs out in the back. Wtf!!! I’m speechless. I’ve been coming here for a while now and I’ve NEVER experienced anything like that. Either Ethan has an ax to grind, he’s got the wrong location or he’s just flat out nuts. The cobbler is a great guy. Always super speedy and fixes my shoes perfectly. Plus he’s a pretty funny dude that’ll make you laugh from time to time.
This place is great. The other reviewers can suck it. Recommended.

Ugh, most inconsistent service I have ever experienced. I waited to downgrade my review, but rude service, work that is over priced and of poor quality has forced me to move on to another shop that has a REAL cobbler. I’m sure the only reason this store is still open is due to the location, it is super busy and convenient and in an area that is growing, however, with the attitude and pricing it’s time to move on down the road and have someone respect me as a customer.
**Update** — I have changed my rating. The store starting changing about a year ago with bikers hanging out, not as customers, as they were behind the counter… odd. They finally disappeared and a woman took their place behind in the office area. At first we thought she was with the home office and was there to oversee the operations, but quickly realized that the service was worse. When she was there, you were rushed out with quick, rude response and high prices just to get rid of you, or that is how we took it. She was there 8 out of 10 times over 9 months that we stopped, again just odd.
I read the review from a girl, obviously a friend of the manager who berated a fellow Unilocaler for his honest opinion of the woman in the shop and his treatment by the manager, so I will also verify I saw and experienced the same thing. I’ll do one better, the woman is short, has 2 inch black roots, platinum hair with hot pink highlights and looks like a hard 60 years old… she does exist. So let’s stop taking up for our friends, talking smack to reviewers and work on the service. Also take time and see when the Unilocal reviews are bad, all of a sudden a flux of women come out for «Jason». We have been coming here for over 2 years and never knew his name? Take about a personal agenda.
The last straw was Friday when my husband walked in and another biker was behind the counter… Done!

I am disappointed in Austin Shoe Hospital. I have tried multiple locations over the years (the last time being this location) and their customer service is just poor. They treat you like they are doing you a favor servicing you and they are also quite expensive. It is unfortunate there isn’t more competition to force them step up their game or at least provide more options to choose from for shoe repair.

The guy behind the counter has poor customer service, and a sorry ass attitude to boot, based on that alone I won’t be back, reading some of the reviews here, with this guy as far as customer service, makes perfect sense. he should be in the back fixing soles and get someone with the right attitude and customer service sense up front. Every bad review accentuate the NO care attitude of this guy.
Highly expensive for really average work, with a fool in the front counter.
Won’t return.
Thank you Carrol, but if you’re the owner may want to consider get someone with common sense, good attitude and with a yes I can do attitude, I work for local accompany like yours that our motto is «knock your socks off service «
And we enjoy great reviews and awards an all social sites Facebook, Unilocal,Angie’s list with several awards, it’s not about making it right to ME but for your business, as you read several of your customers have complained about this no service sense, insensitive clown you have up front, several of your female customers have complained here, I’m a man and felt no treat but disgusted over his lack of people’s skills, that it.
Thanks for your reply. I’ll probably will return if I don’t see this individual working at your counter.

This review is for Jason and since he works there, the entire company benefits from his exemplary customer service.
Reasonable. Honest. Veteran-​friendly. 100 percent no-​nonsense character.
I drove up to inquire and he immediately deducted a 10% discount after he saw my TX Disabled Veteran plate. Great work resoling my Australia-​made Blundstone 500 boots by substituting Vibram Gumlite soles in lieu of the original-but-globally-sourced-thus-P.O.S. thermo polyurethane and now the boots are waaay better than new! And — he stitched them as opposed to the simply glued-​on originals so the next time, a resole will be faster and at nearly half the cost on the SAME pair.
So now, my beloved «Blunnies» are an amalgamation of the best of two countries and is sure to last far longer than the manufacturer intended. On top of it all, I found my Go-​To boot repair guy — to boot, LOL!
Way to go, Jason!

I have a great pair of tall black boots that I love and look great on, however, I had managed to lose the bottom part of the heel on one and the second one eventually fell off as well. I figured it would be much cheaper to just have them re-​heeled than try to find another pair that I liked as well. I was referred to this place by a friend who used them all the time. Jason was very nice and listened while I sheepishly handed over my sad boots, assuring me he would get them all fixed up. A few days later, I picked up my boots and they were good as new. I’ll absolutely use them again.

Ok, so long post ahead!
I’m not very kind to my shoes, but I subscribe to the old school method of fixing things rather than buying again when possible. I just started a new job and took my favorite work shoes in. They’re black suede and the heels were so worn down that the shoes insides (not the technical term, I’m sure) were visible.
I brought them into the store, and the manager, Jason, was able to quote me a repair time and price and explained what needed to be done and why.
A few days later I picked them up, they looked great and the repair was much more subtle than I was expecting. I thought the whole sole was going to have to be replaced, thus ruining the shoes profile, but he was able to just seamlessly integrate the heel in! I also asked about stretching out some sandals, and he told me that they don’t do that, explained why (possible shoe damage) and recommended a product that so far is doing the trick.
Well, when I went home and looked closer at the shoes it looked like a piece had been cut off of the suede at the back of the heel! I was upset because I was sure that this wasn’t like that before I came in, after all, the other one wasn’t like that. So, trying to be calm, I called the store, explained the situation, and was told to come by so Jason could look at them.
I was understandably tense coming back, and we both looked at them. I explained I hadn’t ever seen them cut, and that it looked like a piece had been removed, maybe in the heel repair process? Together we looked at them and after a bit of explaining and education on Jason’s part I came to the realization that there wasn’t a way that this could have been done in the store, it was clearly done when the shoe was manufactured (thanks DSW…) I just hadn’t noticed it before now.
Needless to say I was a bit embarrassed, but he was very professional about the whole thing.
I will be back, the quality of work was good and I don’t see myself being kind to my heels any time soon!

I usually read Unilocal reviews beforehand but I picked this place because I drove by and thought their store sign was cute. I brought in two different sandals. One of which Jason fixed right on the spot, no charge. The other was repaired and ready a few days later. Jason did a great job on both sandals.
As for customer service, I found Jason very comical and helpful. After reading some of the other reviews, I can see how some find his customer service unorthodox. He has a unique sense of humor, which fortunately I understood.
In conclusion, I’ll be returning with any future shoe repairs. Skilled workmanship + a handsome, hilarious cobbler = A+.

I brought in a weird repair of sorts to the Austin Shoe Hospital on Ben White… I’d inherited a handbag from my mom but the strap drop was too wonky to wear it on my shoulder without falling off all the time so I asked the Shoe Hospital if they could build me a matching detachable crossbody strap. Jason, working behind the counter, told me it would take «a long ass time» since he wanted to be sure they dyed the color correctly and found the right type of leather to go with the purse. Cool by me, so bye bye bag (this was in February)
Last week I got it back and holy amazing awesomeness! Long ass time indeed, but absolutely worth the wait. Oh also I had Jason repair a pair of TOMS wedges for me (I know I should have thought of the children and just bought a new pair) & they came out great. All of the stars!

I was reluctant to go to this place based on the reviews, but none of the shoe places in Austin have stellar Unilocal reviews so I picked this one because it’s on the way to and from places I go. I was glad that I did.
I took two pairs of shoes here to be fixed and the person I spoke to was straightforward, knowledgeable, and courteous. The repairs were completed in a reasonable amount of time and the price was similar to what I’ve paid for the same kinds of repairs in other cities. Good shoe repair isn’t as cheap as cheap as buying a new (much cheaper) pair of shoes, and it requires paying fairly for skilled labor which I am very willing to do. The repairs look great, and I’m looking forward to getting more life out of my shoes. I will be taking these guys some beat up but beloved boots to see if they can help make them look a little better.
I do wish they were open a little bit later. It’s hard for me to get down here before the end of the work day.

I broke the high heel on my Jimmy Choo pump after stepping into a groove on a wooden deck and was devastated. The shoe hospital fixed the broken heel for only $ 17 in 2 days, and the repair is perfect! The manager was quirky and funny and gave me an awesome 5 minute designer shoe education which was actually quite interesting! I was in and out for both pick up and drop off very quickly and overall had an excellent experience.

Ugh! I hate writing bad reviews! I wish people could just not be rude. The dude who works there, don’t know his name/​don’t care but he’s always there (tall, brown hair) has probably never used the word sorry in his life. Although after my experience, he should really look into it.
I drop off a belt and agree to pay $ 70 for it to be repaired. He tells me he’ll call me when it’s ready because it was a unique repair or whatever. Ok, cool. Never get a call. I call on Feb 16^th, as it had been there since Jan 26^th roughly and he says he will check on it and call me back. Again, no call. So I call again on ⁰³⁄₀₂ and no one answered so I left a voicemail asking for a call back. No call. I finally call again yesterday and he tells me it’s been ready since Feb 18^th and he called me. NO WAY! I looked through my history on my phone and no calls on ²⁄₁₈ or ²⁄₁₉. Then when I pick up my shoes to ask him about it he says «maybe» he dialed the wrong number and nothing in reference to my asking why I got no calls back. No sorry. No attempt to give me a discount or anything for wasting my time. Terrible experience. Expensive repairs, but I was happy with the result so I didn’t care. Now, I wouldn’t go here if they paid me.

Scammed! They charged me for work they didn’t do and then did work that they charged me for that I did NOT ask for. Waste of $ 44!
I sure wish I read reviews first. I brought into pairs of boots to have the zippers fixed, they did nothing to one of the boots at all. The other Boot they closed at the bottom and charged me for it even though it didn’t fix the problem at all. Then they re-​heeled the boots and charged me $ 26 for that alone… We did not bring the boots in to be re– heeled.
So then when I called to see what can be done to fix the situation, the a hole behind the counter said that we could pay him over 80 bucks per boot to fix the problem and of course no store credit going towards it at all. then he told me that the zipper issue was my problem and I had to deal with it. What does that even mean? This is a shoe fixing place?
I don’t even trust them to fix the problem anymore, and I’m calling my bank to reverse the charges which hopefully they will do.

Too bad about giving these folks such a low review– but come on… I bought a groupon and then brought my husbands boots in to be resoled. When I picked the boots up, I let the gent at the counter know I had a groupon and he started to argue with me that I should have dropped that off with the boots. I apologized and let him know that this was unclear on the groupon, and he pulled out a stack of groupons, shoved them at me and pointed to the instructions– where it only said ‘bring in’ not ‘bring in when dropping off shoes’. Not clear at all. I politely and smiling, pointed that out again, and he gave me SUCH attitude, saying ‘must be clear to everyone else’…
The reason I say too bad about giving them only one star is that the work was good on the boots– just the attitude should have been left out with the trash! :-(

Guy working did a great job on my boots and heels. Took the usual couple of days and it was fairly priced. So glad I found this place! No more throwing away my favorite shoes!
They also sell shoe products like horns, shoe shine, laces, etc.