Pre-Orders

The Pre-Order Basics

We're a little company with big ideas but small pockets. We believe in listening to the costuming community and delivering beautiful historic shoes in styles that are currently difficult or impossible to buy at an affordable price. The pre-order system allows us to kickstart new styles that we wouldn't otherwise be able to bring to the market.

Manufacturing a new shoe style and getting it into stock is expensive! We have to develop new historically accurate shoe lasts and heel molds, and contend with high materials costs due to the small runs, shipping, and import costs/taxes. So in return for your support in helping to fund the shoe's production we give you a substantial discount, guarantee that you'll be first to receive the new shoes, and our deep and everlasting appreciation in bringing so much historically-inspired-shoe-goodness to the world!
 

Big Discounts Over Our Retail Price

Pre-orders on new shoe styles receive a discount during the initial ten day launch period. The discount for ordering during the first 10 days is 15% off the in-stock price. (We used to offer $20 off for the first 2 weeks - the new discount and timing saves you more money and allows us to manufacture the shoes faster so you don't wait as long.) The pre-order system allows us to kickstart new styles, and your support is very much appreciated!

Once the initial ten day launch has passed, the price then goes back to the regular amount, and quantities are set so that our factories can begin making the shoes. At that point, quantities are limited and can begin selling out, even while the shoe is still on pre-order.

In some special cases, a limited edition pre-order item may only be available for ten days, after which it will disappear and no longer be available to purchase! These items will note that they're limited in the description. 

Guarantee Your Pair(s)

Historical Footwear is always limited to a small run of only a few hundred pairs. Those that pre-order during the initial ten day discount period are guaranteed their shoes in any size or quantity^* , but if you wait until after the initial ten day discount period, we may not have your size in stock for long. Wait at your peril! 

Some styles may sell out of less popular sizes in a matter of days after the ten day discount period ends, and while we do everything we can to make sure that there's shoes for everyone, we can't always predict demand. There is no guarantee that a style of historical footwear will ever be manufactured again, but if we do run a style again we will more than likely run a "re-pre-order".

^* In the unlikely event that demand gets a little too crazy for our little company, we may need to cap the number of available products, just so that our factory can maintain the high quality and attention to detail that we all expect. Typically, we will run a second pre-order shortly afterwards the first pre-order closes (with a later delivery date).
 

Pre-orders Are Open For A Limited Time Only

Pre-ordering discount periods are open for a short time only. Following the close of this discount period, the shoes will be manufactured and shipped. This will take several weeks from the time you order – if you have ordered at the beginning of the pre-order period, you may wait up to 17 weeks for your shoes to arrive at your door. If you missed the discount period, you can still pre-order shoes at the regular price while they're being manufactured so long as supplies last, but note they may sell out during this period!

The expected delivery date is always posted on the shoe's product page and we will keep you updated on progress during the manufacturing process, once we know the exact date that they will arrive at our warehouse, and when they're due to ship.

Please note that we ship all items in an order together, so if you add in-stock items to your pre-order, they will ship at the same time. If you want your in-stock items sooner, please place a separate order for them. 
 

Minimum Order Threshold

The manufacture of a new style of historical footwear is dependent on receiving enough pre-orders for that style so that a manufacturing run can take place. If we do not meet the minimum, the shoes cannot be made in an economical manner, and everyone who has ordered will be refunded 100% of their money. If you've just GOT to have a pair of historic shoes from us, make sure you pre-order and tell all your friends!

The number of shoes needed to kickstart the production run will vary from style to style.
 

Status of Current Pre-Orders

Please see our pre-order updates page for more information about our manufacturing and delivery schedules.