Frequently Ask Questions
Can I contact you directly if I have questions or need help placing my order?
Yes. Feel free to contact us by e-mail or by phone anytime if you have questions or need help placing your order. E-Mail may be the easiest and quickest way to contact us. We can not always hear the phone ringing in the shop or get to it in time. But do feel free to call us just give us time to hear and reach thephonte
Yes. Feel free to contact us by e-mail or by phone anytime if you have questions or need help placing your order. E-Mail may be the easiest and quickest way to contact us. We can not always hear the phone ringing in the shop or get to it in time. But do feel free to call us just give us time to hear and reach thephonte
Do Your Do Rush Orders? I am in a hurry so can I pay extra and get my order moved up to the top of the list?
No, Don't Ask. We feel each and every customer is equally important. We take the orders in the sequence they arrive. The 15 year old bag boy at the corner market who worked all summer to buy his Civil War equipment and footwear is just as important to us as the CEO who can easily buy his way to the front of the line. We just don’t think it’s fair so we won’t do it. Don’t ask.
What if I have an event I would really like to have the items I am ordering arrive in time for, can I do anything to improve my chances of this happening?
Yes, first of all order well in advance of the event. Don’t’ wait until the last minute we have a heavy workload of orders and it takes time to get to everyone.
Make sure you follow with great care all the instructions for measuring your feet, fill out your order form carefully, neatly and in full. PRINT, don’t scribble information we can't read and will have to contact you about. Give us your phone number(s) and e-mail address by neatly printing or typing them on your order form so we can contact you quickly if we have questions. Don’t call us daily to check on your order, this just slow us down and cost you more time.
Finally clearly print at the top of your order form in red ink (or highlight) and give the date of the event you plan to attend and the last day you will be home to get your package. We will do all in our power to get your stuff to you on time. But remember we have no control over your package once it leaves our hands at the post office. Many orders will require a signature to receive. If you will not be home during the day or you can not go to the post office to pick it up after they leave a notice. You may wish to have your package sent to your work address. You will get an e-mail notice from the post office when your order ships out with the ship date and the tracking ID number you may use at usps.com to track your package. You may even request a FREE e-mail or text be sent to you each time your package scans along the way. This way you will know when it is out on your route for delivery.
But What If My Footwear Doesn't Fit?
We make the footwear to fit the measurements you provide. You must provide us with accurate measurements and tracings if you want your footwear to fit you. We sell footwear world wide and our record of making well fitting footwear speaks for itself by the number of happy customers, repeat customers and the many recommendations given for our products.
Style or Model Correctness
We are not responsible for you obtaining the correct style or model used by your unit. If in doubt check with your unit before placing order.
Do You Do Repair Work and Adjustments?
Yes, we will happily make small adjustments and simple repairs (We determine what is small and what is simple.) at no cost to the customer. Major repairs, new soles and other repairs and adjustments is at the customers expense. Do Not Ship Packages Until You Contact us for current prices on repair or adjustment plus shipping. Customer pays postage, insurance and handling both ways. Any Packages sent without return shipping and left here over a ten days is subject to being disposed of at our discretion. We are not responsible for packages that come in without return shipping or have been shipped uninsured and suffer a mishap in route.
Customer are responsible for paying shipping BOTH ways on any item(s) sent to us for any reason. We are not responsible for lose or damage to any item you ship to us and we highly suggest you insure any item you ship. Failure to do so is at your risk not ours. We will not ship back any items to you uninsured. However, the minimum amount of insurance required is $100.00. All returns also have delivery tracking and confirmation placed on them by us at no extra charge for your protection and peace of mind.
Where do you get your items from to sell?
We make what we sale right here in our shop in Neosho, Missouri. We do not purchase cheap overseas items and try to pass them off to you as hand-made American goods as some sutlers do. We use only top quality materials and leather that meet our tight specifications. We buy the best leather for the type of product we plan to make from the best tannery for that type of leather. We will never sacrifice quality to save a few bucks to try and offer the lowest priced item for sale. We do not use junk and we will not make junk and try to pass it off to you to use. It is just that simple. NOTE: We do sell a few shoe care products and small miscellaneous items (Example: Bone Handled Forks) that we purchase for resale to our customers. These items have to meet our high standards and are top quality items we use ourselves.
How do I know what I purchase is historically correct?
For the past 35 plus years we have strived to constantly improve our products by collecting as many original examples, patterns, tools and specifications for our reproduction Civil War era products as possible. We are constantly researching period documentations and viewing original items. Everything we make is made to be a painstakingly produce match for an original item.
Can I just ask for a size and not bother with all the measuring and tracing you ask your customers to provide to place a footwear order? Wouldn’t they fit well enough? After all I have other things I'd rather be doing.
No, we need your tracing, measurements and modern day shoe size to properly fit you. Only by doing this can we make you a pair of properly fitting boots or shoes. If you want ill fitting junk there are plenty out there willing to accommodate you. We want to provide to our customers historically correct, well fitting and well-made footwear. We will not take short cuts!
Can you sell me stock sizes for display or for loaners to new members or seasonal staff?
Yes. But we can not guarantee the fit on stock sizes loaned out to new members and staff.
Can you ship anything I see on your site out the next day?
No, not unless it clearly says "Ships Next Day After Order Is Received" in the description. We can ship out footwear care products, buttons and other similar small items usually within two days but check if this is important to you. All other items are custom made to order.
Do you keep any footwear or gear in stock?
We do not keep items in stock so we may offer the largest variety of items and to give you the best fit in footwear. We make up your items after we receive your order. We make what we sale right here in our shop in Neosho, MO. We do not buy cheap overseas junk and stock it to drop out when we get an order. If you want quality leather goods and excellent fitting footwear you must give us time to hand-make them for you. A few small items such as shoe care products are kept in stock and occasionally Robert will make up a few of the more commonly sold accoutrements to have on hand for busy seasons or to take when he goes to events to sell. If speed is important to you check before you order.
I would like to have something I do not see on your site is there any chance you would make it for me?
Yes, but you need to e-mail or mail us as much information as you can on what you would like. We need good photos or sketches, any specifications and dimensions that apply and any documentation you may have on the item. We will take a look at it and if we feel we can make it for you we will give you a price quote and approximate delivery time.
How can I find out if you have received my order?
Feel free to contact us by e-mail or phone after your order has had time to reach us. Allow 5-7 days for a first class mailing to arrive BEFORE contacting us. If you send your order in via US Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope (2-3 day service you can have tracking put on it cheaply. They will provide you with a tracking number you may use at usps.com to track your order. They will even send you free e-mail or text updates each time the package scans along the way and when we receive it if you put tracking on the envelope.
If you put a Delivery Confirmation Card Requiring A Signature on a standard envelope or Priority Mail envelope it can delay us getting the order since they must make contact with us to get the signature or we must go to the post office to pick up the order. You are of course welcome to do so but we are in a rural area so if we do not hear the carrier's car horn honk or if we are out it will be at least two days before they return with the envelope. Not only will the U S Priority Flat Rate Envelope reach us in 2-3 days they will leave it in our mail box and you will get proof of delivery by e-mail or text we have the order shortly after they deliver it. You will save the cost of putting a return confirmation card on your envelope, not have to wait to get the card back in several days but get proof of it's delivery the day we get your order and avoid a possible 2 day pr more delay in our getting your order.
Can I check to see how far along my order is in your system so I can estimate when I will be getting my stuff?
You may check by e-mail or phone that we have received your order but then please give us time to make the items. We can’t stop you from checking every five minutes but keep in mind the more e-mail and phone calls we answer the less work gets done in the shop. But if it has been over 30 days Please Do Check With Us. Things can happen sometimes. But give us at least 30 days after you confirm your order has been received before you check again.
How will I know if you sent my package yet?
When you clearly print or type your e-mail you will get an e-mail from the United States Postal Service saying when your package shipped along with your delivery confirmation number. This will allow you to track your package by calling 1-800-222-1811 or accessing the postal service website at usps.com. Call or log on and enter the delivery confirmation number to track your package. If you do it online they will let you sign up for FREE e-mail or text updates each time your package scans along the way to you and even the day it is out on your route for delivery.
Why can’t I just tell you I will take full responsibility and you just ship my package uninsured? After all I have never lost anything in the mail, why should I buy insurance.
To protect you and ourselves in the event your package is lost or damaged in the mail you must insure it. We make no exceptions. This way if your package should be lost or damaged in the mail you are covered financially and will not loose your money and your order.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS-Feel free to contact us by e-mail, phone or mail and we will be more then happy to assist you. Our contact information is on all order forms and on all our webpages.
No, Don't Ask. We feel each and every customer is equally important. We take the orders in the sequence they arrive. The 15 year old bag boy at the corner market who worked all summer to buy his Civil War equipment and footwear is just as important to us as the CEO who can easily buy his way to the front of the line. We just don’t think it’s fair so we won’t do it. Don’t ask.
What if I have an event I would really like to have the items I am ordering arrive in time for, can I do anything to improve my chances of this happening?
Yes, first of all order well in advance of the event. Don’t’ wait until the last minute we have a heavy workload of orders and it takes time to get to everyone.
Make sure you follow with great care all the instructions for measuring your feet, fill out your order form carefully, neatly and in full. PRINT, don’t scribble information we can't read and will have to contact you about. Give us your phone number(s) and e-mail address by neatly printing or typing them on your order form so we can contact you quickly if we have questions. Don’t call us daily to check on your order, this just slow us down and cost you more time.
Finally clearly print at the top of your order form in red ink (or highlight) and give the date of the event you plan to attend and the last day you will be home to get your package. We will do all in our power to get your stuff to you on time. But remember we have no control over your package once it leaves our hands at the post office. Many orders will require a signature to receive. If you will not be home during the day or you can not go to the post office to pick it up after they leave a notice. You may wish to have your package sent to your work address. You will get an e-mail notice from the post office when your order ships out with the ship date and the tracking ID number you may use at usps.com to track your package. You may even request a FREE e-mail or text be sent to you each time your package scans along the way. This way you will know when it is out on your route for delivery.
But What If My Footwear Doesn't Fit?
We make the footwear to fit the measurements you provide. You must provide us with accurate measurements and tracings if you want your footwear to fit you. We sell footwear world wide and our record of making well fitting footwear speaks for itself by the number of happy customers, repeat customers and the many recommendations given for our products.
Style or Model Correctness
We are not responsible for you obtaining the correct style or model used by your unit. If in doubt check with your unit before placing order.
Do You Do Repair Work and Adjustments?
Yes, we will happily make small adjustments and simple repairs (We determine what is small and what is simple.) at no cost to the customer. Major repairs, new soles and other repairs and adjustments is at the customers expense. Do Not Ship Packages Until You Contact us for current prices on repair or adjustment plus shipping. Customer pays postage, insurance and handling both ways. Any Packages sent without return shipping and left here over a ten days is subject to being disposed of at our discretion. We are not responsible for packages that come in without return shipping or have been shipped uninsured and suffer a mishap in route.
Customer are responsible for paying shipping BOTH ways on any item(s) sent to us for any reason. We are not responsible for lose or damage to any item you ship to us and we highly suggest you insure any item you ship. Failure to do so is at your risk not ours. We will not ship back any items to you uninsured. However, the minimum amount of insurance required is $100.00. All returns also have delivery tracking and confirmation placed on them by us at no extra charge for your protection and peace of mind.
Where do you get your items from to sell?
We make what we sale right here in our shop in Neosho, Missouri. We do not purchase cheap overseas items and try to pass them off to you as hand-made American goods as some sutlers do. We use only top quality materials and leather that meet our tight specifications. We buy the best leather for the type of product we plan to make from the best tannery for that type of leather. We will never sacrifice quality to save a few bucks to try and offer the lowest priced item for sale. We do not use junk and we will not make junk and try to pass it off to you to use. It is just that simple. NOTE: We do sell a few shoe care products and small miscellaneous items (Example: Bone Handled Forks) that we purchase for resale to our customers. These items have to meet our high standards and are top quality items we use ourselves.
How do I know what I purchase is historically correct?
For the past 35 plus years we have strived to constantly improve our products by collecting as many original examples, patterns, tools and specifications for our reproduction Civil War era products as possible. We are constantly researching period documentations and viewing original items. Everything we make is made to be a painstakingly produce match for an original item.
Can I just ask for a size and not bother with all the measuring and tracing you ask your customers to provide to place a footwear order? Wouldn’t they fit well enough? After all I have other things I'd rather be doing.
No, we need your tracing, measurements and modern day shoe size to properly fit you. Only by doing this can we make you a pair of properly fitting boots or shoes. If you want ill fitting junk there are plenty out there willing to accommodate you. We want to provide to our customers historically correct, well fitting and well-made footwear. We will not take short cuts!
Can you sell me stock sizes for display or for loaners to new members or seasonal staff?
Yes. But we can not guarantee the fit on stock sizes loaned out to new members and staff.
Can you ship anything I see on your site out the next day?
No, not unless it clearly says "Ships Next Day After Order Is Received" in the description. We can ship out footwear care products, buttons and other similar small items usually within two days but check if this is important to you. All other items are custom made to order.
Do you keep any footwear or gear in stock?
We do not keep items in stock so we may offer the largest variety of items and to give you the best fit in footwear. We make up your items after we receive your order. We make what we sale right here in our shop in Neosho, MO. We do not buy cheap overseas junk and stock it to drop out when we get an order. If you want quality leather goods and excellent fitting footwear you must give us time to hand-make them for you. A few small items such as shoe care products are kept in stock and occasionally Robert will make up a few of the more commonly sold accoutrements to have on hand for busy seasons or to take when he goes to events to sell. If speed is important to you check before you order.
I would like to have something I do not see on your site is there any chance you would make it for me?
Yes, but you need to e-mail or mail us as much information as you can on what you would like. We need good photos or sketches, any specifications and dimensions that apply and any documentation you may have on the item. We will take a look at it and if we feel we can make it for you we will give you a price quote and approximate delivery time.
How can I find out if you have received my order?
Feel free to contact us by e-mail or phone after your order has had time to reach us. Allow 5-7 days for a first class mailing to arrive BEFORE contacting us. If you send your order in via US Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope (2-3 day service you can have tracking put on it cheaply. They will provide you with a tracking number you may use at usps.com to track your order. They will even send you free e-mail or text updates each time the package scans along the way and when we receive it if you put tracking on the envelope.
If you put a Delivery Confirmation Card Requiring A Signature on a standard envelope or Priority Mail envelope it can delay us getting the order since they must make contact with us to get the signature or we must go to the post office to pick up the order. You are of course welcome to do so but we are in a rural area so if we do not hear the carrier's car horn honk or if we are out it will be at least two days before they return with the envelope. Not only will the U S Priority Flat Rate Envelope reach us in 2-3 days they will leave it in our mail box and you will get proof of delivery by e-mail or text we have the order shortly after they deliver it. You will save the cost of putting a return confirmation card on your envelope, not have to wait to get the card back in several days but get proof of it's delivery the day we get your order and avoid a possible 2 day pr more delay in our getting your order.
Can I check to see how far along my order is in your system so I can estimate when I will be getting my stuff?
You may check by e-mail or phone that we have received your order but then please give us time to make the items. We can’t stop you from checking every five minutes but keep in mind the more e-mail and phone calls we answer the less work gets done in the shop. But if it has been over 30 days Please Do Check With Us. Things can happen sometimes. But give us at least 30 days after you confirm your order has been received before you check again.
How will I know if you sent my package yet?
When you clearly print or type your e-mail you will get an e-mail from the United States Postal Service saying when your package shipped along with your delivery confirmation number. This will allow you to track your package by calling 1-800-222-1811 or accessing the postal service website at usps.com. Call or log on and enter the delivery confirmation number to track your package. If you do it online they will let you sign up for FREE e-mail or text updates each time your package scans along the way to you and even the day it is out on your route for delivery.
Why can’t I just tell you I will take full responsibility and you just ship my package uninsured? After all I have never lost anything in the mail, why should I buy insurance.
To protect you and ourselves in the event your package is lost or damaged in the mail you must insure it. We make no exceptions. This way if your package should be lost or damaged in the mail you are covered financially and will not loose your money and your order.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS-Feel free to contact us by e-mail, phone or mail and we will be more then happy to assist you. Our contact information is on all order forms and on all our webpages.