Toms Shoes was founded in 2006 by entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie. While competing in The Great Race in Argentina, he noticed that most people were wearing a very basic, canvas, slip on shoe. He tried them and liked them so much he decided to start his own company in the US. Mycoskie also noticed that many of the children in Argentina could not afford shoes. Mycoskie decided to donate one pair of shoes for every pair that he sold.
Today, the company still donates one pair of shoes for every pair sold, as well as donating part of the profit from the sale of eyeglasses to vision care for the poor. In 2015, Mycoskie sold 50 percent of his interest in the company to Bain Capitol for $625 million. This former CEO believed that this new infusion of cash would help the company increase in size.
The company has been criticized, however, for lack of transparency regarding their shoe factories, which are based in Ethiopia, Argentina, and China.
The canvas shoe market is expected to experience significant growth in 2021.
Toms Shoes was founded in 2006 by entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie. While competing in The Great Race in Argentina, he noticed that most people were wearing a very basic, canvas, slip on shoe. He tried them and liked them so much he decided to start his own company in the US. Mycoskie also noticed that many of the children in Argentina could not afford shoes. Mycoskie decided to donate one pair of shoes for every pair that he sold.
History
Today, the company still donates one pair of shoes for every pair sold, as well as donating part of the profit from the sale of eyeglasses to vision care for the poor. In 2015, Mycoskie sold 50 percent of his interest in the company to Bain Capitol for $625 million. This former CEO believed that this new infusion of cash would help the company increase in size.
The company has been criticized, however, for lack of transparency regarding their shoe factories, which are based in Ethiopia, Argentina, and China.
The canvas shoe market is expected to experience significant growth in 2021.
Hello TOMS… I live in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. It is a very rural and very poor community. I had noticed visitors to our community with TOMS shoes and asked where I could get a pair of TOMS. I was given the website, as well as, told that for every pair of TOMS shoes purchased online, the company would provide a pair of shoes to a child in need, you know ONE for ONE. I loved that idea. I was very anxious to order myself a pair of TOMS. I had to save my money for my TOMS, for I am just as poor as everyone else here, hard-working but poor. I finally saved enough and I placed my order for two pairs of TOMS and was incredibly excited! I patiently awaited the arrival of my TOMS. They arrived yesterday in two beautiful boxes. I loved them, SO soft, but they were TOO big. I looked in the box for a return label and there wasn’t one. I read the receipt and it asked that you use the UPS label for returns. One was not included in my shipment. I called four times to the TOMS company and was HUNG UP ON by TOMS associates. I went online and found that I could initiate a chat with a TOMS rep so I proceeded to do so. I asked to have a label mailed to me because I do not own a printer, cannot print the label and that I live in the middle of nowhere and cannot print the label anywhere within walking distance. She said she could NOT do so, company policy, that she would email it to me and that I would have to find a printer. I waited patiently for the email and it NEVER arrived. I was gracious and kind to your representatives and did not deserve this inhumane treatment. So then I called TOMS for the fifth time to try to get a label and was talked down to by MONIQUE, an associate who told me over and over that an email was already sent and would not send another one. I told her I did not receive it and that my email was working properly. She refused to help me in any way. I found the returns online and was informed that I am NOT eligible for a return label now for it had already been sent. I am not a wealthy person, TOMS, and I had to save my money to buy these TOMS shoes for several months. So today, TOMS, I walked the 3 miles to the UPS pick-up in southwest Virginia, an Advanced AUTO store, for I do not own a car and we do not have an actual UPS store and there is not one for at least 60 to 70 miles from this town because we live in the mountains. I asked if they could return my TOMS or locate the UPS label for me. They could not find anything in the system. They could not return them without the UPS label. I wiled away an entire day, not to mention, walked six miles, trying to return these shoes. I spent my savings on these TOMS shoes and cannot even get TOMS to pick them up, exchange them or send me a returns label, let alone give me a refund! You burst my ethereal little “new shoes” bubble! I no longer feel the excitement over my brand spankin’ new TOMS shoes. I am devastated by the apathy I received when trying to exchange two pairs of TOMS that promise FREE returns and promises to gift pairs of shoes to poor children in other lands. A company that promises to help others BUT refuses to help its’ customers who personally put TOMS on TOMS’ MILE HIGH PEDESTAL IN THE SKY surely is not helping children in other lands receive shoes. This is the most apathetic company I have ever encountered. The customer service representatives are extremely rude and unhelpful. If TOMS cannot find empathy to help paying customers who admire their product and save money to purchase their product how DO they find the empathy to help those who cannot pay for their product. I am SO disappointed for I truly love the product but I have paid for the product and cannot wear the product or get a RETURNS LABEL to return the product. Three months savings, I have lost to learn this very valuable lesson. I will NOT ask strangers EVER again where their shoes have come from and how to purchase them. I will be happy and embrace the shoes I can find in my little nook of the world, the Appalachian mountains, where the people, however poor, take the time out of their day to help their neighbors and their customers, where there is kindness and empathy towards others not a monopoly of money hungry “philanthropists” selling shoes full of apathy and deceit to unsuspecting customers who spend their hard-earned money in a state of total delusionary, expectative excitement over a pair of SHOES. This is clearly an unconscious, UN AWAKE company ,which is totally disconnected from the reality of humanity and totally disconnected from the benevolence of spirit…So here’s a MEMO TOMS…Be Kind to your customers, if it weren’t for your customers you would NOT be TOMS SHOES!!!! You would be a nobody just like most of your customers! And to tell you the truth TOMS, i’d rather be a nobody than a high faluten’ selfish, arrogant company like you! I have my dignity, nothing on my conscience when I go to bed at night and I have never reneged on a promise that I have ever made to another living soul. Thank you for listening to my concerns…TOMS… and well… truly TOMS…thanks for nothing! I can’t wear the shoes nor get the FREE return you promised on your website. And you know TOMS, all a man really has is HIS word…you know his integrity… his truth. He is NOTHING if he cannot keep his word… And you TOMS are nothing…nothing at all…good luck with the whole tribulation thing…you know…judgment day…payin’ back your karmic debt…gotta go now TOMS…been nice knowin’ ya…signed …Rachel “Rose” Gibson (Tarr on the books.)..the girl who needs a size 8 not an 8 and a half…sooooo long….man without a word…company without integrity…TOMS if you didn’t know…that’s you…no word…no integrity!
My wife ordered me a pair of Ashland boots for my birthday the end of October. Apparently they were quite a bit more expensive than the work boots I normally buy. I realized two days ago that the sole is pulling away from the upper on the toe of one of the boots. She contacted Toms about this and was informed that there was nothing they could do as it was past the 60 day return policy. We just wanted to replace them for new ones, but apparently their products are only good for a short period of time. They are nice boots ( or at least I thought they were) I am guessing that is why they are so expensive, as with me, I don’t ever plan to buy another pair of shoes from them again, so they need to get as much as they can for each pair because with this poor quality, their repeat customers will be far and few between. I am frustrated and my wife is heartbroken that the nice pair of work boots she bought me lasted maybe 4 months before they started to fall apart.
I ordered 2 pairs of Toms and received only one. When I called your customer service, they said I had to show proof of packaging, What? that’s ridiculous. Please send me my second pair of espadrilles that I purchased.
Someone needs to contact me since you don’s seem to answer emails.
I have not been able to get help for problems with my account for over half a year. I cannot access my account. I can’t use my points. Whenever I request help I am promised it will be looked into and never hear back. When I wanted to buy some Tom’s for gifts, I had to enter information as a “guest” and cannot earn what are now useless points. Extremely poor service!!!
Hello – I ordered 2 shoes and one of the shoes were too big so I called to ask about my options since I wanted to keep one and I used a coupon. The rep I spoke with stated I would get refunded for the one shoe but i would be able to get the discount still for the other shoe I kept, that did not happen.
I called on 2/13/20 and stated nothing they could do so I did a chat online with Akili and she said all they can do is give me a 10.00 credit for future purchase, but I said I wanted credit back to my credit card and so she said a supervisor would have to call me back in 24 hours, no one did so i did a chat again on 2/18/20 at 1130 am w/ Janeshia G and she said Brian or Dangene her supervisor would call me back and Brian did on 2/19/20 and said he would submit a request and then on 3/3/2020, I still did not get the credit and so i did a chat again and said Brian would call me and then on Friday, 3/6/2020, Brian still did not call me but who I communicated with by chat, she stated that the 10.00 credit was rejected. there is no customer service, no one calls back, a 10.00 credit not given, I am not sure how they treat their customers but this is such a disappointment and probably the worse experience I have dealt with in a very long time. Hopefully this was a fluke and other do not have to endure what I did especially for a company who does such a wonderful benefit to the Underprivileged.
I appreciate your time in this matter.
I have been trying to file a complaint against Tom’s and nobody responds. I placed an order using my 530 points of rewards. The order never came and so I have been researching it and now come to find out my points have expired. I placed the order before they had expired because the points were there when I placed the order. I was able to see the points and now they have disappeared. I have left messages for managers and supervisors and nobody cares to call me back. Could you please let me know how to resolve this situation? Thank you, Susan
I have been a Tom’s customer for a long time which is why I am so dissatisfied with the lack or actually non existent customer service.
A friend sent me a gift card by email for my BD. I used part of it and later when I wanted to apply the remainder it would not accept the order number .
I have sent 3 emails asking for help with no response and called once.
I am sending you a copy of my friend’s email and hoping you can resolve this problem.
Order Number: 51715935877
Order Date: Mar 22, 2019
YOUR ORDER HAS SHIPPED
Great news! Your order is on its way.
Ship Date
Mar 22, 2019
Ship To
jeanbeaz@ gmail.com
Ship Via
electronicShippingGroup
Payment
Visa ****2052
Exp: 03/20
100 eGift Card, Qty 1
$100.00
Subtotal
Shipping
Invoice Total (VAT included)
Invoice Total (VAT excluded)
$100.00
FREE
$100.00
$100.00
Invoice Total (VAT included)
$100.00
Total
$100.00
Questions?
For customers within the continental United States,
returns are on us.
See our Return Policy
See our FAQ
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Hello, I was in your Abbott Kinney Location today in Venice, California. I incurred poor customer service and what I consider to be an imposition on my purchase. Not only was there a power outage and all of the outlets in the location where unavailable, which is an imposition on what I’ve purchased, which is a power source to charge my devices and free internet, along with my coffee, but having come in the location with the same amount of things that I always have, a couple of bags that all fit under my table, and having been, during my tenure here as a customer, been offered free pastries and everything without complaint, I was approached in sort of a retaliatory way, after having asked why none of the power sources where working in the store, he said “your bags, we can’t have them”, I said, “I have the same amount I always have and they can fit under my table” , he said “okay” and walked away. I didn’t appreciate anything that happened during my visit. I also have to add that the entire place was empty. I imagine it’s because of the power outage. People come here to sit down, with coffee and work on projects, to charge their devices while they work and use the free Wi-Fi. Without this ability, especially without being informed that there is an outage before purchasing coffee, with the fact that they could’ve spent their money elsewhere, then they choose not to visit the store. If you look at your footage for the Abbott Kinney location, the entire place is empty. Hopefully you guys can audit the place soon and things will change. The poor customer service and lack of power is a huge liability.
I placed an order for 6 pairs of Tom’s shoes on 12/3/18. As of 12/18/18 they have not been shipped. I have emailed and called the company over 7 times. Never received any response from my emails and was placed on hold for hours and hours. My reference #is 02966445.
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS COMPANY. BLAKE GET OFF OF TELEVISION AND START SHIPPING OUT THE ORDERS AND ANSWERS THE PHONE CALLS.
I have spent a large part of this Black Friday trying to order 2 pair of shoes. I get to the shoes, but when I “add to cart” nothing ‘adds’. I was looking forward using the THANKFUL 30% off offer, but I can’t even order them.
I would like: 1 pair Toffee Suede Crepe Women’s Classic size 9.5 $69.95 and
1 pair Spruce Plaid Felt Women’s Classics size 9.5 $59.95
If someone will please input this order and contact me, I will give them the payment information.
Gratefully, Barbara Mueller Marshall, proud owner of 24 pair of Tom’s! hope to be 26!
Hi,
My name is Lucy Erwin. I placed an order on 11/24/2017 for 2 pairs of shoes that were IN STOCK. The Confirmation Number: is 51371128477. I ordered the shoes as Christmas gifts for my 2 daughters. I have never received anything other than the confirmation number. I have made 3 attempts to get a status on the order, most recently tonight. On my 2 prior attempts, I was told that my order was stuck in Processing and that they would send an email to HQ and I should get an email back in 2-3 business days with an update – that has not happened. My husband and I spoke with Jerome and then Jaslyn (sic) this evening. They had nothing but the “company line” of it is stuck in Processing. Jerome first told us the shoes show out of stock for new orders but ours should be on hold. Jaslyn then retracted Jerome’s story and said the shoes probably wouldn’t ship and the order would cancel on its own. Is there anyone there that knows definitively what is going on in your company? If there is, would you have them respond to either this email or by phone at 713-962-XXXXX. I am running out of time to get the shoes by Christmas.
Thanks for any help as this is ridiculous and I am running out of time.
I returned the product in 2014 and NEVER got refund back. I tried to call so many times, no one ever helped or could find out where the refund. Guys, don’t shop at Toms, they only pretend to care about the people, but they don’t.
Dear Toms,
My name is Nikita Advani and I am a student at Cerritos High School. In my AP Environmental science class we were assigned a project in which our entire class has to create an environmentally friendly product. We were inspired by how Toms does the One for One program and we wanted to implement that into the product we created. We decided to create string slippers that would be sold in developed countries and for every string slipper bought we would donate one to Oxfam International to take into a developing country. Our brand is called Sol International and the sandals are called Mate 1.0. The reason why we picked string sippers is so that we could create one shoe that everyone could use. We would have guides on the sole of the shoe so that people can cut the front of the sole to make the shoe the right size for their foot. Each shoe would be provided with sternum straps that would have a lot of material so that it can be adjusted to the size of the foot. Our product is environmentally friendly because the soles of the shoes will be made from pure rubber which is biodegradable. We want to reduce the 300 million pairs of shoes that are disposed of in landfills and just sit there because they aren’t biodegradable. Our production requires less energy since we only have to produce the rubber soles and since we the show is make to fit all sizes.
As a company that has been successfully doing the One for One program we wanted your opinion on our idea and if there were any tips you had for us in bettering our project. We are working with our school’s engineering team to actually create a prototype of the shoe and while we are finding ways to make our design better we wanted to know if you had any thoughts about it! I hope to hear back from you soon.
Sincerely,
Nikita Advani
Sol International CEO
I purchased a pair of “toms” for my son. They were used for 2 months, the rubber around the leather detached and water was seeping into the shoe. I was very dissatisfied with the product. The style was 354231 leather paseo. They were brown in colour and a size 13. The price was $79.99 the tax and shipping. The product total was over $100. I would hope that it was a ldefect with that particular shoe and I would be willing to try another pair if I was compensated.
I will look forward to your quick response.
Sincerely
Danette Doucet