Gimme Shoes

This place is great but taking one star off because the shoes are pretty expensive. However, they are high quality so if you feel like splurging, you should check it out. I pass by it whenever I’m in the area for lunch, so imagine my very pleasant surprise when I was passing by for dessert during lunch and saw that it was very crowded with people trying on shoes. I soon found out the reason why. The sign said that they were having a clearance up to 85% off. I immediately forgot about dessert and started trying on the shoes, and am happy to say I found a pair of Sigerson Morrison pumps for under $ 100. The salesperson who helped me was very nice too, despite it being so busy. If it wasn’t during my lunch hour I would have happily stayed longer. You should definitely keep an eye out for them when you’re in the area for the next clearance. I know I will.

The selection is unbeatable here. Fiorentini + Baker, Robert Clergerie, Costume National, Chie Mihara, Ellen Verbeek, and lots of other designers that are difficult to find elsewhere. I can walk in here at any time of the year and be certain to find something I have to have. This is the first place I go when I feel like getting a new pair of shoes.
That being said, service is generally good though somewhat inconsistent. The majority of the times I’ve gone in, the sales associates were personable and helpful – they’re familiar with all of the designers carried and actually know how styles run fit-​wise. Nothing annoys me more than unscrupulous salespeople who make up arbitrary answers to your questions because they’re desperate to close the sale. None of that here, thank goodness. When you’re paying $ 500 for shoes, you want to feel good about purchase, and that includes the salesperson’s helpfulness and knowledge.
Going back to the inconsistency, there have been times when I’ve gone in with no one saying hello to me – there’s no need to hover, of course, but a greeting at the least would make me feel more welcome.

Where else would I be buying shoes? Well, Camper… my experience is that both stores offer excellent customer service!
They know me… and always, I really mean it, ALWAYS offers excellent customer service… even if I do go in and just gawk…
This location and back in the day when they had one on Grant… I’ve always experienced lovely service… can’t say the same for the one on Fillmore… and the other one on Hayes? Sporadic… better now than years back…
This one is the winner!

I think this new location houses most of the Repetto merchandise that used to live at the first Hayes Valley shop (still operating). I love the fact that Gimme has expanded the Repetto shoe and handbag inventory since adding the new location. The staff is friendly and very helpful. And you can get incredible bargains during the big sales.

This place has the BEST shoes and unfortunately the WORST customer service. The saving grace? The sales representatives on the floor are always nice, helpful, and attentive and might I add attractive… however the upper management does not cater to its customers AT ALL if there are issues with the shoes.
After purchasing a $ 400 pair of shoes, one would think quality service and quality product would be what you paid for. think again. In 2 months, my shoes started falling apart and mgmt (including the owner) told me essentially it was my fault– they were too worn and that the rain could be part of the issue. Uhmm, they are shoes– which means they get worn and sometimes rain is involved.
Gimme shoes solution= customer pay to have them repaired. No apologies. Just defense, blame and avoidance.
NEVER again will I shop there. And, that’s just too bad because the shoes are pretty great.
May I suggest Rabat on Noe St instead?

This is a new location just up the block from the Gimme Shoes @416 Hayes Street. I came across this new location when I went on the hunt for one my favorite shoe designers, Fiorentini & Baker. Besides Barney’s, Gimme Shoes seems to be the only other retailer that sells this line in SF, which requires regular drop-​ins to look/​see what the latest styles are from the line.
I dropped by recently to do just that and came across an exquisite pair of dark brown boots that I couldn’t leave behind. Although the price for a pair of Fiorentini & Baker boots costs a months worth of food, IMO, it’s well worth the sacrifice in exchange for such damn sexy boots!
The sales staff was ‘tude free and there were more than a couple of sales people who were quite friendly and helpful. Infact, he was so helpful, I ended up purchasing not one but two pair of Fiorentini & Baker boots by the time I walked out of there!
The minus 1* is because their sales are weak and I can still find better sale prices for the same pair from Barney’s! I hope I won’t have to come back here for a long time given the durability of these boots!