FAQ

All of the information any quizzical Fluevoger could ever need, in a very handy drop down menu.


About John Fluevog Shoes

Who is the designer? Where is he from?

The designer is John Fluevog. Hailing from Vancouver BC, Canada, John designs and produces untraditional shoes in traditional methods, using eco-friendly materials where possible.

How long has Fluevog been around?

John Fluevog has provided Unique Soles for Unique Souls since 1970.

Does John actually design all the shoes?

Most of what you see are John’s own original designs. Sometimes, however, they come to him in dreams, so the design credit technically goes to God. In some cases, there is a celestial music and new designs float into the design office on little fairy wings. In other cases, John leaves work very late at night, returning the next morning to find brilliant new shoe designs waiting, with no trace of authorship. As you can understand, the only explanation possible is that God is responsible for the latter two methods, whether directly or through Angel delegation. So, here at John Fluevog Shoes, we officially have two designers: John and God. Sometimes they fight over who’s head designer.

Are John Fluevog Angels really Satan resistant?

You’re wearing Angels right now, right? Look around – do you see him? Nope! I guess they are resistant! (Good thing too, I heard he was asking about you.)

What do the letters DDFT stand for on the pull tabs on my shoes?

“Don’t Delay Fluevog Today!”

I understand celebrities go for John’s shoes in a big way. Who?

The earliest sighting we can recall was when director Robert Altman came in during filming of “McCabe & Mrs. Miller” (that’s a long time ago, Fluevogers) and bought a pair of knee – high, quasi – medieval boots. John had had his picture taken in them, only moments before. But we’re not going to give Bob his money back.

In her movie, “Truth Or Dare”, Madonna opens a box of black Original Munsters, slips them daintily on, clumps down the hall toward the camera and croaks, “Ya like ’em?”. Exhibiting good taste. Madonna. Who would have thought?

Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth has been spotted regularly, loitering in our New York outpost, as has Perry Farrell, of Jane’s Addiction and co-founder of Lollapalooza. Evidently Jane’s addicted to Fluevogs. We don’t mind.

There are a slew of others but we’re not about to go name dropping (in case we misspell one of them).

Who played vibes with Benny Goodman’s big band between 1936 and 1940?

After a chance encounter in a New York jazz club, in the Summer of 1936, vibraphonist Lionel Hampton found himself invited to join the Benny Goodman Orchestra as a featured soloist. Hampton’s playing style fit naturally into the smooth, melodic, yet strongly rhythmic arrangements that characterized the Swing Era and Goodman’s band in particular. In 1940, after distinguishing himself in that organization, Hampton left to form his own band, being later succeeded in his previous position by Red Norvo. A true giant of jazz himself, Hampton shared the stage over the next several decades with the field’s elite, including Gene Kruppa, Charlie Christian, Harry James, Charles Mingus, Illinois Jacquet, Dexter Gordon and Dinah Washington. As well as the vibraphone, Lionel Hampton was proficient on piano, drums and occasionally as a vocalist. His 1954 recording of “Flying Home”, made with Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown and Buddy Rich, became his signature tune, as well as his biggest commercial hit.

Where can I find Fluevog Shoes?

Where can I find Fluevogs?

Check out this list of Fluevog stores. You might find one in your town!

How come you don’t have a store in my area?

It is in our expansion plan to have a Fluevog store in every town and city in the world by 2110, preferably sooner.

About the Shoes

How many shoes of one style do you make?

Each style will usually come in two or three colours and we will produce between 120 – 300 pairs of shoes. When you divide that between all of the stores, there aren’t that many! Of these, each store will receive one or two size 6’s and up to four size 9’s. Long story short, very very few people in the world will have the same shoes as you. That’s pretty unique, depending on whom you hang out with.

Why can’t I buy this men’s shoe in a woman’s size?

Most of our men’s shoes use Italian production lasts, which tend to be wider in the footbed and heel than a woman’s last. We try our best to provide men’s styles in a M7/W9 as that tends to be the bottom range of men’s production lasts. Occasionally we will bring a men’s style into women’s sizes, but that involves a new last and complete reconstruction of the shoe, which ultimately gets redesigned and looks quite different as the end result.

 

Why can’t I find the style I’m looking for online?

All shoes that exist in our inventory are available online. We don’t have a warehouse, and all of our web orders get processed through one of our stores. Every single pair of shoes in our inventory are accounted for, and are available online. Even down to the random forgotten pair hiding in our basement. But if you don’t believe us, your best bet is to chat with a Fluevogologist directly through our Live Chat (just click the box at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen to get started) or use our Contact Form.

Also, check out the FlueMarket, an online market where Fluevogers go to sell their lightly loved Vogs to a good home.

Why did you stop making this shoe?

To be honest, John is an artist. New ideas and inspirations occur continuously and need to be explored in the mind of an artist. It’s not exciting to do the same thing over and over, and it’s exciting to design new and never before seen shoes and boots. Of course, some styles have become so ingrained into Fluevogian culture it’s hard to imagine Fluevogs without Angels or…. Some old styles get reinvented, and remade, but only John decides that.

 

If there is style that you are desperate to have on your feet, check out the Flueseum, search it out, and “like” it. If enough Fluevogers “like” a style, who knows? John may be inspired to bring it back.

 

Why is this style discontinued?

Sometimes we need to make room for new styles. We make a very limited amount of shoes and boots, and even though it’s a hard decision to make, we do have to discontinue old styles on occasion.

Will John ever make this style again? Can you make old styles?

The chances are very slim, so we are officially saying “no.” But from time to time, John has surprised us all by bringing out an old style, sometimes exactly and sometimes a new interpretation of that style. But it doesn’t happen very often.

If there is style that you are desperate to have on your feet, check out the Flueseum, search it out, and “like” it. If enough Fluevogers “like” a style, who knows? John may be inspired to bring it back.

 

Can you help me find a shoe that you haven’t made in a few years? Do you have any old styles kicking around in inventory?

Sadly, we do not have a warehouse, basement, or secret stash of old styles. What is online is what is available. The best place to find old styles is The FlueMarket, where many old Fluevogs exchange hands (or feet). If you have an old style to sell, or are looking for an old pair, stalking The FlueMarket is always the best way – and surprisingly fruitful!

Also, check out our Flueseum. You’ll find a curated archive of styles dating back to the beginning of Fluevog, as we know it. Not only can you view the styles, you can “like” the ones that you are desperate to see revived.

I can’t find my size online! This shoe is out of stock on your website. Do you have it in stores?

We make a very limited amount of shoes, and with that an even more limited number of sizes. Everything in our inventory is available online. If the style is regular price and some of the sizes are sold out, there is a chance the style may get restocked (or hasn’t been received yet in all stores). If this is the case, you can sign up for the restock notifier (if it’s available for that style, it will be on the right hand side of the product page) and we’ll email you when we get more stock in! If the item is on sale or in clearance, it generally means it is sold out and won’t be restocked.

Try checking out the FlueMarket, where Fluevogers go to sell their gently worn Vogs. You never know!

When will my style get restocked?

This is a tough one because not all shoes get restocked, and if they do, it’s at certain times. For instance, a restock of boots will only arrive in the stores in late fall, while sandals will only get restocked in late spring. Because Fluevog doesn’t make a large stock of inventory, most items don’t get restocked, so be sure to grab them while you can.

The best way to be sure is to check out the product page on the website. If there is a Re-stock Notifier option on the right-hand side of the product picture, there is a chance that we’ll get more of that style. You can click there and sign up to be notified when more stock arrives for that shoe!

Why are the shoes sold out?

Despite our global and awesome presence, we actually are a very small company that makes a very limited number of shoes. In most cases, we only make the factory ‘minimum’, which could be only a couple hundred pairs. Divided between the US, Canada, Australia and Europe stores, that means a style and colour might only arrive in each store in 20-30 pairs, 2-3 pairs per size. Our shoes sell out very fast, so if you see something you like, don’t wait too long–they might be gone before you know it!

 

Do you have this shoe in a different colour?

Unfortunately not. If you don’t see it online, we don’t have it available in another colour. That’s not to say it never was made in the different colour, or that it will come out next year in a new colour, but if you don’t see it online, it isn’t available for purchase.

If you really want to see a Fluevog that hasn’t yet been created, try sending it to us through our Open Source Footwear program. The program is designed to allow Fluevogers to have a say in the kind of shoes that we make, and John picks ideas from there and turns them into real life shoes.

The style might come in a different colour next year, but we don’t know which styles will be continued, and in which colours yet. We enjoy last minute decisions; they keep us on our toes.

 

When are you getting the boot re-stock back in?

We make all of our boots for the fall and winter season. They first arrive in August/September and restock arrive in November/December. Boots are only made for the fall/winter season, and are not produced for the spring/summer.

Spring stock does not contain boots, but it does contain open-toed and slingback styles, including sandals. It arrives in February, and is restocked in April/May.

 

Can you make Fluevog SPDs/bike shoes again?

After a well-intentioned but ultimately ill-fated foray into bike shoes way back in the 90’s, John waited a good while before venturing into this arena again.

For Fall 2019, he was happy to collaborate with the experts at Garneau on an official Fluevog cycling shoe. The shoe features a custom Fluevog floral and is only currently available in select stores. Our advice? Snap ’em up quick because you never know if/when they’ll ever be back again!

You should make a shoe like this…

We get many suggestions, from spring-loaded heels to trampoline shoes. They are all fantastic suggestions, but not always our thing. The best way to get your suggestion into John’s head is to submit your design through our Open Source Program. Playing (loosely) off of Open Source software, Fluevogers can share their design ideas online. If John is inspired by your idea, he’ll turn your design into actuality. Not only is it named after you, you get a free pair too!

 

Can I custom order shoes? Can you make me a wedding shoe?

We don’t make custom shoes, even if it’s our style in another colourway or different leather. The factory minimums are quite large, and unless you’re willing to purchase 200 of the custom shoe, the factories won’t even let us discuss it with them. Sorry!

We do try to make some styles for the spring that arrive in white, cream, or lighter colours that might be a suitable wedding shoe, but we can’t make a single custom pair. (Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials!)

 

You should make kids or dog shoes…

We try not to venture out of our expertise – which is awesome and unique walking shoes. Dog shoes and kid’s shoes are different industries altogether, and we’re not familiar with them. It would involve starting from scratch; basically, starting a new branch of our company, working with factories designed especially for this market, and using materials we don’t know. In conclusion, we wouldn’t know where to start. We would rather focus our energies and creativity on what we are good at, making unique soles for unique souls.

 

About the Fit

What size should I order? How does this style run?

The million-dollar question! After decades of experience, our Fluevogologists are where it’s at. If it’s during store hours, you can directly contact a Fluevogologist online through our ultra-handy Live Chat (click on the bottom right hand corner chat box to get started) or get in touch through our contact form. Fluevogologists have the most experience in Vog Fitting, and can best describe the fit to you. If you have other Fluevog styles, you might want to mention which sizes you have in these styles for a more accurate size suggestion. Either way, give a Fluevogologist a shout, they don’t bite (except on Halloween, after the candy runs out).

What is the largest/smallest size you carry?

Most of our women’s shoes range from a Women’s 6 to a Women’s 11, although a few styles do come in a Women’s 5 and 12.

Men’s shoes range from a Men’s 7 to a Men’s 13.

We try our best to provide footwear for everyone, and try to provide smaller and larger sizes when given the opportunity of extending the size run.

 

Do you carry Women’s sizes 5 or 12?

Most of our styles come in US sizes 6-11, however, there are a certain few that come in 5-12. If you are not able to find your size on the online shoe page, you should contact one of our Fluevogologists through our Live Chat (just click the chat icon at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen to get talkin’) or use our Contact Form. They’re experts on everything Fluevog and they will be able to help you in your search!

How does Fluevog measure the height of a heel?

We measure our heels from the ground to the tallest point of the heel, located at the back end of the shoe. As platform, sole, and/or heel lift thickness can each affect the actual pitch, we’ll provide their measurements in our product descriptions where applicable. Platform height is measured from the ball of the foot to the floor and only soles with a thickness of greater than half an inch are included.

Why don’t you put the measurement of the calf size online? What is the measure of the calf in these boots?

We don’t put calf measurements online because they differ from each size and it would be really confusing if we put up 14 different calf measurements. The calf size of a boot changes with the size of the footbed; for example, the calf measurement for a size 6 is much smaller than a size 9.

For the best and most accurate measurement, contact a Fluevogologist directly through our Live Chat (just click the red box at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen to get talkin’) or Contact Form. They have the most experience in Vog Fitting, and will be able to explain how to measure your calf size and give you an educated guess to whether a particular style can be stretched in the calf or not.

Please note, a boot that is stretched or modified cannot be returned or exchanged under any circumstance.

Do any of your boots fit larger calves? Can the calves be stretched?

We try our best to have a boot for everyone. We will always try to carry some boots that run narrow and some that run wide in the boot shaft. Some of our styles can be stretched, it just depends on the leather and design features (like zippers, stitching, and laces that prevent stitching).

For a better idea of which styles run wide, and which can be stretched, chat with a Fluevogologist online with our Live Chat (just click chat icon at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen to get talkin’) or use our Contact Form. They have the most experience in Vog Fitting, and can tell you whether they think a boot shaft can be stretched to you.

Please note, a boot that is stretched or modified cannot be returned or exchanged under any circumstance.

What sizing system do you use?

We use US shoe sizing. When in doubt, measure your foot from the heel to the longest toe and give us that measurement in the customer comment box when you place an order. It also helps a lot if you already own a pair of Fluevogs, and let us know which style and size they are.

If you need to convert Men’s or Women’s US sizing it is helpful to know that Men’s sizing + 2 = Women’s sizing. (For example M7 = W9).

Check out our Sizing section for more details.

About the Materials and Production

Where are these shoes made?

Our shoes are designed in Vancouver, Canada, but are made all over the world.

Large portions of our shoes are made in Portuguese factories; some we have been working with for decades. We also use factories in Mexico, Peru, China, Vietnam and Brazil.
 

Why are my Angel soles turning white?

The soles turn white (also called blooming) due to the natural character of the Hevea milk, used in making the 100% biodegradable Angel Soles. It’s a quite normal phenomenon linked with this material. After a certain time, the proteins contained in the Hevea milk migrate to the surface and cause a white powder-like substance to sit on the surface of the latex, we call this blooming. You’ll notice this white chalky surface on older angel soles.

To address this issue, our factories that work with these latex soles typically brush them (after the shoes are finished) with a silicone oil & water solution. They do this after the fact because if some of the silicone solution got on the side of the soles that get adhered to the upper, it could mess up the bonding of the cements.

It’s not anything that will hurt or damage your shoes, or your health by any means. If it bothers you, it should wear off as you walk, or you could always wash it off using warm water with just a drop of silicone (yes, that silicone).

What does handmade mean?

Although most of our shoes are lasted (leather stretched over the last) and stitched by a machine, it actually takes a skilled and trained professional to maneuver the machine properly. However, our factories in Peru and Mexico actually last and stitch the shoes by hand using traditional methods used for centuries. We are passionate about shoes, and get really really excited about this.

Watch this awesome video about how one of the members of The Miracle Family were produced in Peru for insight into how our shoes are made by hand.

What kind of materials does Fluevog use in their shoes?

We believe that leather offers the best protection, breathability, and durability for footwear. Fluevog primarily uses cow leather, but we may also use calf, goat, sheep, or pigskin lining for our shoes. Our leathers are sourced from all around the world from places like Argentina, Brazil, Peru, China, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. The leathers are all unique in their characteristics and can vary anywhere from high-end European materials to hand-finished leathers. For example, the leathers used for production in Vietnam are some of the best in Europe; and the leathers used in production in Peru and Mexico are from factory-owned tanneries that use local hides.

In the last few years, we have been using eco-friendly, vegetable-tanned leathers wherever we can and because this is an industry that is still growing, we may use other new materials as more options become available.

Our soles come in a variety of different materials, depending on how we want the shoes to look and perform. For example, a classic dress shoe will have leather or Tunite soles (a rubber mixture produced in Portugal). We strive to support sustainable options whenever possible. Shoes featuring a crepe sole are crafted under an environmentally-friendly process. Some of our most versatile shoes are equipped with a weather-resistant EcoRubber sole made from 70% recycled materials, or a 100% recycled TPR (thermoplastic rubber) sole developed by a family-run factory in Portugal. Both help to reduce factory waste without compromising on performance or durability. Plus, almost all of our shoes are cemented using water-based glues and our boxes are made from recycled materials printed with soy-based inks.

What’s veggie-tanned leather?

Veggie-tanned leathers are dyed and tanned using vegetables, instead of the industry standard (for the last 200 years) of using chromates and other heavy metals. It’s still leather, but 100% eco-friendly and biodegradable without any toxic waste. Not many shoe companies use veggie-tanned leathers. Only recently have options opened up in the leather industry for veggie tans, and we hope to use more once they become available.

Do you have any vegan shoes?

We spend a good long time searching for leather substitutes that work with our styles without compromising the quality that we’ve come to be known for. After seasons of painstaking research into material and production options, we are ecstatic to be offering several vegan shoe offerings and are hopeful that there is more to come!

About Web Orders

What forms of payment do you accept for online orders?

We accept all major credit cards with billing addresses in the US, Canada and Australia. For International orders, we can only accept Paypal.

Should I be worried about giving out my credit card number and personal information?

We employ industry recognized security safeguards to protect the personal information that you have provided to us from loss, misuse and unauthorized alteration. Whenever you transmit sensitive information, such as a credit card number, to us through our website, we provide you access to a secure server that allows 128 bit encryption of your data. Your credit card number is never transmitted over the Internet so you don’t have to worry about it being seen by third parties while in transit. Your information is only accessible by a limited number of employees who have special access rights to such systems.
For your utmost protection, we do not retain your credit card information. If your credit card information is needed for a refund or exchange, you might receive a call from one of our loyal Fluevogologists to obtain the necessary information. If they call, feel free to ask them about sizing recommendations, any movies they have seen recently, or their favourite Fluevog style of all time.

 

What is the CVV2 code and why do you need the code at the back of the card to complete my online order?

When you complete the order form, you will be asked for your credit card number and the security code that is on either the back or front of the credit card.

When we process your orders online on our secure server, information is sent to the bank to verify the billing address information (address verification or AVS) and the security code is verified. Security codes are printed on the reverse of virtually all Visa and MasterCard cards and on the front of American Express cards.

The Visa CVV2 code (Card Verification Value 2) and MasterCard CVC2 code (Card Validation Code 2) are three-digits at the end of the account number printed in reverse italic type on the back of the card.

For American Express, it’s a four-digit code printed on the front of the cards over the embossed account number.

Only the person holding the card has these numbers, so it ensures higher security for you to send this number to the bank for verification. We never see or store the credit card number or security number when you send the order.

For your utmost protection, we do not retain your credit card information. If your credit card information is needed for a refund or exchange, you might receive a call from one of our loyal Fluevogologists to obtain the necessary information.

 

What happens once I submit my order?

Once you hit the ‘confirm order’ box after filling in all your information, you will be issued an order confirmation number. It is important that you hang on to this number, as this is how we will be able to track your order should you have any questions or concerns. Once you’ve signed up for a Fluevog Account, you can also track your order online. All orders are subject to availability, especially Clearance Items.

Please note that orders from the U.S., Canada and Australia are ONLY shipped domestically. International orders from Europe will be shipped by our Canadian stores, orders from Asia, Africa or Oceania will be shipped by our Australian stores. International orders placed by customers in Latin America will be shipped from one of our U.S. stores, based upon which store has the item being purchased.

Submitted orders are processed by the closest Fluevog store to you that has the item in stock, and shipped to you from there. You will receive a confirmation from the store filling your order within 24 hours, confirming that they have your order. The latest expected shipment time will be stated on the checkout page and on your order confirmation email. In case of any complications we will contact you via email.

Please ensure that the email address you type in is one that you respond to prevent delays with your order.

After you have been contacted by the store filling your order, should you have any questions, it would be best to contact that store directly either by phone or email because they have your records on file. Please include your order confirmation number in any inquiry about your order.

Why should I have a Fluevogologist contact me when placing my order?

Our staff is sweet, cheerful, and quite knowledgeable about the fit of the styles. If you don’t want to be contacted, we understand, but they are there for your reference if you have any questions whatsoever, including movie and restaurant recommendations. If you’re not a fan of email or phone, use our Live Chat (just click the box in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen) to be-friend a Fluevogologist and ask them your questions directly!

If I order a pair of shoes online, can I return them in the store?

Yes, you can return/exchange them as long as they are unworn, in the original box, with a receipt, and as long as it’s within the return/exchange time frame and policy parameters.

Why doesn’t my gift certificate work across the border?

We actually have different POS systems and inventories for each country we operate in and they are not integrated. If you purchase a gift card/certificate in one country, it can’t be used in a different country. So make sure of the shipping country before you purchase a gift card/certificate for someone you love. The shipping address on the gift certificate order will determine the currency of your gift certificate.

 

Why doesn’t my gift card work online?

Gift card numbers get applied on the second page of the online checkout, right underneath the credit card details. Insert all the numbers, and the 4 digit CV2 code on the back of the card (scratch off the grey stuff, and the numbers are underneath).

You still have to put in your credit card details to complete the order, but it will only be charged if there is a remaining balance. If it still doesn’t work, make sure it is the same currency in which you are placing the order. Gift cards/certificates bought in one country, can’t be used in a different country.

If you are sure the gift card is in the same currency, you can put the numbers into the customer comment box with a note saying please use my gift card for the purchase. The store will contact you if there are any questions or problems with your card.

 

Can I use my store credit online?

Yes you certainly can. Please write in the “customer comments” section that you have store credit you would like to use, and from which store. You still have to put in your credit card details to complete the order but it will only be charged if there is a remaining balance.

Do you ever have sales? Do you ever put current shoe designs on sale?

We have a couple of sales a year. The best way to stay in the know is to sign up for our Newsletter and follow us on your social media of choice! We’ll always announce it to our Fluevogers there before it happens.

 

Why are Fluevogs so expensive?

We try to use the best possible leathers, which tend to be the most expensive leathers in the industry. We use traditional methods like partial blake construction, or good-year welting, which add years to your soles, but are some of the most expensive ways to make shoes.

On top of using top shelf materials, we make a very limited amount of shoes, usually factory minimums which can be quite expensive. It’s the difference between the productions of Ferraris versus Honda Civics; both are great cars but one is singularly fine tuned while the other is mass-produced. After all these factors are put into place, and you realize only 100 people in the world might have the same specific model and colour in their closet as yours, you begin to wonder how we are able to keep the prices somewhat affordable?!

Why can’t I order a pair of shoes across the border?

We have different inventories and POS systems with different currencies for each country we operate in. It gets really messy if we try to transfer a pair across borders. If you really want to order that pair from across the border, call that store directly and they will ship it to you. Please note: you are responsible for customs and duty taxes associated with shipping the shoes internationally.

 

How fast can I get my shoes?

If you really need your shoes that fast, your safest bet is to call a Fluevog store and place a phone order. They will do everything they can to rush your order. You are responsible for overnight/rush shipping charges. On the rare occasion that the shipping carrier delivers your shoes later than expected, Fluevog is not responsible and will not refund the rush shipping charges.

 

How long will my shoes take to get to me?

It depends – anywhere from 3 to 10 business days. Most orders arrive within a week of the order being placed.

Where is the warehouse, and where do my web orders come from?

We don’t have a warehouse. All of the web orders come straight from one of our retail locations, packaged and wrapped by one of our loving Fluevogologists.

Why are the prices different between Canada, the US and Australia?

The biggest factor is each country have dramatically different import taxes and costs for bringing shoes into the countries. Depending on materials, methods, and the country in which the shoes were produced in, the landed cost can be very different.

What do I do if I have a question about my order?

Email the store that is handling your order. Their contact information can be found in your confirmation email.

Can I order online and pick it up in-store?

Yes, but please note your order will not be ready for pick-up right away. It may take a few days before your order is available to be picked up in-store. Please wait for the confirmation email before coming in.

About International Orders

How do I pay for international orders? (An International order is classified as anywhere outside of Canada, the US and Australia)

As we are unable to verify and accept International credit cards, we can only accept payment through PayPal. When ordering online, you will be prompted to sign into your Paypal account to verify the transaction. Once completed, you will be returned back to the Fluevog Checkout Page to finish your order.

Who is responsible for customs and duty taxes?

All international orders are subject to duty and tax charges that the buyer is responsible for when your package crosses the border. Each country’s duty and tax rates are different. If you would like to know more about these charges, please contact your local customs office. John Fluevog Shoes is not responsible for any duty or taxes your customs office charges.

Why can’t you label my international package as a gift to get around customs?

We have spoken to several representatives of the major shipping companies, and they all agree that shipping a package international with a description as “gift,” gets the red light more than any other description (other than sex bomb of course). According to these shipping experts, you end up paying more in import taxes, and the wait in customs is much longer.

 

About the Return/Exchange Policy and Warranty

Are the limited edition shoes returnable?

Unfortunately, no. All limited edition shoes will be final sale and no returns/exchanges will be accepted.

What is Fluevog’s return/exchange policy for online orders?

Head over to our Exchange & Returns page to learn about our policies.

Do I have to pay for return/exchange shipping?

Returns and exchanges are free within the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Not applicable to international orders.

What is Fluevog’s return/exchange policy for in-store purchases?

Head over to our Exchange & Returns page to learn about our policies.

What happens if the shoes I just bought are now on sale?

Fluevog’s One-time Price Protection Policy is only valid on full priced items, purchased in-store or online, that go on sale within 14 days of original purchase. Only then will a refund be issued for a one-time price protection adjustment. Once an adjustment has been made, no further adjustments are allowed.

 

Why don’t Fluevogs come with a lifetime warranty?

Sadly, Fluevogs don’t come with a lifetime warranty. We have parts and a repair service to keep your Vogs running for many years, at your cost, unless the shoes have a serious defect under 1 year. When in doubt, contact your local Fluevog store.

What is Fluevog’s return/exchange policy for factory defects?

FACTORY DEFECTS

(Stitching, Heel coming off, Heel lifts coming off, zippers, split seams, upper separating, and construction irregularities)

  • John Fluevog Shoes will honor faults of the purchased footwear for up to 1 year from the date of purchase (providing that the customer has proof of their purchase).
  • Warranty issues do not include wear and tear.
  • John Fluevog Shoes will cover all repair costs up to 1 year on defects.
  • After 1 year, repairs will be charged to the customer, based on the in-store price list.
  • In-store Credit will be issued if the shoe is irreparable (exceptions to be approved by the Store Manager only).
  • An in-store credit is the ONLY form of re-imbursement for faulty footwear (exceptions to be approved by the Store Manager).

Contact a Fluevog Store

About Repairs and Replacement Parts

Do you have special Fluevog elves that do shoe repairs?

All our styles are shoe repair friendly, which means that any local shoe cobbler in your area should be able to do repairs for you. There is no special trick to repairing or refurbishing your old Vogs. All of our retail locations carry spare Fluevog parts for repairs, contact them for help or to use their local shoe cobbler’s services.

What happens if my heel lift fell off?

We use a water-based (eco-friendly) glue in some of our shoe production, and once in a while the glue doesn’t set between the heel and its lift. We apologize immensely for this, and recommend contacting your local store immediately if you find your heels are having this issue, as it can be re-glued very quickly and easily. If your shoes are under the 1 year warranty, contact your closest Fluevog store and they will glue them back up for you, or reimburse you for the cobbler’s fee. If you need a replacement heel lift, give the Fluevog store a shout and they will send you one.

Do you have custom polish for your shoe colours?

We sell a variety of polishes for your Vogs, check out our product page for supplies. If you aren’t sure about which polish to use, contact one of our Fluevogologists instantly through Live Chat (start chatting by clicking the box on the bottom right-hand corner of your screen)! We recommend testing your polish on a small, hard to see spot on your shoe before polishing the whole shoe.

 

Where can I get laces for your shoes? How can I get replacement laces?

We always try to have a steady stock of Fluevog laces at our retail stores. Contact your local Fluevog store for more details.

 

I really like those coloured laces that come in another style; can I get a pair for this other shoe?

We strategically place the coloured laces with certain styles, as part of our design. It would be awesome if the coloured laces were readily available, but we have a hard time finding them at the amounts we need as it is.

We recommend contacting your local Fluevog store to see what’s available, and you might be surprised!

 

Which Angel Sole replacement do I need?

Perhaps the best way is to determine where your Angels were made in order to choose between the two Angel sole replacements: the Original Angel Sole and the 7th Heaven Sole.

The Original Angel Sole is made from 100% Hevea Latex, which is a natural rubber harvested from the Hevea Tree. Aside from being 100% biodegradable leaving no production waste for the environment, they are soft and durable. Compared to The 7th Heaven Sole, they are a lot lighter, bouncier, but don’t last quite as long. These were used in Angels that were produced in Mexico, and are currently used in Angels made in Vietnam and Poland.

From 1990 to 1998, the first Angel shoes were fabricated in Mexico using The Original Angel Soles, made of 100% Hevea Tree latex.

From 1998 to 2005, the next generation of Angel Soles were fabricated in Poland using The 7th Heaven Sole, made of 50% Hevea Tree latex and 50% vulcanized rubber.

From 2006 to 2012, we moved the Angel production to Vietnam and China, going back to The Original Angel Sole comprised of 100% Hevea Tree latex. As of Fall 2012, The Classic Angels, Arch Angels, and Gateway Angels are fabricated with The Original Angel sole.

In 2013, we have added the production of The 7th Heaven Angels, made in Poland, and using The 7th Heaven Sole, made of 50% Hevea Tree latex and 50% vulcanized rubber.

Confused yet?

 

Where can I get my shoes fixed?

Due to fact that most Fluevog shoes are made in traditional methods, any cobbler should be able to work with most Fluevogs to fix up everything from stitching, re-soling, and heel lifts to replacing eyelets and zippers. Most of our Fluevog locations works with local cobblers, so when in doubt, call your closest Fluevog store.

My shoe broke, what do I do?

Don’t throw them away, that’s for sure! In most cases, a good cobbler should be able to fix your shoes. All Fluevog locations carry an assortment of replacement parts, and most of them work with local cobblers, so there is a good chance your shoe can be saved! Give your local Fluevog store a call.

My dog chewed one of my shoes; can I get a matching single?

Your dog has good taste! Sadly, sometimes pups get a taste for good leather, and munch away on those heels. We don’t and can’t make singles (factory standards), but we do make heel replacements, and have seen cobblers replace leather to perform miracles. Contact your local cobbler or your local Fluevog store to have a cobbler look at your shoes. You will need to send both shoes to the cobbler to match the shoes.

 

How do I care for my shoes?

How to care for your shoes varies depending on the leather that they’re made with. Check out our Product Care page, which has all of the information you’ll need on how to properly take care of your pair.

Why are my shoes squeaking?

There is nothing more annoying than a squeaky shoe. Most of the time when shoes squeak, it’s a result of one of these two issues:

1. The result of dry leather. When leather is dry and rubs on itself or another piece of leather, it squeaks. The best way to fix this is to use mink oil and rub in a liberal amount on all parts of the leather and into the joint between the sole and the leather. Let it soak in for an hour and rub off any excess with a soft cloth. Both of these have an odor and may darken the leather. The smell will dissipate in a day or so. We have also heard of customers having success using hand lotion on their feet, or soaking the spot with WD-40, but we have not tried these. (That’s not to say they might not work).

2. The result of an air bubble trapped between the sole and the boot uppers, which develops over time just by walking. It is a rare phenomenon, and there are few things more annoying than a squeaky boot. Often you need a “squeaker” (a piece of cloth put between the shank end and the lower insole of the shoe) to kill the friction that causes the squeak.

If the heel base is solid–and not hollow–it may only take tightening the bond between the base and the sole of the shoe to get rid of the squeak. Occasionally a bit of talc can be used if the squeak is between the heel base and the shoe sole.

Whatever the reason, there are some ways to fix this annoying problem of squeaky shoes, but you should take them to a professional cobbler to take a look at them. The best way to take care of it is let someone who really knows shoe structure take care of the problem.

Chat with a Fluevogologist on our Live Chat (get chatting by clicking the box on the bottom right-hand corner of your screen) or contact your local Fluevog Store for cobbler recommendations.

 

My soles have become unglued…

Well, that’s not good! We are sincerely sorry about that. Any cobbler should be able to re-glue them back on quite easily. If your shoes are under the 1-year warranty, contact a Fluevogologist online through our Live Chat for options (just click the box on the bottom right-hand corner of your screen to start chattin’), or call your closest Fluevog store and they will glue them back up for you, or reimburse you for the cobbler’s fee.

My shoes became unstitched…

Oh no! That’s not good! Any cobbler should be able to re-stitch your shoes fairly easily. If your shoes are under the 1-year warranty, get in touch online with one of our Fluevogologists through Live Chat (just click the box on the lower, right-hand corner of your screen to start chatting) for recommendations. Or, contact your closest Fluevog store and they will stitch them back up for you (or reimburse you for the cobbler’s fee).

 

My heels wore down quickly…

We try to make our shoes as comfortable as possible, so sometimes we use a super-comfy and cushy soft rubber. The flipside to this is that they wear quickly (think of the difference between soft and hard rubber pencil erasers). We always have a steady stock of replacement heel lifts that any cobbler can easily replace them with. Connect with a Fluevogologist through our online Live Chat (just click the box in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen to start chatting), or contact a store for more information!

How can I get replacement parts/soles for my shoes?

We always try to carry a steady stock of replacement parts for current styles/families and any cobbler should be able to replace them easily. Replacement parts can be ordered by contacting your closest Fluevog store for more information.

The leather got caught in the zipper with my leg in it! What do I do?

Ok, don’t panic. Behind the zipper is a thin strip of leather intended to prevent the zipper from rubbing against and irritating your skin, which can sometimes gets caught in the zipper. That is very frustrating, especially when you are still in the boot!

1. Put your finger between the caught leather and the zipper, then try to zip up and over your finger. This will move the zipper and free the caught leather. If you can’t move the zipper, try threading a shoelace through the eye of the zipper tab, and stand up and pull the shoelace slowly, while pulling the zipper up with it over your finger.

2. Ok, that didn’t work? Next try to pop open the zipper carriage with a pair of needle-nose pliers. At the bottom of the zipper carriage, squeeze with the needle-nose pliers, and with enough pressure you can pop open the carriage into two pieces. Hopefully, you are free.

3. Ok, all of that didn’t work? At this point you should just cut that piece of leather out of the zipper (just a little, you want to save the boots!), and free yourself. Make sure you cut the leather behind the zipper, not the outside of the boots!

After all this, you might want to take the boots to a cobbler to fix, or replace the zipper or carriage. If everything is fine, and it’s only that annoying leather that keeps getting caught, you can probably cut that leather strip out, as its only function is to prevent the zipper from rubbing against your leg. Carefully cut about a centimeter from the stitching so that the leather doesn’t interfere with the zipper anymore.

When in doubt, connect with one of our Fluevogologists through our Live Chat (just click the box on the bottom right-hand corner of your screen) or call any store and they will walk you through it.

 

There is a wrinkle in the toe box and it hurts…

Oh boy. Some jerk on the subway stepped on your toe, and now you have a permanent wrinkle in the toe box crushing your toes!

Sadly, this is the hardest shoe injury to cure because once the toe box has been crushed there isn’t any way to restore it. The best we can suggest is to find a thin, sturdy and flexible piece of cardboard or plastic that you can slip between your socks and the toe box. This will act as a temporary substitute toe box and prevent the wrinkled toe box from crushing your toes. Most likely, you will have to replace this once in a while.

You can also try to tightly stuff the boot with paper towels or newspaper. Spray the toe box with some shoe-stretch spray to help keep the shape and let it sit for a few days this way with the newspaper tightly compacted in the toe box.

You can also try putting a small gel pad on the roof of your boot where the dent is. Good luck!

 

About Fluevog.com

Who do I contact with comments about our staff? (Good or bad).

We love to hear what we are doing right or wrong. Please email us your feedback.

Why was my online comment taken down?

The online reviews are written by customers who own the style to help Fluevogers who are thinking about purchasing the same style. We want to make keep the review section as a place for people who own the shoes to recommend sizing, wear tips, and share their overall experience in the style. With that, legitimate complaints by customers who own and have had a bad experience with the style are also kept to better help other Fluevogers.

We only take down comments if they are requests, questions, or comments not related to the style on hand. We will also take down comments that lust after the shoes, and not by customers who own the shoes.

 

Will the colours on my screen match the actual product?

The color of the actual product may be slightly different because color accuracy has more to do with your monitor than with our site. We’ve made every effort to represent our product images correctly; however, due to the wide range of computer monitors and color displays, you should consider the colours you see on your screen to be representational. The colour of the actual product may be slightly different.

 

Why is the province of Quebec excluded from your contests?

Because of the charity and contest laws in the province of Quebec, national contest companies are confronted with a unique set of rules and regulations in order to include Quebec. The Regie des Loteries et Courses du Quebec requires long preparation times and fees for approval. As a result, a great number of national contests promoted by national brands exclude the province of Quebec. Sorry! We still love you!

 

Will Fluevog sponsor my band?

We wish; how cool would that be? Sadly, we have had a no sponsor/no free shoes policy since John started in 1970, which we still abide to. We even make our best representatives (the biggest rock stars) pay for their own shoes. But if you are going to be touring through one of our Fluevog cities, shoot us an email and we might be able to get the word out for you by giving away a pair of tickets with our awesome social media skills.

How can I work for Fluevog?

We admit it’s a pretty awesome place to work. If you are interested in working in one of our stores, contact that store manager directly and send them your resume or fill out the online form!

If you are interested in working in the Design and Development Department, you need to be able to work in Canada and live in Vancouver, BC. To be honest, jobs don’t really open up very often in head office, but that’s not to say we won’t keep your info on file. If interested, check out the Job page.

If we think there is a fit and an opportunity, we will contact you. Please note, your materials will not be returned to you, so please don’t send us your only copy!

 

I have a complaint!

We would love to hear it. Please email us with your complaint, your contact info, the style you are unhappy with, and the store you bought them from. We will get back to you as soon as we can. Thanks for your patience and honesty, we appreciate it.

I have a question that remains unanswered!

We tried to answer every question possible, but might have missed one! Email us your question and details, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Vog On!

About Afterpay

What is Afterpay?

Afterpay is a service that allows us to offer our customers in the USA, Canada and Australia the ability to make purchases now and pay for them in four equal payments made every two weeks without any interest.

How do I use Afterpay?

Just shop fluevog.com and check out as usual. At checkout, choose Afterpay as your payment method and you will be directed to the Afterpay website. If it’s your first time using Afterpay, you’ll be required to register and provide payment details (Visa or Mastercard). If you’ve used Afterpay before, just log into your Afterpay account. Then complete your order—it’s that easy!

Please note, all items in your shopping bag must be eligible for payment with Afterpay and the total amount due must be between $35 and $1,000 USD if you are shopping in the USA, between $1 and $2,000 CAD if you are shopping in Canada or between $1 and $2,000 AUD if you are shopping in Australia.

Afterpay is also available in all Fluevog stores in the USA.

How does the Afterpay Payment schedule work?

All Afterpay customers are required to make their first payment at the time of purchase. The remaining three payments are then charged automatically to your selected payment method every two weeks in equal installments. If you would like to make additional unscheduled payments before they are due, you may log into Afterpay to make your payments early. Afterpay will then adjust the amount owed accordingly.

You can log into your Afterpay account anytime to view your payment schedule or make a payment before the next due date.

What products are not eligible for Afterpay?

Afterpay is not available on purchases of gift certificates or gift cards. If your order contains gift certificate and other eligible products, you will need to purchase your gift certificate separately.

Is there a limit to a single Afterpay transaction?

Yes, to use Afterpay on fluevog.com your total amount due must be between $35 and $4,000 USD if you are shopping in the USA, between $1 and $2,000 CAD if you are shopping in Canada or between $1 and $2,000 AUD if you are shopping in Australia.

Can I use Afterpay outside of the United States, Canada or Australia?

Afterpay is only offered to our customers who have a billing address, shipping address, Visa or Mastercard (credit or debit card), and mobile phone number in the USA, Canada or in Australia. Customers with billing addresses, shipping addresses, and/or phone numbers outside the USA, Canada or Australia will not be able to set up an account with Afterpay.

How do I return or exchange items purchased with Afterpay?

Returns of items purchased with Afterpay can be made in accordance with Fluevog’s return policy. Please note, Afterpay purchases returned to a store will be refunded by Fluevog and subsequent installments to Afterpay may be required. For more information about returns of items using Afterpay go to help.afterpay.com.

About the Holiday Box voucher

Where can I learn more about the Holiday Box voucher?

Please see the Holiday Vogs voucher Terms & Conditions page for all the details.