There's a lot of truth in the expression, "As comfortable as an old pair of shoes." So before you toss high-quality shoes into the trash heap, you may want to consider having them fixed.

Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)

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Sample Subscriber Comments/Reviews About Shoe Repair Shops

CHECKBOOK provides subscriber comments on their experiences with the firms they use. Please remember that individual subscriber comments are informal. Subscriber comments may give you insight into the types of features and problems that exist in a service field, but are not the best basis for selecting or rejecting a specific firm. To assess the quality of a firm's performance, we recommend that you give more weight to the percentages of favorable ratings. Those percentages are generally based on much larger numbers of consumers' ratings (the number of consumer ratings is noted above).

As You Can See Below, Some Shoe Repair Shops Get High Praise from Their Customers. Some Others Don't. So Choose Carefully.
Here Are a Few Samples of the Thousands of Comments CHECKBOOK Has Collected on Hundreds of Different Shoe Repair Shops.

• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Shop: His work is superior, but he could be friendlier. Prices are high, BUT worth it........
• Subscriber from FAIRFAX, VA wrote Another Shop: They have made many pairs of my shoes look as good as new........or better!!!!!.......
• Subscriber from SPRINGFIELD, VA wrote Another Shop: My husband won't go anywhere else!.......
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Shop: Have been using Sal's for years and have never been disappointed........
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Shop: None better........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Shop: The repair did not hold up and they refused to redo it without charge........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Shop: Went out of my way from Silver Spring to Bethesda to find a highly rated..........
• Subscriber from VIENNA, VA wrote Another Shop: terrific! such great customer service, quality work. Also does custom requests........
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Shop: Good, fast work........
• Subscriber from OAKTON, VA wrote Another Shop: The first time I tried Guarantee the heels were fine, but the repair didn't last..........
• Subscriber from CHEVERLY, MD wrote Another Shop: Seems a bit pricey but they do good work........
• Subscriber from ANNANDALE, VA wrote Another Shop: This seems to be a lost art-shoe repairs. They do just about anything with leather..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Shop: I brought two leather bags for repair. While George may be a decent cobbler, he..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Shop: does an excellent job at reasonable prices........
• Subscriber from FAIRFAX, VA wrote Another Shop: Quality of repair was not very good........
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Shop: Long repair time, but worth it........
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Shop: Nick was very good about advising me on costs and options........
• Subscriber from LIMA 27, wrote Another Shop: Outrageously expensive........
• Subscriber from HERNDON, VA wrote Another Shop: Sal and his son are awesome!.......
• Subscriber from MCLEAN, VA wrote Another Shop: Does good work but at elevated prices compared with someone good such as Sam Torrey...........
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Shop: Repaired strap on black purse with blue thread!.......
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Shop: I was told I had to wait a month to get heels on my shoes...........
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Shop: Family run and although the son seems to want to do better the father looms..........
• Subscriber from SPRINGFIELD, VA wrote Another Shop: very nice people, very reasonable prices and excellent work.......
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Shop: Haven't picked up the finished shoes yet but was very impressed overall........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Shop: Expensive!.......
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Shop: We think this place has turned a little pricey lately -- $25 for a pair..........
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Shop: amazingly cheap, took them a couple of weeks to sew a purse strap, but shoes..........
• Subscriber from VIENNA, VA wrote Another Shop: A bit costly--but it's done right and with an effort for the job not to..........
• Subscriber from VIENNA, VA wrote Another Shop: Good old fashion shoe repair company........
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Shop: they do stuff nobody else will try esecially with luggage repair........
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Shop: They tell you the cost but don't always write it on the ticket. Once they..........
• Subscriber from FAIRFAX, VA wrote Another Shop: Customer service is nearly non existent........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Shop: Outstanding service from an old world shoemaker, who has since passed, and the business is..........
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Shop: Excellent work; very good at solving problems; reasonable prices; prompt work........
• Subscriber from HERNDON, VA wrote Another Shop: These guys were great. I was a walkup. They finished my shoes in one hour..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Shop: This shop apparently changed hands within the past couple of years, and the shop now..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Shop: In the neighborhood. Service less cheerful than before. Still, pleased to shop there........
• Subscriber from POTOMAC, MD wrote Another Shop: excellent service.......
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Shop: Mr. Calabro is a true craftsman who takes pride and pleasure in his work, which..........
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Shop: Repaired handle on luggage whic brok again 6 mos later........
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Shop: Convenient if you live or work in Ballston, but nothing special. Just about OK for..........
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Shop: Pushy on services. Very expensive........
• Subscriber from FAIRFAX, VA wrote Another Shop: Small, one-guy shop. Friendly, reasonable, and competent........
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Shop: Phenomenal throughback to old fashioned excellent work on leather goods. If you love that old..........
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Shop: The owner, Garbis, is wonderful! He has saved more than one pair of shoes for..........
• Subscriber from CHEVY CHASE, MD wrote Another Shop: Old school, artisanl shoe care, old school (low) prices........
• Subscriber from NORTH BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Shop: Good work at a reasonable price.......
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Shop: repair to shoe inferior; broke within days of repair. service: surly.......
• Subscriber from KENSINGTON, MD wrote Another Shop: used them to replace shoe soles.......