Bill’s Shoe Service

Cheryl did a great job polishing my shoes while I waited and was friendly.
It’s an old-​fashioned place, but that’s not a bad thing

Bill’s Shoe Service in Havertown, PA is a relic of the past and, if you’re looking for ease in getting your shoes serviced, this is not a good thing.
Unfortunately my interactions at this store have not been great. The owner is a bit gruff, the store only takes cash (who carries more than $ 60 in cash these days?), and there is no commitment to when the item will be ready («When do you think the shoes will be ready?» «I’ll call ya.») On top of this, no price was given to me upon leaving my shoes there just «hey, could you leave me fifteen or twenty as a down payment?»
All of this leads up to an exhausting experience in wondering when the shoes will be ready and having to have cash available for both drop-​off and pick-​up (have fun running over to the Super Fresh grocery store to withdraw money from a crappy, non-​bank sponsored EZ CASH machine!)
On top of all this, the work is pretty expensive — $ 55. Bill neglects to do a small item and then tells me he can do it real quick — like two minutes. He speaks the truth, it’s an easy fix but then he charges me another $ 3 for a no-​effort fix.
So …
Gruff owner
Cash only
Cash deposit
No price quote
Nickel and dimed
=
Can’t recommend.

My repair from Bill’s lasted all of two months before breaking. Suck it Bill!!!

We live in an age where throwing away broken or damaged stuff is routine. There was a time when people tried to fix almost everything and there was a thriving service industry to help you. Those days are gone. Now there is less and less «stuff» that is worth the time and expense of fixing.
For me shoes and luggage are still worth repairing and Bill has been handling this for me for many years. Men’s shoes (especially dress shoes) and good luggage can be a significant investment. Bill helps me give them added life. If I wear down the heels on my shoes he replaces them. If an airline chews on my luggage, he stiches it for me. I’m sometimes annoyed by the long wait time which is often three weeks but he gets it done.