I finally got my birthday Newton Neutral Racers (Pink) on Tuesday night. Not that it took that long for them to ship out to me. We ordered them after Long Beach Marathon at Fleet Feet Laguna Niguel. Fleet Feet finally told us a month later that they were on back order, indefinitely. It took us a while to get back into Fleet Feet, but they basically told us that they didn't expect to ever get the shoe in stock and that we would be better off just ordering online. Since Newton is offering free shipping in February, I let Ahi know and he ordered them for me. Happy Belated Birthday to me!!!
Back to Tuesday night....The UPS guy rang the bell obnoxiously well after 6p.m., but I don't answer my door at night. It is never anyone I know and usually a solicitor. Since I have a studio, I feel weird about people seeing my bedroom when I open the door. Aside from that, at first it didn't occur to me that it might be UPS at such a late hour. So, I ignored the doorbell and even the sound of my door being pushed on, as he stuck the delivery notification on it. As I continued cleaning the soy sauce that had spilled in my refrigerator that I hadn't noticed since my refrigerator light doesn't work, it occurred to me what that sound on my door had been. I went to open my door and sure enough, there was that little brown and yellow "flag" flapping on my door.
I jumped out into the hallway to see if he was still in sight, but no luck. I quickly grabbed my keys and slipped my feet into some loafers. Locking the door behind me, I literally ran toward the back of my building. I usually see the UPS van parked there or out front. When I got down the stairs and outside, there was no van. I took a chance and ran out to the street and saw him driving away. I let out a little yelp since I'm not one to bellow. Then as I saw the brake lights, I began running. I didn't expect to catch up with him, since I thought that he was just slowing down for the intersection. I was lucky and he was stopping at a house down the street.
I had to stand there in the dark, waiting for him to make the delivery. He had no success at that house either. When he came back to the van, he asked me incredulously if I had walked all the way? It really wasn't that far, but I had run. As he was getting my package, I thought about making a joke that I had been waiting for the package since November or something about the running shoes I was running to get from him, but I decided I didn't need to do the small talk thing. He handed me my box and it was light as air.
After signing for it, I cradled the box in my arm and ran back home. Now mind you, I was wearing my PJs, baggy sweats and a clingy long sleeve top sans bra. I felt a little embarrassed as I ran by two guys standing by the car. However, having not run a step since Surf City, it felt wonderful to turn my legs over. Sometimes I feel that the first run after a rest is like the first rain in Spring, so sweet.
When I got in the door, I tore the tape off of the box. Inside were the brightest pinkest lightest shoes ever! I quickly sat down to try them on. They fit like an airy mesh glove. Immediately my heart sank, as my left foot settled in and hit an uncomfortable seam at the pinky toe. I tried on the right shoe, but didn't feel any problem. I pulled the laces out to inspect the inside. One of the laces was dirty and I wondered if the shoes had been used. They weren't overly dirty, so maybe someone had tried them on and returned them. The left tongue was cut uneven, and there seemed to be some extra stitching on the seam by the pinky toe. I tried pushing on it to see if I could flatten it. I tried wearing thicker socks. There was no denying it, I could not try out my new shoes.
Last night, I finally got home early enough to get a run in. Again I tried the Newtons on, just in case I was imagining things the previous night. There was no getting around the annoying seam. Completely dejected, I tried to cheer myself by trying out my Montrail running shoes. The Montrails are the complete opposite of a Newton. They are heavy and stiff. Oh and LOUD! Since it was a leisurely run, I was pleased with my 4.15-miler in 38 minutes.
Today, I called Newton's Customer Service. The customer service rep that helped me was Tory. She was absolutely marvelous. It was the best customer service transaction I have ever had and I work with tons of vendors in my job. She apologized for her slow computer, but I told her it was the elevation since they are in Colorado. She told me her computer got stage fright.
When I told her that I had had to run down the UPS guy, she joked that I could have told him that I would've ran faster with what was in the box. Since it was a defect and not a preference exchange, she would expedite the exchange as if it were a criss cross exchange, but would not charge for the new pair. I joked that they could just send the left shoe, but she explained how the shoes were made by people and that they tracked flaws by the pair.
I asked if she could make a note for the UPS driver to deliver without requiring a signature. She agreed to do so, but explained that UPS would only make that accommodation if it was an area where there had not been complaints of packages disappearing. Alternately, I asked her to send me the tracking number, so that I could track it and leave a signed note on my door on the day of the ETA. Since she had Ahi's info on the order, I told her she could use his e-mail address, but I also gave her mine.
About 3 minutes later, Tory used caller ID to call me back. She gave me the bad news that the pink model was out of stock in my size and wouldn't be available until late March. I debated waiting that long. I decided that I need as much lead time as possible to get used to the shoes if I have any hope of wearing them for the Seattle Rock N Roll Marathon on June 27. I opted to get the lime green model. She told me that she would flag my name and if I decided to order the pink ones later on that I would get a discount. I have been known to buy multiples of my favorite shoes!!
I should get my Newton cushion racers on Monday, again. Cross your feet that these will be defect free and that I can start putting my forefoot forward!
Back to Tuesday night....The UPS guy rang the bell obnoxiously well after 6p.m., but I don't answer my door at night. It is never anyone I know and usually a solicitor. Since I have a studio, I feel weird about people seeing my bedroom when I open the door. Aside from that, at first it didn't occur to me that it might be UPS at such a late hour. So, I ignored the doorbell and even the sound of my door being pushed on, as he stuck the delivery notification on it. As I continued cleaning the soy sauce that had spilled in my refrigerator that I hadn't noticed since my refrigerator light doesn't work, it occurred to me what that sound on my door had been. I went to open my door and sure enough, there was that little brown and yellow "flag" flapping on my door.
I jumped out into the hallway to see if he was still in sight, but no luck. I quickly grabbed my keys and slipped my feet into some loafers. Locking the door behind me, I literally ran toward the back of my building. I usually see the UPS van parked there or out front. When I got down the stairs and outside, there was no van. I took a chance and ran out to the street and saw him driving away. I let out a little yelp since I'm not one to bellow. Then as I saw the brake lights, I began running. I didn't expect to catch up with him, since I thought that he was just slowing down for the intersection. I was lucky and he was stopping at a house down the street.
I had to stand there in the dark, waiting for him to make the delivery. He had no success at that house either. When he came back to the van, he asked me incredulously if I had walked all the way? It really wasn't that far, but I had run. As he was getting my package, I thought about making a joke that I had been waiting for the package since November or something about the running shoes I was running to get from him, but I decided I didn't need to do the small talk thing. He handed me my box and it was light as air.
After signing for it, I cradled the box in my arm and ran back home. Now mind you, I was wearing my PJs, baggy sweats and a clingy long sleeve top sans bra. I felt a little embarrassed as I ran by two guys standing by the car. However, having not run a step since Surf City, it felt wonderful to turn my legs over. Sometimes I feel that the first run after a rest is like the first rain in Spring, so sweet.
When I got in the door, I tore the tape off of the box. Inside were the brightest pinkest lightest shoes ever! I quickly sat down to try them on. They fit like an airy mesh glove. Immediately my heart sank, as my left foot settled in and hit an uncomfortable seam at the pinky toe. I tried on the right shoe, but didn't feel any problem. I pulled the laces out to inspect the inside. One of the laces was dirty and I wondered if the shoes had been used. They weren't overly dirty, so maybe someone had tried them on and returned them. The left tongue was cut uneven, and there seemed to be some extra stitching on the seam by the pinky toe. I tried pushing on it to see if I could flatten it. I tried wearing thicker socks. There was no denying it, I could not try out my new shoes.
Last night, I finally got home early enough to get a run in. Again I tried the Newtons on, just in case I was imagining things the previous night. There was no getting around the annoying seam. Completely dejected, I tried to cheer myself by trying out my Montrail running shoes. The Montrails are the complete opposite of a Newton. They are heavy and stiff. Oh and LOUD! Since it was a leisurely run, I was pleased with my 4.15-miler in 38 minutes.
Today, I called Newton's Customer Service. The customer service rep that helped me was Tory. She was absolutely marvelous. It was the best customer service transaction I have ever had and I work with tons of vendors in my job. She apologized for her slow computer, but I told her it was the elevation since they are in Colorado. She told me her computer got stage fright.
When I told her that I had had to run down the UPS guy, she joked that I could have told him that I would've ran faster with what was in the box. Since it was a defect and not a preference exchange, she would expedite the exchange as if it were a criss cross exchange, but would not charge for the new pair. I joked that they could just send the left shoe, but she explained how the shoes were made by people and that they tracked flaws by the pair.
I asked if she could make a note for the UPS driver to deliver without requiring a signature. She agreed to do so, but explained that UPS would only make that accommodation if it was an area where there had not been complaints of packages disappearing. Alternately, I asked her to send me the tracking number, so that I could track it and leave a signed note on my door on the day of the ETA. Since she had Ahi's info on the order, I told her she could use his e-mail address, but I also gave her mine.
About 3 minutes later, Tory used caller ID to call me back. She gave me the bad news that the pink model was out of stock in my size and wouldn't be available until late March. I debated waiting that long. I decided that I need as much lead time as possible to get used to the shoes if I have any hope of wearing them for the Seattle Rock N Roll Marathon on June 27. I opted to get the lime green model. She told me that she would flag my name and if I decided to order the pink ones later on that I would get a discount. I have been known to buy multiples of my favorite shoes!!
I should get my Newton cushion racers on Monday, again. Cross your feet that these will be defect free and that I can start putting my forefoot forward!
These would have been my shoes. :(
Now these are my shoes. I probably won't wear these with my wedding dress.
Brad Nelson
:-(
Sorry, I didn't mean for it to come across that way.
It's an odd date. Tacoma is the same way, it's on a Saturday.
After writing that much I'd be luck to get my own name correct.
Sorry, I didn't mean for it to come across that way.
It's an odd date. Tacoma is the same way, it's on a Saturday.
After writing that much I'd be luck to get my own name correct.
February 19 at 2:07pm
Brad Nelson
So how do you like the shoes? Only pair I ever paid that much for sucked. The Asics Kinsei ($175 down the tubes).......
I was looking into a pair of Zoots'. My friend is high up in K2 Sports and they just bought Zoot.
I was looking into a pair of Zoots'. My friend is high up in K2 Sports and they just bought Zoot.
February 19 at 2:09pm
Pete Futa
I won't know until I get the new ones on Monday. I didn't run in the pink ones since I was returning them. Even though there's a defect, I didn't want to risk getting charged for two pairs. I didn't really like my Asics Nimbus 9s, but they are really pretty! I only wear them for short impromptu runs. I might wear them under my wedding dress since they are my prettiest pair.
I would like to get a pair of Zoots, but might wait till I start doing tris. That will probably be a long long time.
I would like to get a pair of Zoots, but might wait till I start doing tris. That will probably be a long long time.
February 19 at 2:17pm
Brad Nelson
Bleh, I have nimbus 9's as well. Hurt me everytime I run. Thank god I paid only $50 at an expo...... I'm stuck on version 8 still and will even buy women's just so I can still find em. I have plum and now green. Women always get the best colors. At least they don't scream "womens shoes". I figure if I run fast enough they'll be a blurr and nobody ... Read Morewill notice.
So are they supposed to be seamless like Zoots are? Zoots are for triathalons, slip em on with no socks and run.
I'm also toying with a racing flat for 13.1.
I can't wait for Eugene, but RNR will be cool cause I get to meet so many people from the Runners World forum.
Still have yet to meet the famous Ahi / Pete duo.......
So are they supposed to be seamless like Zoots are? Zoots are for triathalons, slip em on with no socks and run.
I'm also toying with a racing flat for 13.1.
I can't wait for Eugene, but RNR will be cool cause I get to meet so many people from the Runners World forum.
Still have yet to meet the famous Ahi / Pete duo.......
February 19 at 2:22pm
Pete Futa
They aren't seamless, but the mesh is see through for the most part. I guess if you used some Yankz, you could slip 'em on. I am light enough that I train and wear a racer for marathons. I've been wearing Saucony Grid Sinister Performance Neutral for the last 1.5 years. I bought 3 pairs. One pair is only for racing, so it only has about 100 miles on it.
You seriously need to check Newton's website out. It is pretty cool!
You seriously need to check Newton's website out. It is pretty cool!
February 19 at 2:31pm
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