Re: CABoot advice

[RobbW]

Sorry, someone had asked what specs I ordered, and I forgot to post those.  This is what I ordered with Priscilla's guidance:

Product: Custom Captain Jack Sparrow  ($500.00)
Size:  10
Width:  D
Gender:  Mens
Height:  22 inches ($40.00)
Toe:  Pirate toe 2 inches
Heel:  No. 11 - 1 1/4 inch
Boot Color:  Natural Suede
Sole Type:  Stitched leather
Sole Color:  Brown
My calf circumference is (approx.):  15"
Calf fit preference:  Standard fit

Order notes:  First, thank you soooooo much to Priscilla for all her help on the phone walking me through the different options and explaining the POTC Jack boots to me.  I would like these boots to be as close as possible to the COTBP version of Jack Sparrow's boots.  The main photo I am referencing for Jack's boots is:

http://www.costumersguide.com/jack1/promo3.jpg

A few notes about the measurements in my order:

1. The height.  Only wearing a pair of socks, the height to just below my knee as Jack wears the boots is exactly 18 3/4".  I rounded up to the 19" selection in your drop-down list.  Then I added an additional 3" to give a little slack so I can push the boots down a bit to get the scrunched/wrinkled look in the ankles as they appear in the film.  If you think this is too much additional length to achieve this look, please adjust as you see fit.

2. Calf circumference.  Wearing a pair of socks and measuring at the widest part of my calf, the circumference is exactly 15 3/8".  I rounded down to the 15" selection in your drop-down list.  I measured the circumference at a height of 13 3/4" up my leg.  I will be wearing breeches that will tuck into the top of the boots, but I don't know if they will come down as far as the widest part of my calf.  My new breeches are still in production.  So, I have no way of knowing for certain.  If the circumference of the boot needs to be adjusted to accommodate the breeches being tucked in regardless of how far down they reach, then please feel free to do so as you see fit.

3. Calf fit.  I selected standard fit, but I will leave that up to you to adjust if necessary to accommodate the breeches being tucked in.  Can you please tell me how the boots are held up?  Do they stay up on their own or are they held up with boot straps?

Thank you again for all your help.  If they are any questions or issues about my order, I can be reached during normal business hours at my work phone at ###-###-####.  I am also having the boots shipped to my work address to ensure someone is available to receive them.

Total Tax: $0.00
Total Shipping: $26.00
Total Cost: $566.00

[RobbW]

To be fair, I will admit that the only thing I am disappointed with my custom boots are the toes.  I wish I had paid extra for the more squared toes.  While there are some reference pics out there that show Jack's boots with rounded toes, there are many more pics with the squared-off toes.  That doesn't mean that one style of toe is more SA than the other.  It just means that more people see and refer to pics of the square toes and assume that's the way Jack's boots were throughout all the films.  I consciously made the decision to go with the more rounded 2" Pirate Toe that CABoots lists as the default toe.  I chose that toe because of a specific reference pic I was using for my costume.  In that reference pic, to my eye the toes on Jack's boots looked closer to the rounded default toe that CABoots offers than the extreme squared-off option they offer for an extra $50-$75.  That was my choice, and it it is not CABoots' fault that after the fact I wished I had chosen the more square toes.

However, at this point, now that I have pretty much finished putting my costume together, I can honestly say that I am SOOOOOOO over and done with obsessing over all the silly, minute details that supposedly constitute "screen accuracy".  I totally burned myself out on chasing the elusive SA costume.  So much so, that I nearly lost interest in donning the darned thing after I finished it.  Since then, I have come to my own opinion that there is no such thing as a "screen accurate" costume.  There are so many differences between all the different scenes in each film that it is nearly impossible to nail down one truly SA costume.  You can only take a reference shot of one particular scene that you want to emulate and aim for accurately replicating that ONE scene.  Most likely, everybody else's idea of SA will be based on a different scene.  The only way you could possibly achieve "true" SA is if you commissioned Penny Rose herself to handcraft a Jack Sparrow costume for you.  And even if you could afford her commission fees (if she would even do it in the first place), you still have no guarantee of screen accuracy.  We already know that specific fabrics and materials used to make the originals are no longer available.  Also, a multitude of different weathering and aging techniques were used for each costume and performed by different costumers.  There's no way she could possibly replicate exactly any one costume!  Sure she would get close.  Darn close!  Probably closer than any other costumer, vendor, impersonator, cos-player out there, but it still wouldn't be identical to what you see in the films. And because of that, there will still be Jack impersonators out there who would complain that Penny Rose's costume isn't true to the films and feel they got ripped off!

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

Good info cheers mate!

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

And in response to some of those comments, yes pirates had to scavenge for what they could but we're not 'real pirates'. If you pay over $500 for a pair of boots and provide all your specs and pics etc you should get what you pay for! You're the customer, if you give them a measurement they should make it to that. It's common sense, any professional knows that... They seem to act as though the customer is wrong when they do make an error...

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

I am glad things worked out for you though mate and that you are happy, I really am! I'm just letting you know the kinds of things that have happened to several of us. It's not because we failed to explain ourselves or didn't do our homework/research or put in the standard specs etc. We did all the proper due diligence and put the work in, I know I was personally extremely specific with what I wanted down to the exact measurements. But didn't receive what was ordered. I'm a perfectionist and always make sure I research everything first...

[RobbW]

I'm very sorry to hear about the poor experience you had with your custom boots. In your case, it definitely sounds as though they thoroughly fobbed up your order(s). And I certainly cannot excuse the customer service (or lack thereof) that you say you received. That is not very professional by any standards. Without excusing them for your situation, I will say that there is bound to be issues with any customer-oriented business, regardless of how highly regarded they may normally be held. CABoots takes thousands of orders for custom footwear every year. I'm sure the vast majority of those orders are probably delivered without a hitch, and the customer is perfectly happy. However, with that kind of volume and the highly-expected attention to detail that their customers expect, there is bound to be a few orders that go so horribly sour that there is probably no amicable way to rectify the situation and make the customer happy again. I'd darn near bet that it's a statistical certainty that every business has those types of transactions every once in awhile despite any efforts to prevent them. Unfortunately, it sounds like you probably had the bad luck to hit the statistical... um, whatever the opposite of "jackpot" is!

There are certainly plenty of Jacks here and in other forums who are perfectly happy with their CABoots. Unfortunately, no one really ever hears about or pays attention to those positive experiences. Most often, those who have positive experiences rarely ever go online and post about it. They just go on their merry contented way. It's always the negative stories that captures everyone's attention. People who have been wronged are more likely to post about their experience and be more vocal about the issue.

[Bilge Rat]

Sorry for misunderstanding your post but I took " CABoots made the boots for Johnny in the POTC films" to mean All POTC Films.
But as for what I ordered and paid for I did not get. When I ordered my customs years ago I did all my contact through emails. There was not images of different boot options ( Toe, Heel ) Just going by what was told to me in emails. I asked and paid for a square 2 inch toe, which I was told was the 2 inch pirate toe ( which it is obviously not) I also asked for leather heels which I did get the first time I ordered. When I sent them back complaining of the toe being round and not square I was instructed to send them back, then after a long 6 week wait again, what I got was the same rounded toe and a neoprene brown heel and sole. When I finally called to complain, I was just shuffled around and given several excuses and being told I might have to wait several months to get what I ordered because of back log orders I just gave up after. Do I like my boots....Yes, but did I get what I wanted....No, I got what they told me was the correct thing to order, which is not what I asked for in the first place.

[RobbW]

That totally sucks, bilge rat!

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

Yeah they don't seem to do the leather soles nomatter how many times you ask for it, only rubber 'workman boot' type soles…

My boots overall are fine in a way, and some people would possibly love them, depending on their size and measurements etc, but for me they were not to my specs and are thus unusable.

Cheers!

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

By the way, I still need a new pair for my costume.

I am looking at possibly going to other vendors.

I don't know if I should risk it with Caboots unless they have TOTALLY changed and overhauled their customer service and attention to detail on custom orders.

If I would be GUARANTEED to get what I want and they would pay attention to my specs I would be more than happy to go for it.

Perhaps they've changed their attitude in recent times, but I just don't know…

The comments you posted of them talking about how pirates were happy with whatever they could get etc etc, is the same kind of cop-out response I got when they messed up my order, saying that "pirates wouldn't have cared if their shafts didn't come an extra 2 inches up their legs"… Well when you are paying $10 EXTRA per inch in this modern day and age it DOES matter!

Yes they are hand made, yes there will be variations (particularly in regard to colours due to availability of leathers/materials) but when we are talking about measurements, an inch is an inch no matter how you look at it.. When you give someone precise measurements and specs to have something made to, and pay extra for it.. it should be made to that standard. Yes they are hand made but that means you cut the material to that measurement etc, not just randomly do whatever you want and ignore the customers notes/specs, otherwise you will get problems like this where they don't even fit the customer.

And another point in regard to materials, yes colours may vary but leather is NOT rubber. If you order and pay for leather soles, why would you receive rubber and then be told to "deal with it, Johnny Depp never complained about his boots"… That is a childish response and attitude on their part.. Not ours…

So unless they've changed A LOT and now care about their customers (which I TRULY HOPE is the case), then it's too much of an unnecessary risk/gamble to order from them. After all $500+ is A LOT of money, and you would expect to get what you pay for every time. Like I said, I can understand slight variations, but major departures from the specs ordered is unacceptable.

Kind regards,

CJS 478

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

And as a final note, I do agree there are different interpretations of "screen accuracy", but my complaint is not so much about that, my complaint is about not getting the precise measurements and specs ordered by the individual customer. These are after all, custom boots. The key word here being "CUSTOM". That means the customer should get the specs they want for the price they pay. That is all I'm trying to say.

Kind regards my friends,

CJS 478

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

I'm very sorry to hear about the poor experience you had with your custom boots.  In your case, it definitely sounds as though they thoroughly fobbed up your order(s).  And I certainly cannot excuse the customer service (or lack thereof) that you say you received.  That is not very professional by any standards.  Without excusing them for your situation, I will say that there is bound to be issues with any customer-oriented business, regardless of how highly regarded they may normally be held.  CABoots takes thousands of orders for custom footwear every year.  I'm sure the vast majority of those orders are probably delivered without a hitch, and the customer is perfectly happy.  However, with that kind of volume and the highly-expected attention to detail that their customers expect, there is bound to be a few orders that go so horribly sour that there is probably no amicable way to rectify the situation and make the customer happy again.  I'd darn near bet that it's a statistical certainty that every business has those types of transactions every once in awhile despite any efforts to prevent them.  Unfortunately, it sounds like you probably had the bad luck to hit the statistical... um, whatever the opposite of "jackpot" is!

There are certainly plenty of Jacks here and in other forums who are perfectly happy with their CABoots.  Unfortunately, no one really ever hears about or pays attention to those positive experiences.  Most often, those who have positive experiences rarely ever go online and post about it.  They just go on their merry contented way.  It's always the negative stories that captures everyone's attention.  People who have been wronged are more likely to post about their experience and be more vocal about the issue.

Was also wondering, did you receive leather soles or rubber??

Cheers!

[RobbW]

Leather.

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

That's good! Do you have pics of the soles mate?

[RobbW]

That's good! Do you have pics of the soles mate?

Sure, I'll try to remember to take and post some pics tonight or this weekend sometime.

[Banditxx1]

Meanwhile, I took some pics of my stock-chocolate A1-boots... here for example the heel, sole and toe ...

Please disregard the colour of the boots, because I weathered them a lot; added some synthetic dirt and mud and gave them a dirty look ... and after all the flashlight of my camera changes the real look and appearance ... sorry for that

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

Nice soles!

Your boots appear to have the rear seam they say they can't do anymore… Nice!

[Banditxx1]

Yes, that's the strip of leather up on the rear middle seam.
Also I think, that my boots have the "pirate toe", but regarding the fact, that every pair of boots differs a bit, I think my toes seem to be very angular/squared....

[Bilge Rat]

Definitely more squared than the pirate toe I received from Caboots on my custom pair!

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

Sorry, someone had asked what specs I ordered, and I forgot to post those.  This is what I ordered with Priscilla's guidance:

Product: Custom Captain Jack Sparrow  ($500.00)
Size:  10
Width:  D
Gender:  Mens
Height:  22 inches ($40.00)
Toe:  Pirate toe 2 inches
Heel:  No. 11 - 1 1/4 inch
Boot Color:  Natural Suede
Sole Type:  Stitched leather
Sole Color:  Brown
My calf circumference is (approx.):  15"
Calf fit preference:  Standard fit

Hi Robb,

Was wondering if you could post some pics of the sole and heel of your boots etc.

Cheers!!

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

Meanwhile, I took some pics of my stock-chocolate A1-boots... here for example the heel, sole and toe ...

Please disregard the colour of the boots, because I weathered them a lot; added some synthetic dirt and mud and gave them a dirty look ... and after all the flashlight of my camera changes the real look and appearance ... sorry for that

 

Are you chocolate boots normally a lot lighter than this in color out of the box?

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

Meanwhile, I took some pics of my stock-chocolate A1-boots... here for example the heel, sole and toe ...

Please disregard the colour of the boots, because I weathered them a lot; added some synthetic dirt and mud and gave them a dirty look ... and after all the flashlight of my camera changes the real look and appearance ... sorry for that

 

Just wanted to bump this post, and ask the question again, are your chocolate boots normally a lot lighter than this in color out of the box?

Was wondering what the chocolate color is like when it is in new condition on the custom boots...

Trying to decide whether to go chocolate, tan, or natural etc...

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

That's good! Do you have pics of the soles mate?

Sure, I'll try to remember to take and post some pics tonight or this weekend sometime.

Hi mate, just wondered if you could still get us those pics of the soles and heels etc?...

Thanks heaps!   

[Captain Jack Sparrow 478]

Ask and ye shall receive, mate!  First one is just a standalone shot of the boots:



Second is a shot of them on my Jack-equin.  Unfortunately, haven't gotten a good shot of them on me while wearing them.

Just wanted to also ask mate, how wide is the bottom of the bell cuffs on your boots mate (at the widest point)? Wondering what width the cuff should be...

By the way, does anyone have any ideas/input on how large the cuff should be, i.e., length front and back, and width at the top and the bottom (widest point) etc??...

[Banditxx1]

The A1chocolate ones are dark brown out of the box.
I tried to add an used, brighter look - the best example for the chocolate boots and their colour are the escape-scenes in London in "On stranger tides".

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