Michael’s Shoe Repair

One of the worst customer service experiences I have had. Was specific in my request. Less than ¼ of the requested job was done. Very disappointing, very sad I will never recommend this place or go here again. If you want 10% of something done for 100% of the cost, absolutely, check them out. I wish I had the service other people here seem to have, because it would have been very convenient to come here. Instead, you can’t really get rid of a bad taste in your mouth.

I have been coming to this shoe repair place for years. Great service and. Quality service. Great pricing

Have been using Michael’s for many many years. They do a fine job on taps, toes, and heels, which is what I go for. The prices have gone up over the years, but they are extremely reasonable, and the proprietor and his assistants always exceedingly courteous. They keep long hours, which makes for good. convenience. We are fortunate to have Michael’s in the neighborhood!
As someone else notes, cash only.

Here’s my tale of woe:
I took a pair of workboots here to have the sole replaced. I selected a black wedge sole base with a Vibram lugged sole (outsole). They charged me $ 120 (this is, coincidentally, what the boots cost me to begin with). It was steep, but I love the boots and wanted to support a local business, so I swallowed my pride (and better judgment) and paid: $ 70 upfront and the rest when I picked them up a few days later.
A thing about the boots: they are Goodyear welted; however, when they were returned to me, the sole was merely glued on. I realized this when, a few days later, it started to flap off.
I returned and they fixed it for free, which I’d expect. Then several months later the glue must have started coming off again because now both soles started to come loose. I fixed it for $ 4 in Super Glue. At this point I’d rather buy new boots than return to Michael’s.

I went to this place to have the bands on two new watches shortened and the batteries replaced on four other watches. This guy is a BUTCHER! He did NOT know how to open TWO watches, (I told him how because I used to do this for myself in the past). He is a BAD watch mechanic. He changed the battery on one of my watches and he forgot to replace the rubber gasket. I watched him and had to tell him that he forgot to put the gasket back in. He broke TWO of his cheap tools while attempting to take a few links out of my Movado watch. His workmanships is REALLY BAD he should NOT be touching watches.
NOW for his attitude. When I went in, no one was there. I told him I had two new watches that needed the bands shortened and four watches that needed new batteries. I asked if he could do them while I wait and he said YES. Then, in the middle of working on my watches, a guy comes in and wants a to buy a watch band. He then turns to me and tells me that I have to leave my watches and pick them up later. YEAH RIGHT! I told him NO WAY since I asked him initially if he could do them ALL while I wait. So, he preceded to BUTCHER my watches (luckily I was there to tell him that he left the gasket out of one watch and he then opened the watch again to put the gasket back in). THEN, they guy who was AFTER me who wanted to buy a watch band left because he said he couldn’t wait and would come back later. The CREEP who was working on my watches turns to me and tells me that I made him lose a customer. HUH??? This guy is a psychopath.
NOW for the PRICE. When I first walked in, I asked him how much it would be to shorten the watches and replace the batteries. I would NEVER allow anyone to do work for me without knowing the price BEFOREHAND!
He said the batteries would be $ 8.00 per watch and $ 6.00 to shorten the band on each watch. When he finally finished his HORRIBLE job, he then tells me that the price was $ 58.00. HUH??? 8 bucks per battery comes to 32 bucks. 6 dollars per watch band comes to 12 dollars to adjust the two watch bands. SO, do the math. 32 bucks for the four batteries and 12 for the two band adjustments comes to $ 44.00. SO he then decided to charge me $ 58.00 FOR THE JOB that he initially told me was $ 44.00 ! ! !
I asked him why? He said it was a harder job than he thought. THAT WAS BECAUSE HE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING! He then said I also made him LOSE A CUSTOMER because the guy didn’t want him to wait for him to finish MY watches. EVER HEAR OF FIRST COME FIRST SERVE??? I put $ 44 bucks on the counter and told him to give me my watches. He said no. I threw a rack that displayed batteries on the floor and told him that I would continue to demolish his store if he didn’t give me the watches for the agreed $ 44.00. He told me he was going to call the police. I then threw ANOTHER display containing watch bands across the store and told him that I was just released from prison after serving 15 years and didn’t mind going back and told him I was going to jump over the counter if he didn’t give me my watches. He gave them to me for the agree $ 44.00. What a way to do business.
SHORT VERSION. He’s a REALLY BAD mechanic who knows NOTHING about watch repair and he is a LIAR and a CON ARTIST who RAISED THE PRICE after he finished the HORRIBLE work.
STEER CLEAR ! ! ! ! !
Do NOT bring your watches here. IF YOU DO, do NOT say I didn’t warn you ! ! !
PS I have NEVER been in prison but it sure did scare him into giving me my watches back for the agreed price.

I take all my shoes here and he always does a great job. On my most recent visit he fixed the heel of my boot while I waited.
As another review states «This is by far the best craftsmanship I have seen for shoe repair, period.»

Brought a pair of shoes to have waterproofed and did an outstanding job. He was thorough, professional and the price was extremely reasonable.

Love this local place!
They did a great job on 3 pairs of boots. Repairing zip, heels and polishing.
Awesome!

Amazing work. Took in two pairs of 8 year old boots that came out looking like new — new soles, all around leather work, some minor repairs on the toeboxes — all for $ 70.
Note: cash only.

Michael is super professional, and a shoe savior. Seriously. I’ve had so many shoes that I have loved & abused, only to be saved here. Once I had a pair of sandals that became unstuck from the heel — he reattached it for me (and when it became unstuck a second time, redid it for free! it has been in place ever since :). My last pair of boots that he resoled for me, they were even polished. Save your search: this is THE place to travel to to get your shoes fixed.

What can I say. Michael really knows what he’s doing. Brought a couple of pairs of shoes that needed to be resoled and new heels. When I came to pick them up, at first I thought he gave me the wrong shoes. Then I realized that he did such a great job that they looked brand new. What surprised me the most is that I had my shoes done in a couple of different places. But this guy topped them! He actually sewed the leather soles, To make sure it has a better hold than just glue. And keep its original look. Gave it a nice matte finish on the upper leather… From what I heard he’s been in this business for over 20 years. Shows why he’s still in business.
If you want fast service. Be sure To have your pick up slip handy. You’ll be in and out of the shop within minutes.

Heard about Michael’s on Unilocal.Took my favorite boots in for resoling. Got them back less than a week later with a shrug and a smile. They were perfect. Solid craftsmanship, I’ll definitely go back.

Mike does great work. Has been in the neighborhood forever and really takes pride. He has resoled shoes for me as well as shortened belts. All jobs done excellently. Give him a try!

i have brought in Frye boots for resoling, cheap little sandals with broken straps, and heels that have been completely worn down to the metal nails holding them together. Every time, no matter what the shoe needs, Michael’s delivers.
solid work ethic and craftsmanship will get you good results.
i haven’t ever lost my ticket (like some of the unlucky folks that have reviewed Michael’s) so haven’t seen anything but professionalism and friendliness from him.
**cash only!**

This is by far the best craftsmanship I have seen for shoe repair, period.
I gave my RedWing boots for resoling to Michael’s. They were seriously in need for repair after over two years of walking on the streets of New York one can only imagine.
Mr. Michael made thoughtful recommendations, called me personally when they were ready to be picked up, and gave them a good clean-​up and polish.
A job well done is an understatement. Go for it, don’t think twice.

I just moved to the neighborhood, went there for the first time with three pairs of boots, Unfortunately, I lost my ticket and although I apologized profusely, the owner (?) proceeded to yell at me and lecture me while I waited because I lost my tickets.
I also asked for my boots to be polished and was charged for the polishing. When I noticed one of the pairs wasn’t polished, I was told they never agreed to polish my boots, but then wouldn’t explain the price breakdown. Good workmanship, but for the attitude I’ll never go back. I wish I would have met this Mike who’s incredibly nice, courteous and professional, according to some of the other reviewers.

I am definitely a shoe girl. I own lots of pairs and treat every single one like they’re my favorite. I’ve been to other shoe repair places and have been unsatisfied with how they came back, but MICHAEL’S IS BY FAR THE BEST. Nice, courteous and knowledgeable service. No matter how beat up my shoes may look when I bring them in, I always get them back looking BRAND NEW. They work magic back there!
I also get compliments on how nice my shoes are, so that earns them extra points as well!

Simply great craftsmen that know exactly what and how to do it.
They’re fast, professional and incredibly nice. No, seriously — Mike is really really nice.
He works extremely hard and is courteous to all. I enjoy having a quick conversation whenever I stop by. He’s made it clear that this store is his bread and butter. His life. So he invests his all in it. Every single day.
If I ever wanted to see an establishment succeed because, it’s this one. Because he absolutely deserves it. He loves what he does and will do a great job at it.

THESE GUYS ARE AMAZING. Got rid of serious salt stains on a pair of tan leather boots that I wore out before they were weatherproofed. TIP: take your nice shoes there *before* you wear them. They can weatherproof and add heels etc. that will make them last much longer than they would otherwise.

These guys are old world craftsmen. I can’t say enough good things about them.
Last week, I brushed against a freshly painted yellow railing in the subway. Like a genius, I tucked my purse under my arm, transferring the new racing stripe to my coat. I went straight to Michael’s and they had both the bag and the coat looking like new within 48 hours for $ 28.