After writing about buying good shoes for seniors, I ended up buying shoes at Fleming’s Comfort Footwear here in Tulsa yesterday.
I went to my ankle surgeon’s office to pick up a referral for a shoe store he suggested. And this was one of them. I’d never been in there, but it was the closest shoe store on the list.
Yesterday, shoe referral page in hand, I decided to pay them a visit and buy shoes at Fleming’s Comfort Footwear.
I went to the door and found it was locked. A guy with a long ponytail (another COVID story; more on that later) came to the door and unlocked it to let me in. Then he locked it behind me.
His name was Darrell.
Wearing Masks Is Mandatory At This Shoe Store:
They doing a booming business with seniors coming in to shop.
He had to get up while helping me every couple of minutes to let people in and out. You don’t get in their store without a mask.
I told him later that they needed to hire a door guy so he wouldn’t be interrupted so often.
This was actually the first store I’ve visited that stuck to their guns on mask-wearing. I was impressed.
So I told him all my ailments that I hoped good shoes would help with and sat down and let him take over. It was like buying shoes from another time.
He measured my feet. I didn’t realize they still did that.
More Money Than I’ve Ever Paid For Shoes:
An insert he put in the 2 pairs of sneakers I ended up purchasing helped a lot. I spent a whopping $530.00 on two pairs of sneakers with two inserts.
Darrell said the sneakers are going fast and they’re having a hard time getting inventory due to the supply chain problem.
In fact, he said that New Balance (one of the brands they carry) just had to cancel 3 million orders for shoes.
Yes, I said 3 MILLION orders. That’s a lot of shoes people are expecting to get and won’t. Which is one reason I went ahead and bought two pairs of shoes.
What I Typically Spend On Clothing, Etc:
I’m funny about buying myself things to wear. In fact yesterday I got an order of sweat pants from Walmart. Price: $10.
I rarely spend more than $5 – $10 on t-shirts. I get most of my shirts from JCPenneys online. I’m not a fancy-dressing kind of gal and they have great sales on both short-sleeved and long-sleeved t-shirts.
I also order from Fruit Of The Loom online. And you know they aren’t pricey. I do this because that way I know exactly what I’m getting.
Sometimes when you think you’re ordering the same item from Amazon or Walmart or Target, it ends up not being quite the same.
On Moving:
Looming ahead of me is the fact that I’ve got to move in January. And I need to be able to stand up for more than a minute or two at a time.
So I’m crossing my fingers that good shoes will help with the necessary tasks before me.
The Kinds Of Shoes I Purchased:
So what kind of shoes did I end up buying at Fleming’s Comfort Footwear?
One pair of shoes was New Balance sneakers. (I won’t be one of the 3 million people waiting on shoes that simply aren’t going to arrive.)
The other pair was Drews.
Good solid shoes will cost you. Two inserts were $75 apiece. He said they could make custom inserts for $95.
I’ve never heard of Drew shoes, but I Googled them once I got home. They’ve been around since 1875.
When I walked out of Fleming’s Comfort Footwear wearing the New Balance sneakers with the inserts in them, they felt so comfortable.
If you live in the Tulsa area and want to check them out, Fleming’s Comfort Footwear is also active on Facebook.
Darrell The Pony Tail Guy:
As for the guy with the long ponytail that I mentioned, I told him that I keep my head shaved due to COVID.
Darrell pointed to his head and said he went in the opposite direction. He hasn’t had his hair cut in a long time. Also because of COVID.
I ended up going back in there a few hours later. To ask him if he could sell me something to make the shoes fit my ankles better. I have skinny ankles and they were slipping a bit.
He told me to sit down again. And then he re-laced the shoes. Darrell said that once you’ve been fitted with shoes, you don’t want to make any changes unless you have to.
Lacing The Shoe Different For A Better Fit:
So he showed me a different way to lace them where you skip the second to the top hole when lacing up the shoe.
You go straight to the top hole that is angled a bit to get a slightly different fit. This did in fact make them fit my ankles.
Better Fitting Shoes For Seniors:
I wrote about trying to find good shoes for seniors recently, and now I’ve told you what kind I ended up buying. You know I researched online for weeks because that’s just what I do on most everything I purchase.
What I learned is that you must make an investment when it comes to shoes. Especially at our age due to all our little aches and pains that occur over time.
December 1st Shoe Update:
It hasn’t yet been 24 hours. Today I’m wearing the Drew sneakers I bought at Fleming’s Comfort Footwear, and they’re every bit as comfortable. A simply perfect fit.
I was able to take the trash down to the end of the four-plex with only a smidgeon of pain. That insert sure makes a difference with my arch support I’m finding out.
In the past, I’ve never given much thought to arch support because I didn’t realize how much difference it can make.
What Is Arch Support:
Your arches support your body weight while you’re standing. They also play an important role in helping you propel forward when walking or running. They move with your other bones, tendons, and ligaments to create a spring-like action that moves you forward.
If these two pairs of shoes make a difference in my pain and mobility level, they will have been well worth it. I may be done ordering shoes online.
You can order these Drew shoes on Amazon, I noticed. But I don’t trust them as much as this local store. And the other positive is that I’m supporting small businesses in Tulsa.
I’ll get back to you in a week for an update.
And Darrell, I’m so appreciative of how much time you spent helping me buy shoes.
Hello Brenda
I have to agree with you on this purchase! A big price but worth it if it helps you! I know you suffer and have been needing relief. Praying it continues to help you friend.
Loving your blog and enjoy catching up with daily. Excited for your future with changes coming! Can’t wait to hear all about your new adventures.
Hugs, LaDonna
Good for you! I have had bad feet , bunions, two knee replacements…I’m a hot mess. So good shoes are a Godsend…and worth every penny. You will be so happy. And personal service! Wow, the best!
Have
My mouth dropped open when I read how much two pairs of shoes and inserts cost! Good thing I don’t have feet or ankle problems because I could never afford to shell out that kind of money at once for shoes, lol. However, with your ankle problems, if these shoes and inserts give you comfort and allow you to be able to do things without pain, then they’re worth every penny.
My husband has custom inserts made for his shoes from an orthopedist. Insurance covers most of it.
I like Skechers shoes but I’ve found I can’t wear the ones that are super cushioney. They actually make my feet hurt. I have to have a firmer bottom.
Thanks for sharing the information!! I am sorry they cost so much…but I have found whenever I find a pair of shoes that actually fits, I had best buy at least 2 pairs!!! And at the rate of the current runaway prices, if you can afford to stock up a bit, tis wise. You know, we at our ages are not concerned so much about style anyway…and if I like something, I will keep wearing it, regardless!! Ha, aren’t we the age to wear purple, red, yellow, whatever…together no less?
As my dear Mother use to say, “Never buy cheap booze or cheap shoes”.
My dad used to say always buy the best mattress and the best shoes you can afford because when you are not in one you’re in the other.
There’s nothing like good old-fashioned personal service. It’s a rarity these days. Although you spent a lot on the shoes, they will probably last you a very long time. And, they will probably feel even more comfortable after you break them in.
Hi Brenda,
Although expensive, those shoes are well worth the investment in your health and to hopefully keep you pain free. That one on one service is the same service my Mom used to receive when I took her to the SAS shoe stores in San Diego County. They took the time to measure her feet and made sure she was properly fitted before she could make a purchase. Mom had thin, narrow, flat feet and bone spurs in each foot. Though expensive, those shoes made all the difference and were well worth the investment – and lasted a very long time in between purchases. After her first pair, she never wore anything else. Sounds like you’re going to have the same success. Margie
Hooray for you, Brenda! So glad you found comfortable shoes although the cost was high. But if they make your feet happy and your life easier they are definitely worth every penny. Plus, such a nice and helpful salesperson.
I need to get to the shoe store myself to get something similar to which you found. I’ve always loved shoes and usually had quite a few in different styles. But now that I have neuropathy in my feet and my balance isn’t as good as it used to be I can’t wear many of the styles I loved. A real bummer. I used to joke that all I wanted for my birthday was world peace and cute shoes! Oh, well, I still can walk, so I can’t complain!
There is a New Balance factory about 30 miles North of where I live in Maine,they make some nice shoes. I hope they work out for you!
Good for you! I am so glad you were able to find good shoes and so close to home. It’s so hard to find anything of quality these days and I am shocked there is a store that takes the time to measure your feet for a proper fit. Comfort for the feet is a must!
My father always preached to us girls when we were growing up… “Always buy & wear GOOD shoes. The good Lord only gives you two feet, and good shoes will help you keep those 2 good feet.”
We may not have had the latest fashions & trends, but we always had good shoes.
So glad you found Flemings, Darrell, good shoes and shoes that will be good to you!
Expensive but worth the price for relief from the pain and feeling that security when you are walking about. The shoes should last a long time. If the shoes start to feel wonky after awhile, it may be because the arch supports need to be replaced. Sounds like Daryl knew his stuff. I hope you will feel a great amount of relief from pain and be able to do more, but please be careful to not overdo.
Speaking of masking up, I went to two different shops (local small businesses) this morning to pick up a few items and in both stores the clerks who checked me out were NOT masked. Both young people, not out of their early 20s I think. Scary – not for me, I’ve taken all necessary precautions including vaccinations and booster shot – I am scared for them.
Another brand you might want to check out is Vionic. My podiatrist recommended them to me after having inflamed metatarsal nerves in my foot. They are very comfortable and very supportive. They are also pricey … but not quite as high as those that you purchased. They have styles other than just the tennis shoe look. Even slip ons which is nice.
I’m glad you were able to buy shoes. The inserts probably make all the difference in the comfort! Down the line, when these shoes wear out, you could still use the inserts in another pair or buy just the inserts for another pair of shoes that aren’t so expensive! I’m like you, before I buy anything I do the research on that product. My family calls me the “Researcher” and whenever they want to buy something or are interested in finding out about a certain subject they ask me to research it!
I agree. Shoes are important. When I had worn my shoes with the orthotics and went back to the orthopedic surgeon to have my feet checked after six months, my feet had relaxed to a half size larger. Of course, that meant I had to buy all new shoes. This’ll my hammertoes were gone and I avoided surgery.
I hope you continue to enjoy your shoes and walking.
I’m so glad you found a solution! And a fantastic shoe store and knowledgeable employee!