Improve your responses and stop the insole pitch...please.
I was hesitant on leaving a review as I thought will it even make a difference, considering there have been a few reviews before this on the same matter & nothing seems to have changed. This review is to highlight to Altimus that, 1. more of a customer service response awarness training is to be had, and 2. hard pitching on something that was not intended on time of purchase just puts a horrible taste in people's mouths. Positives: 1. welcoming security and staff. 2. 10/10 for hard sales pitch. 3. Ease of refund. Negatives: unfortunately there were a few. I contacted them early May regarding ski boot canting (I was well aware ski season was over and that my boots are over 15 years old/old model so I wasn't expecting a full refurb or anything). I went into the store with my ski boots and was seen by Jay Chaggar (FootMap) - extremely personable, explained the foot anatomy well, what my "foot was doing when stepping", overall great customer service. It turns out a fair few people (as per the various reviews I've since read) were subjected to the same free foot assessment and statement of "you have interesting feet", "buy these unique (£195) insoles" pitch. Thankfully I wasn't hard pitched on the £2000 foot analysis/foot mould for insoles, and just informed about it. I however was initially interested and sent him an email asking for the full brochure as we had discussed - I didn't receive a response. Maybe it was for the better. Long story short, I walked out with a new pair of trainers and insoles but barely any information regarding canting my boots - which was my sole reason for visiting the store. I was told regarding canting a few things ; "you can just use an Allen Key when next in them", "place the FootMap insoles inside and that could correct the issue", and "you need to have the heels replaced". I thought "ok, I sat through all that for this simple information, but ok, that's doable". Pictures were taken of my boots and i parted with an additional £34.90 (£34.99 was on the order email) as this was to cover the new pair of replacement heels and P&P. Fast forward to early August and I genuinely feel if I hadn't called thrice and sent a couple of emails between the start of June and now, I'd still be waiting for an update. I went into the store to get my refund (due to the payment card used), and was told - by who I assume was the store manager - that unfortunately the replacements were old (as had been explained in 1 previous email after i initially made the purchase), and that I was supposed to have had an email sent to me 2 weeks back advising replacement heels could not be found. This email obviously was never received - which i was apologised to for. I had from a month prior decided to try and source the heels elsewhere and was successful in receiving them in under 2 weeks. Ebay. 2 days prior, I sent an email with pictures to their next door neighbour (Ellis Brigham) out of curiosity of what I'll be told regarding re heeling/canting of the old ski boots. After my refund today at Altimus, I popped into the Ellis Brigham and I had a completely different experience. The member of staff gave me honest information about my boot, the difficulty in finding replacement heels for my boot (due to the age), advised on max length of time/best season to ski in due to the old plastic of the boot, stated a company I could try that however stock older model items, that Ebay may likely have them, the pros and cons of Allen key canting, potentially new moulds and recommendation of new boots/new technology I should research if I'm looking to purchase in the new ski season. THIS was the information that I now know i should have received in May from Altimus. Altimus, please stop these hard pitch for insoles that clearly are NOT unique because how can soo many people with different foot types have a temporary solution from one insole type? I have yet to find a review on them also. Secondly, if you don't have anyone that can accurately provide information on ski boots, just be honest and upfront. There's no harm in not getting a sale if you're honest. Yes, I had the free will to say no, however, my biggest gripe has been your appalling communication, updating and now realising I wasn't really given great/in-depth information on what I initially went to your store for. If I had been contacted even 2-3 weeks after my in-store purchase and told you've been unsuccessful in sourcing despite the promise in-store, I would've completely understood and not written this essay of a review. The fact I had to do all the chasing and always left my full name, contact number, email and order number, but all I received was an apology followed by radio silence before I had to chase again just has left a bad taste in my mouth.
