Johnston & Murphy

We went to this store on on Saturday looking for some dress boot for my boyfriend. Bryce was assisting us at first and seemed to be helpful until Bryce saw this guy who happened to be a pro football player. Bryce then in the middle of the shoe fitting left us to help the other guy out and even told the football player to sit in the chair my boyfriend was in. Talk about poor customer service. We were waiting for Bryce to bring another size over, we were ready to make a purchase but Bryce was ignoring us. He lost our business and the pro football player didn’t even buy anything. I hope Bryce sees this and realizes that he should treat all customers equal!!!

A lot has changed with the quality of Johnston & Murphy’s shoes over the past few years. Even more change is the level of customer service, follow through and doing the right thing to keep loyal customers engaged in evangelizing your products.
My wife picked up a Über cool pair of 1890’s boots for me, adding to yet another pair of shoes to my collection of over 50 pairs. Yes, I have a shoe fetish, especially for unique styles, handmade leather with leather soles. J&M used to carry some of the best hand made in Italy and America shoes that stood for quality. This was during the times when you could go into a store if there was an issue with a purchase and have it remedied on the spot. Those days are gone. Now it’s made in China and corporate greed over being responsible.
The boots in question are poorly constructed in China with only one staple and glue holding the heel of the boot to the sole, see photo. With less than 10 days of wear and probably 20 miles of walking, the heel separated from the sloe. Without having a receipt on me, I walked into the store wanting a replacement. It took 1.5 hours to make this happen. This was truly a WTF moment. You could see little if any visible wear, clearly see that this was a J&M shoe. What should have been a simple 10 — 15 minute transaction became an exercise of patience. But this was only one of two faulty construction returns. The original shoes were replaced with a new pair. Somewhat satisfied I left with an equal pair.
Fast forward two months with the new pair receiving about the same wear as the original pair. Low and behold the replacement suffered from the same lack of quality control as the original pair. In this case the shoe was no longer made and no replacement would be available. I was given the option of a refund of $ 40 or apply the same to another pair of shoes. Given that over $ 240 was paid for the fist pair and each had failed with little use, this seemed like complete BS. I was given the option of sending the shoes back to HQ for a full refund. I did this over 6 months ago, made several follow-​up phone calls and to date no check was been issued. The original person that was handling my claim no longer works at HQ and the no documentation within J&M memorialized the claim being processed.
I used to be a loyal customer with an average spend of $ 1,500 per year, but no more. I deserve better than crap made in China. I also deserve the same level of loyalty that I have given J&M over the past 15 years.

Legendary quality product, exceptional customer service. These are the shoes that your father wanted you to buy, if he was a gentleman.
Don’t skimp on shoes, folks. Your spine and your general health depends upon them. Skimp on something else.

Felt Like I Was At A Bad Flea Market!
Wow! What an awful experience. For a store that presents itself as mid to upper scale, the service felt like being in a bad flea market where I should have been haggling with the saleslady. At no time in the experience below did I ask for assistance — in fact, I tried hard through my tone and body language to get the woman to leave me alone. Next time (which won’t be in this store), I will be direct and ask them to simply stop.
I saw a pair of cuff links that were awesome in the window. I went in to check them out and stopped at a jar that had shoelaces on sale. «10 for $ 19.50». As soon as I stopped — that was it. The sales clerk was on me like tacky glue…
«You like these?»
«Yes» I replied without making eye contact, continuing to look through the jar.
She aggressively put herself between the laces and me. «They are almost half off! What colors do you like?»
They were more than half off. I had grey and green ones in my hands. «Grey and Green.»
She took the remaining laces I was searching from me. «I have more colors.»
I pointed to the orange and lighter green ones on different pairs of shoes. After not finding them, she proceeded to pull out the laces for female shoes.
«Those are women’s laces» I pointed out.
«No difference» she lied.
I told her I just wanted the men’s.
At that point I saw a pair of black-​rimmed, reading glasses I really liked. Their strength was 2.0. I asked if she had them with a strength of 1.0.
She came back with a tortoise shell pair.
I seemed to have to point out, «Those aren’t the same.»
«But they are 1.0.»
«No thank you.»
She then handed the same black-​rimmed ones to me. «But they are only 2.0» she tried to pressure.
I could not respond.
By this point, I just wanted to get out and did not want to ask about the cuff links. Handing her the 2 pair of laces they did have in my colors, I stated, «I will just pay for these.»
As she took the $ 10.00 out of my hands without words, I noticed that they were not on sale. «Are these only on sale if you buy 10 pairs?»
«Yes.»
I could have pointed out how the law was clear that items advertized as X for $Y must be sole for the sale price regardless of how many one purchases, but her uninformed, relentless pressure was too much to handle and I grabbed my money back — without words (until these).
In the end, her less-​than-​honest and unwelcome pressure for an extra four dollars lost her a sale of cuff links. (I later went on line an found a nearly identical pair for less than what Johnston and Murphy wanted on their own website.) Thanks lady!

Two stars for cute, quality women’s shoes. That’s where the positive ends. The Asian sales associates wouldn’t leave me alone and just stood around starring. While close to Chinatown, I’m not down for the Asian press. Why sales associates think this will make a sale is beyond me. My purchases at this store have come to an end.

Extremely helpful sales staff — and not too pushy on the up selling either. Some things are needed to maintain good shoes, and some things are just silly

I have never bought shoes from here before but was so pleased with the service and quality. Henry was great and special ordered me two pairs of shoes. They have a GREAT sale season and the most adorable oxfords!

I had a pair of shoes that started to fall apart after a few months. The manager asked to see them then replaced the shoes at no charge. What service.

Some awesomely cool patent & velvet oxfords caught my eye, in the window of Johnston & Murphy & can’t believe I’ve only been into this shop like once before when BFF needed to replace his nice work shoes… so it was high time I went back
Those oxfords were incredibly cool & really comfy — felt like a glove from the moment I put them on
Also saw these super-​cute plaid heels in 2 different patterns. The Mr & I couldn’t agree which pattern we liked better b/​c they were both so great… ended up getting all 3 pairs of shoes! Crazy!
Sales staff was super-​nice & even let me leave my shoes at their shop over the weekend — it was a Fri & we had a concert that evening in Union Square & didn’t want to take a shoe bag into the venue w/​us
Well of course as we’re sitting there w/​me modeling shoes, the Mr found some he liked as well but he didn’t have the right socks on
But since we had to come back for my shoes, it was the perfect time for the Mr to model his own choices — I liked how the person who helped us really knew his stock. He knew how 1 style would fit vs another style & when the Mr asked about yet another style, he said they wouldn’t work w/​his foot b/​c they were a narrower shoe & would be uncomfortable. Appreciate the knowledge & honesty!
So he ended up getting some awesome loafers & super-​cool oxfords as well. Thanks for keeping us in style!

My partner and I were on a mission on Saturday to 1) get out and enjoy the indian summer and 2) shop for t shirts & jeans! Our shopping destination was Union Square and as we meandered our way through the Anglophile-​filled booths for Britweek, we stumbled upon Johnston & Murphy. I love shoes… but this particular buying experience was for my partner.
Long story short, but this rave review is a huge shout out to Thomas Baboin, our salesman. Very informative (Thomas knows his shoes), effervescent (engaged in great ancillary stories), impeccable dresser, and most importantly cute as a button!
No pun intended, but my partner walked away with 2 pairs of posh J&M shoes!

I love J and M shoes. They are comfortable and wear well. It is about all I buy anymore. Unfortunately, I can never get service in this store. The salespeople are pushy, until you actually need help, and then they disappear, or stand around the counter talking with eachother. I asked for help, and they just looked at me. I put the shoe back on the rack, came home, and ordered on line. It is a weird store, but great shoes!

I agree wholeheartedly with Shelby. I am a big J&M fan although they’ve pulled a few of my favorite styles over the past few years. Nevertheless, the rating is more for the service than the merchandise.
I have two different experiences.
The first time I walked in, I experienced a rude and overzealous greeting. It was as if I was on the outside of an inside joke. It was obnoxious and I walked right out. It sounds sensitive but when a guy is yelling at you about ‘HEY HOW’S YOUR DAY???’ WHAT ARE YOU UP TO???” and then gives you a ‘SWEEEEET’ after a low key, normal response («Not bad, shopping»), you know something is up.
The second time was fine until check-​out. I wouldn’t have minded it so much until the sales rep actually scanned and placed a leather cleaner in my bag without so much as asking me if I wanted it (I didn’t). He also gave me a hard sell on shoe horns, even after I told him I was covered.
I was also turned off that the price was $ 10 higher than what was listed on the shoe. I questioned them about this, and he shot me down, confirming what I was billed was accurate. I then went back to the display shoe, turned it over, and showed them it was $ 10 less. He apologized and said it was an oversight, but that it was due to rising costs of leather. Fine, but do your job and make sure your listed prices are accurate, and if they’re not, don’t make me feel stupid for pointing it out.

I agree with the other Unilocalers, the merchandise at Johnston Murphy is decent. Although a bit conservative for my taste, I have purchased several pairs of comfortable well-​made shoes and shirts and I have been quite pleased. Hence my reason for returning. However, what will make me stop coming to this store in particular is the High-​Pressure, Intense Sales experience.
Every time I visit this store I forget how ANNOYING the sales staff is. I am lured in by their shoe selection and leave wanting to RUN from the store. Ok, I get this is a difficult economy but must the Sales Team act like Desperate Thai Hookers in Bangkok??? I mean really. Lay off on the INTENSITY. You leave the store feeling like you need a BATH and Tetanus Shot.
If the sales team weren’t so obnoxious and creepy perhaps I would have purchased all 4 pairs of shoes I bought in JM. Instead I ended up purchasing One pair of shoes and a Shirt only.
My Two-​Star rating is for the Sales Team primarily. It really did put a dark cloud over my Awesome shopping day…

Don’t know how I stumbled onto J&M, but I must say, I have nothing to complain.
They make shoes for most Middle American budgets, and they offer fancier shoes for the 1%.
I’ve worn their «budget» dress shoes and gotten some exceptional deals on the fancy shoes — and I’ve been completely satisfied with both.
Their button-​up shirts are of very high quality, and are far more «original» than those that other brands have to offer.
Last, but not least, they are The Official Supplier of my over-​sized rabbit gloves, available annually in the fall… and the matching rabbit aviator.
Oh, great service too.

The service and product offered at this location is outstanding. However avoid the Filipina manager who will try to sell you stuff you don’t need and give you tons of misinformation. Dealing with her when no one else is avalible is like talking to a forigner in a 3^rd world country. She is the sole reason for this establishment not getting the fifth star in my book.

Solid, high-​quality shoes at a reasonable price.
The only drawback is the sales staff is of the used car-​lot variety.
And don’t bother showing up without proper dress socks. If you want to get a proper fit, you need to have proper socks on when you are trying on the shoes. I asked to use a pair and was given a dirty, smelly pair. When I asked the salesperson for a clean-​ish pair, he replied «they are all like that, would u like to buy a pair?»
ANY store that sells shoes, from Ferragamo to Shoe Pavilion provides either socks or those little nylon things, so that you can try on shoes and get a proper fit. Because they want to sell shoes. Now I don’t know if it is store policy, or if this salesperson was just a dirtbag trying to squeeze a few more cents commission out of me. Either way, I wanted the shoes so I bought a pair of socks. And I will never go back to this store. The four stars are all for the shoes.
And still this slimeball wouldn’t relent. He continued to push shirts, belts, more socks, cuff links and everything that wasn’t bolted down. Its unfortunate that a good brand is tarnished with this type of sleaze.
Like I said, used car-​lot. But great shoes.
I highly recommend the brand, in the future I will just buy them online.

these are the most comfortable shoes that you will ever wear…
Run… don’t walk to get your new shoes.

Ladies, Johnston & Murphy have begun selling women’s shoes. And they are phenomenal work staples!
Better yet, it seems none of you know about them, so many of them are half off. I just picked up two gorgeous pairs of quilted flats, one in plain black, and the other in cream with black trim (very Chanel) The quality is fantastic, especially for the price point. I eyed some really great pumps as well, but maybe they will go on sale later.
I was in and out of the store in less than 15 minutes because the service was fantastic. Fahim helped me, and even measured my feet to see if my prayers had been answered and my size 10 feet had shrank (they had not), had my black shoes sent to me at work, and helped me pick out colors. He encouraged me to buy at least two pairs at this deal. He’s right, but he’s trouble as well!
I’ll be back, especially when I see those sale signs!

I have a great pair of Johnston & Murphy black leather dress shoes that I’ve been using for years. Finally, the glue wore off and the sole started coming apart. Since it was a J&M shoe, I took it here to get fixed. It was a strange situation, where one of the clerks took my phone number on a scratch sheet of paper and gave no receipt. I also had special instructions to only pay in cash. So… after 2 weeks and no phone calls, I contacted J&M. My shoes were still not ready! Another week went by before my shoes were ready. They looked great! $ 22 bucks! Well, unfortunately, they glue job didn’t do the trick. After a week of wear and tear, one, then both shoes came unglued again. I then took them to a shoe repair shop in Noe valley for another $ 33 bucks to get them fixed…

This is a fairly large Johnston & Murphy store on Union Square. They sell a wide variety of men’s shoes, typically for business wear and business casual. Their traditional shoes are offered in wide and narrow styles. It’s very hard to find narrow shoes in San Francisco. It’s pretty much here or Nordstrom.
I have a couple pairs of their dress shoes that don’t have metal shanks. Of course, that doesn’t stop you from having to take your shoes off in all airports, but it’s a nice touch.
I bought my brother a leather passport holder here as well. Some of these are comparable to Coach and priced slightly better. If you’re looking for true fashion-​forward styles, you’d be better served going to their website, though I don’t see any need for alligator shoes unless you’re getting into the pimp business.