Factory seconds are shoes that have some slight manufacturing defects and didn’t qualify. You can get a pair of Factory 2nd Allen Edmonds Park Avenue for around 200$ which is half their original price. Considering that these shoes don’t have anything structurally wrong with them, they are very much worth their price.
Are Allen Edmonds Factory Seconds Worth It
It’s very normal to wonder whether Allen Edmonds factory 2nd is worth the money they are sold at or not. Especially, when you can easily buy a pair of brand-new shoes from other brands with that same money. But if you look at the qualities and compare them with the price range, it is most likely to change your mind.
Appearance
Appearance is a big factor for determining which shoes will be sold as factory 2nds. It’s also the main reason why these shoes are so much cheaper than the original Allen Edmonds. Generally, these shoes have pretty minor defects like scratch or scuff marks, a loose or a double stitch, wrinkles, and blemishes, etc.
But the people buying the original Allen Edmonds are paying a whole lot of money to get the perfect pair for themselves. And the company can’t risk disappointing their customers. This is why despite the minor faults; these shoes can’t make the cut during the quality check and get labeled as factory 2nd.
Now, the decision to buy factory 2nd shoes depends on whether you can live with the defects or not. In most cases, it’s better to inspect the shoes and see if you consider them worth spending money on. If not, then getting a new pair with a higher price or resort to a cheaper brand might be a better option.
Materials
The most common misconception about Allen Edmonds factory 2nd is that they are made out of cheaper or lower-quality materials to reduce the cost of the shoes. But this is entirely false. To be honest, there are no cost-effective ways to reduce the price of these shoes.
Factory 2nd shoes are manufactured in the same way with the same materials as their original shoes. The reason they are cheaper than the original shoes is that there may be some slight flaws during the construction process. And, there is no way to know beforehand which pair of shoes will have these defects.
So, when you are paying almost half the original price tag for these factory 2nds, you are getting the same high-quality materials but at a lower rate which in my opinion is a big win for you.
Construction
The construction process is the main reason for these shoes to turn out to be factory 2nd. Be it a wrong stitch or a nick in the sole or a slight scratch on the leather, or even just a wrinkle on the leather, they don’t pass the final quality check.
All these defects may not even be a major flaw according to many people, but when you are paying so much money on a single pair of shoes, you expect a damn perfect pair of shoes. As a result, they remove these shoes from the perfect pile of shoes and sell them as factory 2nd.
To many, it’s a gamble on their part to get a pair of shoes that is defective in some ways, but with 50% off on a pair of Allen Edmonds, I’m sure it’s a gamble we’re willing to take.
Sizing
One of the major issues you are most likely to face while buying factory 2nd Allen Edmonds is sizing. Because these shoes are not made on purpose, they don’t come in every size like their original shoes. So, they only have the sizes that were defected during the making process randomly.
Unless they already have a pair in your size, you can’t do anything about it. Also, it’s foolish to wait for a pair of factory 2nd in your size because you never know when there will be another one of those in your measurements. So, in my opinion, it’s better to inspect them beforehand to see if they fit you or not.
And, in case you are planning to get them shipped to you without any chance to inspect them, it might not be a good idea.
Comfort
Being made out of the same materials, Allen Edmonds factory 2nd provides the same comfort as their original shoes. Though they can be slightly off. Because sometimes there are double stitches on the inside or a slight nick on the insole which can be uncomfortable for you.
The best thing to do is try them on, if possible, to see if they are comfortable enough for you. Because let’s face it, no matter how cheap they are, if it feels uncomfortable on your feet, it’s money down the drain.
Durability
The durability of these shoes is also interconnected with the material. As there is no way of knowing in advance which shoes will turn out to be factory 2nd, all shoes are made out of the same materials and thus have the same durability.
Now, durability depends a lot on the weather and how frequently you are using them. So, that might affect your decision to some extent as well. For example, if a rubber sole tends to last longer for you than a leather sole, then getting a factory 2nd that has a leather sole may not be the best idea.
Original Allen Edmonds offers the option to choose what kind of sole you want which the factory 2nd doesn’t. So, you’ll have to take whatever kind of features they have if you decide to take them. And, in this case, it will not provide you the required durability and most probably will wear out faster than usual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you customize Allen Edmonds factory 2nd?
Ans: No. Factory seconds shoes are made unplanned and randomly. So, there’s no way of knowing which pair will be factory seconds and so cannot be customized.
Q: Can you rebuild an Allen Edmonds factory 2nd?
Ans: In most cases, yes. But you will need to pay additionally for the rebuilding service.
Conclusion
Factory 2nds are shoes that generally have some cosmetic damages such as dings and dents. So, they are removed from the original stock and sold at a cheaper rate. It’s mostly relative whether they are worth it or not. But in most cases, depending on there are no major flaws, they are a pretty good deal to spend your money on.
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