Unique Shoe Repair

Went to have heels and taps replaced on two pairs of dress shoes. Quality of repair was good but at ~$ 100 /​pair I thought it was pretty expensive. They claim that this is the highest quality you can get but ice had similar service done for $ 50/​pair. Do your research.

This place is expensive and terrible.
I brought a pair of nice balmorals to be re-​soled. The owner quoted me $ 90. I thought this was expensive given that a factory recrafting by Allen Edmonds is only $ 125, but I was in a hurry so I said «ok.» When I got my shoes back, he had *nailed* in rubber heels and left glue all the way around the front part of the sole. Cost another $ 50 dollars to fix at Villa’s (should have gone there in the first place).
TL;DR
— Don’t waste your time
— Only get taps here
— Terrible

So I just walked 10 blocks to go to this place because I had a 15% off coupon through City Fitness (CityPerx) and they didn’t value the discount. It clearly says, «Unique Shoe Repair» at 104 S 21^st St and even lists their correct phone number. The owner of the store said she wouldn’t take the coupon and refused to call her husband, the co-​owner, to check with him. Needless to say I took my business elsewhere, seemed very shady and overpriced anyway. I wanted to get 4 half soles redone and 1 pair of boots shined and she wanted to charge me $ 150. Will never go back there!!!

I have a pair of shoe need to repair and clean. when I got them, my shoes are not clean, the couple said they just clean the outside but not inside, and said who care about the inside, no one can see inside… OMG, I don’t want to ware dirty shoes everyday! What’s more, I found some place have not repaired at all, I don’t want spend my time with them, and I won’t back to this store again!!!

I had bought a pair of non-​leather boots that had a calves that was just too wide for my legs. I knew I could return them if I didn’t wear them so I brought them in to see if they could take them in. If not, I could just return them. They said they could and they did. Upon picking up they looked like they were made that way, not altered. I know it is a lot of work so they charged $ 40 for each boot but it was worth it. It is very hard to find good sturdy boots not made out of some sort of skin (eek) that fit me well otherwise and aren’t ridiculously expensive. The old couple who own the place were so cute and happy that I loved the boots.

I have had a couple of pairs of shoes shined here and one needed new heels/​soles.
No issues from me.
I wish Philly had MORE shoe shine/​shoe repair places.
They are a dying breed.
Bring money to pay the deposit.

Not a bad place. brought a couple of things in, never had an issue.
If I had a complaint, it would be that they need to clean the place up and brighten it up a bit, but I’m not going to eat, but to drop off shoes… So not that big a deal.

had the plantation gum/​crêpe bottom removed from a black leather desert boot and replaced with a black foam sole. Shoes had a very different look and feel at first, however, after a few weeks of wearing in they look much better. He initially asked for a larger deposit than I was expecting. Paid between 55 – 65 cash for the job, can’t remember exactly and I tipped a few bucks. I picked them up a week later because of my schedule, but I think he actually had them done after a few days. They were all polished up and he and his wife seemed quite proud of the job. This work was done well over a year ago and I’m still wearing the shoes — about 1 – 2 days/​week.
He complained about some pain or arthritis in his hands. I think he was just trying to make some old cobbler
conversation.

I really try to support local businesses. I also try to support mom and pop stores, especially when they are Korean because my relatives also own their own mom and pop stores.
Anyhow, I digress.
My sole experience here has turned me off to the point I want to warn people not to go here. The guy claims that he does a great job, but he wanted to charge me $ 55 («at a discount») for what my shoe guy on WALL ST in NYC charges $ 35 (without haggling).
When I left messages after I changed my mind, he ignored them and did whatever he wanted to try to keep all of the deposit. He told me on the phone he’d «only charge» $ 25, but when I got to the store, he said the cost is actually $ 30.
I think they knew I’d get upset because the wife said, «oh, we’ll give you your $ 5, even though the actual cost is $ 30 because you’re Korean and we’re Christians.»
The whole experience left me quite annoyed and I am never going back. I will save my shoes and schlep them to manhattan if need be.
To make matters worse, the shoe feels unsteady now!

I have used Unique Shoe Repair in the past however my most recent experience shoe repair lasted all of 2 hours. I went back to explain my situation to the husband & wife team, who informed me that they do not guarantee the work or materials used. And pretty much claimed that I was lying about the number of times I wore the shoes. And that I should have immediately returned to the store. Unfortunately I was wearing the shoes to the airport to catch and flight and was unable to do so. They actually started raising their voices asking me what I wanted them to do about it and that they did not intend to repair the shoes for free. They offered a $ 3.00 discount, however I choose not to have the shoes repaired. I have not found a new shoe repair company in the area, but I will never use Unique shoe repair again. It was not worth $ 10.00 to fix a pair of shoe I wore for less than 2 hours.