Viberg
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pretty sure this is the interview that set a lot of people off. Granted, as Lando pointed out, that what Brett wants to do and what the rest of the team at Viberg want to do seem to be different. Long story short, Brett wants to turn Viberg into a high end boots, clothing and accessories line, and charge more. If thats gonna happen is up to them, but when teh going rate is $600+ for some boots and shitty customer service, thats a hard pill to swallow. Anyways, I dont want to come across as a hater, but between the storues I have read and my brief (brief, because they never returned my e-mails or calls) interactions with them, I have decided to watch from the sidelines when it comes to Viberg product. I still think they make a drop dead sexy product, even though I dont like some of the lasts as much as others. I just find their level of customer service absolutely unacceptable on just about every level.
@Chiba:
What was "the interview"?
@Sugar:
I followed a couple of links after viewing your boots and ended up at this recent interview with Brett Viberg:
http://www.themilltown.com/chat-with-brett-viberg/
Might be of interest to folks.
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Yeah I had the same problem price wise they said one on the phone another on the site but luckily they honored the site price . Communication has been a shit show and when you talk to two different people it gets really confusing real quick plus the wait on responses is just redonkulous! Not to mention when they tried to double charge me for going with leather soles and cats paws heels. Also a month ago they said they'd be done in 2 weeks and haven't heard another thing from them I was under the understanding that near the end they contact you about the last details like eye holes and such but again haven't heard a thing! Definitely won't be rushing for another pair no matter how nice they are when/if they show up
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Ive been reading this post for sometime now and thought I should share some explanations.
We are completely over loaded at our factory, currently around 4-5 months due to making only 25 pairs of shoes a day. The reason we are not doing a great job on replying to email is that, we currently are understaffed and have one person answering emails, something around 120+ a day, , as well as partly involved in production. I have been trying very very hard over past year to allow permission from my dad, to bring on someone specifically towards customer service. Slowly we are making changes and have hired on new staff, but not at the rate of the popularity or interest of our product.
He has been running the company this way for 40yrs, primarily based on product only, and trying to convince him to focus on customer service is going to take time and will be a learning curve.In remarks to making more expensive product, it was taken out of context, as it would impossible to make our product more expensive other than using cordovan or exotic leather.
Currently I am trying to bring in good year welting machines, which will allow a larger production, still only 60 or so pair, comparing to Alden's say at 3-400, Red wing at 5000, Wesco and Whites run about 100 a day or more.
So right off the bat we are significantly smaller than everyone else.
By doing welted, we can make the exact same heavy style boots or shoes and then adapt into something more traditional if need be. In terms of quality with welting, I would say its as good as what we do now , and will allow for a more attractive shape. If you take a vintage military boot, probably 90% were welted and are as heavy and solid as our boots. I also am hoping it will lower some cost, due to less hand work, hand lasting involved. Possibly up to 15% or more less.
In terms of prices, our whole sale prices haven't changed much at all since 2-3 yr ago. Depending on whom you buy from, you will see various margins being used.
Please email me directly brett@workboot.com , like I said, if you email Jason at inquiries@workboot.com, he does production as well as email, which is why is seems like no one is replying back.
Hopefully as of this coming year, we will able to have the key people in place to allow better service, which we have stated to do already.
Brett
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Brett, when I saw that you had rsponded personally to the thread, being honest I kind of expected a lame set of excuses for what the guys had mentioned before. However, being completely fair, I thought your response was well considered and brought a good insight into where you want to move the business.
Your product is great, if you could up production, keep quality, lower costs and pass some saving onto the customer, and get yourself some customer service to match the quality of your product, then you would be onto a winner ( not that you aren't already).
I will watch to see how Vibergs next couple of years develop.
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I will watch to see how Vibergs next couple of years develop.
…really should be interesting to watch tbh!
and thanks a lot for the insight on business Brett!
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Brett, when I saw that you had rsponded personally to the thread, being honest I kind of expected a lame set of excuses for what the guys had mentioned before. However, being completely fair, I thought your response was well considered and brought a good insight into where you want to move the business.
Your product is great, if you could up production, keep quality, lower costs and pass some saving onto the customer, and get yourself some customer service to match the quality of your product, then you would be onto a winner ( not that you aren't already).
I will watch to see how Vibergs next couple of years develop.
Couldn't agree more. When I saw the response I immediately thought, "Ok. I'm very interested in seeing how this particular situation is handled," as we've seen brands like Dayton get totally hammered through swift word-of-mouth online.
As for altering the fundamental construction aspects of the boots, I'm fairly certain I'll be willing to wait longer and pay more given that they remain handmade in Canada and maintain the standards I've come to expect from Viberg. (Essentially, I tell people they're the best boots money can buy.) I do often lament the prices, but it's likely the result of envy.
Love my ice mocha service boots.
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Ive been reading this post for sometime now and thought I should share some explanations.
We are completely over loaded at our factory, currently around 4-5 months due to making only 25 pairs of shoes a day. The reason we are not doing a great job on replying to email is that, we currently are understaffed and have one person answering emails, something around 120+ a day, , as well as partly involved in production. I have been trying very very hard over past year to allow permission from my dad, to bring on someone specifically towards customer service. Slowly we are making changes and have hired on new staff, but not at the rate of the popularity or interest of our product.
He has been running the company this way for 40yrs, primarily based on product only, and trying to convince him to focus on customer service is going to take time and will be a learning curve.In remarks to making more expensive product, it was taken out of context, as it would impossible to make our product more expensive other than using cordovan or exotic leather.
Currently I am trying to bring in good year welting machines, which will allow a larger production, still only 60 or so pair, comparing to Alden's say at 3-400, Red wing at 5000, Wesco and Whites run about 100 a day or more.
So right off the bat we are significantly smaller than everyone else.
By doing welted, we can make the exact same heavy style boots or shoes and then adapt into something more traditional if need be. In terms of quality with welting, I would say its as good as what we do now , and will allow for a more attractive shape. If you take a vintage military boot, probably 90% were welted and are as heavy and solid as our boots. I also am hoping it will lower some cost, due to less hand work, hand lasting involved. Possibly up to 15% or more less.
In terms of prices, our whole sale prices haven't changed much at all since 2-3 yr ago. Depending on whom you buy from, you will see various margins being used.
Please email me directly brett@workboot.com , like I said, if you email Jason at inquiries@workboot.com, he does production as well as email, which is why is seems like no one is replying back.
Hopefully as of this coming year, we will able to have the key people in place to allow better service, which we have stated to do already.
Brett
Brett, when I saw that you had rsponded personally to the thread, being honest I kind of expected a lame set of excuses for what the guys had mentioned before. However, being completely fair, I thought your response was well considered and brought a good insight into where you want to move the business.
Your product is great, if you could up production, keep quality, lower costs and pass some saving onto the customer, and get yourself some customer service to match the quality of your product, then you would be onto a winner ( not that you aren't already).
I will watch to see how Vibergs next couple of years develop.
well mega sorry biut your asking for a paerfect pair of shoes if you want low cost , good quality thats like your in a dream world.
no need for you brett to apologize of explain yourself. people who know you and your company will understand. again no need to explain brett viberg is fine and doing very good. ive seen you and what you did for the past years and im so happy and proud of you!
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Pretty awesome that Brett replied to this thread–really have to appreciate that from a customer perspective. I also follow the Viberg blog and have found that anytime I had a quick question on a post, I received a reply. Thanks for that. I look forward to my next pair with you guys.
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I'm in love with my pair. Not, just "I love my pair." I'm seriously in love with them. I've only ever ordered via G-San and have found him to be the consistent, courteous, and dependable person he is. Maybe, because of this forum, I've always been under the impression that Viberg was buried in business because of the fact that more fashion forward consumers like us were drooling over their unique and insanely well crafted boots. This in turn, has made it hard to pound out the uncannily well built machines that all you crazy Canadian Lumberjacks desperately needed for you wooly peds. This means you order and wait. And wait. And wait. And then, eventually, Christmas in July! I take it as part of the journey. I'm gonna leave these boots to my grand kids, so what's a few more months? Mama always said that good things come…
On a slightly different note, I'm glad to see a company doing it the hard way. And I'm especially glad to see an "Owner's kid" working his dick off and slugging it out to blaze his own path. Too many Jrs miss an amazing opportunity to do something awesome because they don't know how to work, really feckin' hard, and they're scared shitless to really risk anything. Good on you, Brett, for actually doing both. It makes me proud to wear your expensive ass boots. In fact, I'm damn close to ordering pair number III. (Hopefully before you start welting them)
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It makes me proud to wear your expensive ass boots. In fact, I'm damn close to ordering pair number II. (Hopefully before you start wearing them)
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*welting
GawdDamned autocorrect!!! (fixed)
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Nate, I'm telling you, these boots will change your whole paradigm. I wish they made cordovan shell toe brogue boots, because that's all I'd ever wear again with a suit. For the rest of my life. That one pair, forever. I'm serious, my scouts make me want to get rid of all my other boots/shoes. It's like every other shoe I own is a let down.
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These FSC Latigo boots are lookin mighty fine…
http://shop.freemanssportingclub.com/products/viberg-for-fsc-latigo-service-boot
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well mega sorry biut your asking for a paerfect pair of shoes if you want low cost , good quality thats like your in a dream world.
no need for you brett to apologize of explain yourself. people who know you and your company will understand. again no need to explain brett viberg is fine and doing very good. ive seen you and what you did for the past years and im so happy and proud of you!
Correct, and I ask that of every company that I buy from. I might not get it, but not to ask would be stupid as a customer.
Also, I think it was great to see Brett come in here and answer his critics, and much appreciated generally. You might "know and understand" Ed, but I don't think many of the rest of us did, so what Brett did was exactly the right thing to do in my eyes.
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been emailing with him and he was glad to get the feedback from us even thou it wasnt all positive and that he'd have been just as pissed as some of us were about the waiting and lack of answers.
and he's all over finding out whats going on with my boots this morning when he gets into work
so hopefully this all helps him with his customer service -
those boots are okay arrow.
funny i really admired the lower profile heel but they are falling out of favor with me. interesting thread right here . . .
