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So you’re considering making the investment on a really expensive pair of flats, and you’re searching for an honest Tieks review with the hopes that somehow you’ll be able to score a deal and save some money.
$175 for a pair of classic ballet flats is not chump change, after all. Spoiler alert: you can search all day long, but you won’t find a coupon code that actually works. But before you leave, you want to see if Tieks flats are worth the investment, right?
I’m going to share my opinion on whether Tieks are worth the hefty price tag.
As a frugal person, I research stuff to death before purchasing…especially when splurging on something for myself (which rarely happens).
In fact, I had my eye on a pair of Tieks for four years before I finally pulled the trigger and bought my first pair.
Related: Poshmark Review
Tieks Flats Coupon Codes
You’re probably wondering if I didn’t find a coupon code, how in the world I managed to score $25 off my first pair. No, they weren’t used and I didn’t buy them from eBay or Amazon. I purchased them directly from the website.
Tieks Black Friday Launch
Every year, on Black Friday, the company does a special limited release of a color/style.
There’s a suspenseful build-up the week of Thanksgiving, where they give a sneak peek. 2018’s limited release was called Raspberry Truffle. The sneak peek looked like this. It just gave a hint of chocolate and raspberries, and eager customers guessed what the actual shoe would look like. Would it be more chocolate or more raspberry?
The marketing images revealed a beautiful, metallic raspberry color. I was already considering classic burgundy as my first pair.
Nearly everything in my closet is either light pink, burgundy, cream, or navy, and burgundy is a great, complementary color. If I’m spending $175 on shoes, I want a color that pops. I can buy black or nude shoes anywhere.
My Tieks Review
So on Black Friday, the sale didn’t start until 2 am CST. We set our alarms and had our computers ready to place the order. Remember, at this point, we hadn’t even seen what the shoes look like.
The marketing department at Tieks does an incredible job of building hype and creating that sense of urgency to order. This is called FOMO, or “fear of missing out”. At 2 am, the servers at Tieks headquarters crashed. They couldn’t keep up with the volume.
I sat up for 1.5 hours hitting refresh, adding to cart, and then seeing the dreaded error page. I finally was able to complete my purchase around 3:45 am and went straight to bed.
[amazon table=”9422″]
A Tieks Shipping Error
The next morning, I woke up to a shipping confirmation! Woohoo! My shoes are on the way! I should have them by Tuesday at 8 pm! By Saturday, women were already receiving their shoes and posting photos of them in one of the Facebook groups for followers of this glorious ballet flat.
They did not appear to be the same color as portrayed in the marketing images. They appeared to be more brown with a hint of raspberry in just the right lighting.
I immediately regretted spending the extra $20 (raspberry truffle were $195) on these Limited Release Tieks flats and thought, “If they’re not right for me, I’ll send them back and get the burgundy shoes.”
A Tieks Customer Service Disaster
Fast forward to Tuesday. I still hadn’t received my shoes. Women in the Tieks Anonymous group were saying that they were receiving phone calls from Tieks and that they had miscalculated inventory and didn’t have enough shoes to ship out. I called Tieks and spoke with a very sweet customer service rep who assured me not to worry because my shoes were shipped Tuesday and the tracking information just hadn’t updated. Bless her heart. She was probably telling every single customer the same thing.
About an hour after speaking with her, I received a Facebook message from a Tieks customer asking me if I’d received my shoes. I explained that I hadn’t, and she said that she had them. Tieks had shipped my shoes to another customer…with my packing slip in it (with all of my personal information)!
What a Mess!
I told you I’d provide you with an honest Tieks review.
This lady was super nice and offered to ship them to me if Tieks would provide an address label, but Tieks told her to ship back to them and they would ship me a new pair the next morning (since it was already past the shipping deadline for the day).
Keep in mind I wasn’t completely sold on the raspberry truffle. I told them that I’d like to receive some sort of discount or credit for the inconvenience, and they offered me a $25 gift card off a future purchase.
They said they’d put the code in the mail with my Tieks. As you can see below, the second rep I spoke with also mentioned that my shoes had NOT in fact been shipped out yet (as I was informed previously), so I would not receive a duplicate pair.
The next morning came and went and by noon I still wasn’t seeing tracking updates. So I called and spoke with the same representative.
Since my shoes hadn’t shipped, I canceled my raspberry truffle Tieks and ordered the burgundy and was able to use the $25 Tieks coupon code, bringing the total down to $150.
They even sent me some really cute little gifts along with the shoes! They really did make things right, I believe. So that’s how I saved $25 off my first pair. Now, for my honest review.
Why are Tieks So Expensive? Are They Worth It?
After plenty of research, I struggled to find any negative Tieks reviews online, and I struggled to find many people saying they don’t love these ballet flats.
I think a lot of bloggers share positive reviews in exchange for being featured on their website, but I have to share my honest Tieks review.
I’ve had my burgundy Tieks for a year now, and here’s the thing. I don’t love them. They were not comfortable straight out of the box. There’s a design flaw, in my opinion, and I don’t think they have always been like this because other women have said the shoe design/fit has changed over the past year.
The toe box is flat and tight. I placed this moleskin inside the shoe so that my big toe wouldn’t cut through the Italian leather. And after two weeks of wearing them, my toe feels like I’ve dropped something heavy on it. In every other area of my feet, they fit comfortably.
I sized up, as suggested, and purchased a size 10. There’s no way an 11 would fit any better. Here’s a photo of my shoes and you can see how tight they are over my toes.
Tieks Scuff Easily: How to Repair
Right away, the first week, I scuffed them. As a mom of three kids, I don’t tiptoe around life. In fact, I’m constantly rushing around to get from place to place. And I don’t want to have to worry about scuffing my super-expensive ballet flats.
I also happen to have a gravel driveway, but I tend to trip over my own two feet anyway.
Here is an updated photo of the Tieks. Since it’s just now getting warm out, I’m going to grab some of this repair polish to fix them, but I’m pretty dang disappointed.
When you pay $150-$175 for a pair of shoes, you want them to look like a $175 pair of shoes.
Tieks Never Go On Sale
The company is so confident in their brand that they very rarely go on sale. As I mentioned before, the company has product launches in which they create the hype and FOMO, revealing a special edition pair with a limited supply.
It’s brilliant marketing, but don’t follow the herd like I did. My suggestion is to try some affordable alternatives before investing in Tieks.
You might find another brand that you love and can buy multiple pairs in varying colors to match your wardrobe.
Alternatives to Tieks Flats on Amazon
I’ve been lurking and watching for a Tieks flats coupon code for over a year, and I regret my purchase (even after receiving a $25 discount).
If I had to do it all over again, I would have tried bought these instead
Even if they were to only last one year, they’d be worth saving over $100. Plus, I wouldn’t have felt so bad for scuffing them almost immediately.
[amazon table=”9422″]
These Emmie flats are nearly the same color as the classic Tieks burgundy but cost more than $100 less. They offer several different colors, and I’m going to give them a try! I could actually buy 4 different colors of Emmie flats for the same price as one pair of Tieks.
Bottom Line: Tieks Are Not Worth the Money
If you’re looking for a Tieks coupon code online, you’re not going to find one. The only way to save money on Tieks is to be the direct result of a customer service mishap.
The good news is Tieks offers a great exchange program, so if you try some out and they aren’t a good fit, you can exchange them for a different size, and they pay the return shipping.
Also, the resale value of Tieks is also pretty shocking. You can find used Tieks selling for as much as $130 on Poshmark (with sweat stains and all)!
So many women plan to buy Tieks as their wedding shoes and dance into the night. Or they buy them because they read a blog post about someone who wore Tieks for 10 hours at Disney.
I wanted to love my Tieks so badly, but I just couldn’t recommend them to everyone. All feet are fearfully and wonderfully made (or something like that), and my feet are screaming!
What do you think of Tieks? Do you love them? Do you think they’re worth the money? Have you found a great Tieks alternative? Leave a comment and let us know!
Life is a collection of memories and experiences. There are ups and downs. I am so grateful for God’s grace and am on the journey to a renewed spirit, free of perfectionism. Perfection Hangover offers the sober truth – no filter.
How is the sole grip?
It’s okay! I don’t feel like it slips at all.
In other reviews I see lot of people pretending to wear them also on unpaved terrain, like easy hiking trails, is the grip so good also there?
Absolutely not, Ann! That’s actually quite funny. No, they are most definitely too delicate and not comfortable enough to wear on hiking trails.
Did you ever have any slippery moment with them?
Thank you for your honest review. I am a teacher who is always looking for comfortable shoes. I’ve also been known to research the heck out of things before buying…it’s in my teacher DNA! I have found Yosi Samra that I love and Zulily has Yosi New York that I think are the same company. I’m adding some Lucky flats to my Amazon cart now :).
Awesome! Thank you for serving our children! I’m sure you will love the Lucky Emmie ballet flats! Let me know after you’ve worn them awhile!
I wonder if their worth $75? I am a nurse on the frontlines & they are currently offering “hero’s” $100 off, which is very generous!!
I’ve never paid $75 for a pair of flats, but I just might now?
I’d say they’re probably worth that! At that price, they are still double the cost of Lucky Emmie ballet flats, but just to own an expensive pair of shoes for a decent price, I’d probably buy them at that price. I do think it’s cool that they’re offering nurses that! Thank you for serving at this difficult time!
I LOVE those Lucky flats. I have them in a few colors. I have really sensitive skin and they don’t give me blisters. Rothy’s work well for me too.
I love my Lucky’s, too!! I’ve never tried Rothy’s, though!
I love my Lucky (Emmie) flats, I have a few pair of them, but they give me blisters like you wouldn’t believe on the back of my heel and I’m usually hobbling by the time I get off work. I’ve heard the tieks are really soft on your heels which is why I’ve been leaning into getting them.
I also am a healthcare worker and got the $100 off. I, like the writer, have a big toe bulge in mine! I do like them and think it was worth the $75, but I am not sure I would pay the $175. They are comfy, breathable, and easy to slip on, and they go with pretty much everything. I’d say go for it!
Thank you for your service, Kelly! Glad you took advantage of Tieks’ gift for essential healthcare workers and teachers!
They are not worth it!! they scruff easily. Their customer service is awful!
I have to agree with you, Stacey! I am loving my Lucky Emmie ballet flats, and they were 1/4 of the price!
thanks for the post… I’ve been back and forth with ordering. every time I put my CC info in, I start rethinking the decision. I’m a true 6.5, so I’m having to order both a 6 and a 7 to figure out which one fits best- which honestly seems like kinda a hassle IMHO.
so I’m still not sure if I’ll actually go through with ordering.
that all being said, I actually used to have a pair of the Lucky Brand Emmie flats in burgundy suede from a few years ago, and they’re starting to look fairly worn out- hence the looking for a new pair of shoes… the current Emmie’s from LB aren’t the same.
so, I checked out Rothy’s – they have half sizes! just got them and love the fir out of the box. so I’m hoping they will be my new “go to” flats…
@thatgirljen <3
Hi, Jen! I’d say if a pair of Lucky Emmie’s lasted you a few years at their cost, that was a much better investment! I still stand by my word that Tieks are just not worth the money! They scuff SO EASILY!
I LOVE Rothy’s!! I have several pairs of Tieks and adore them all. I’ve always gotten them as gifts, my boyfriend gets me every special edition release they put out yearly. But nothing beats being able to WASH my Rothy’s! I work full time with two boys and I’m in nursing school, I can’t honestly keep up with leather shoes that need as much care as Tieks do. I’m so happy to have found Rothy’s because they’re a lifesaver. Just as cute and comfy and they’re cheaper!
Thanks for the suggestion, Tori! I’ll have to check out Rothy’s!
I have had my current Tieks for 5 years. They are now starting to show signs of age. I wear them nearly every day and they have traveled near and far with me. They were worth every penny and I find them to be very comfortable. I also own Lucky Brand flats and they are comfortable but not as comfortable as my Tieks. I am getting a new pair for Christmas and can’t wait! Sorry you didn’t like them.
That’s awesome, Tina! I wonder if they’ve changed the way that they make them? As I said in my article, my Tieks scuffed right away…the first time I wore them. I know it takes a while to break shoes in, but I can honestly say that I don’t feel that one pair is more comfortable over the other. Hope you like your new pair for Christmas! I’m curious to see if they’re the same quality as your 5-year-old pair?
Just another take on the Tieks flats. Gotta say I have looked at the ads and wondered “If I could buy these, would they really be that awesome?” Thank you for confirming that I don’t need Tieks. I can’t afford them AND they are leather. I Googled, “women’s flats, vegan”, there are tons of faux leather options, affordable and cruelty free.
This is something I hadn’t even considered, to be honest. But thank you for bringing that to our attention!
They offer vegan!
I love Tieks! Was truly skeptical, looked at them for two years… pondered and Pondered! I don’t regret the purchase, sold some stuff that has cluttered my house and have several pairs. It’s all I want to wear, all year. So sorry you didn’t have a great experience. I’m open to trying other shoes but comfort is #1 for me in middle age. And it’s just a classic look with flats.
Great experience with Tieks for me!
Comfort is very important to me, too. And I don’t feel that Tieks are any more comfortable than the Lucky Emmie flats honestly. And Lucky don’t scuff at all compared to Tieks.
I know there are many who worship the ground Tieks walk on, but I am definitely not one of those people. I have to share that there are alternatives that are so much more affordable and just as comfortable.
Thank you for this review! As a full-time Realtor and mom, I’m on my feet all the time and need more support than my current ballet flats offer. I was about to bite the bullet and order a pair until I read your review. Did you end up buying the Lucky Brand Emmies or have you found another alternative you love?
Hi, Stephanie! I didn’t buy the Lucky Emmies, but I did buy a pair from Target in the Universal Thread brand! They’re fairly comfortable. Nothing is as comfortable as my tried and true Sonoma’s! I’m so sad that they don’t sell them anymore!
Thanks for the review. I have thought about them for years but just can’t spend that much on shoes I can’t try on ahead of time. I have flat feet and my toes push up so I have a hard to fit foot. Thanks!
I have flat feet as well, and they’d be very comfortable if it weren’t for my toes pushing up. I don’t think they’d be very comfortable for you. You’re welcome! I’m glad it helps!
I love mine! Worth every penny. I want to get the patent sapphire ones, but they are pricey. I can walk in them for ages they don’t rub anywhere. However, I do recommend getting those small add in arch supports if you’re walking several hours, just for added comfort. I got the leather matte black ones, mine scuffed a bit, but they’re real leather and you just use some black shoe polish and they’re like new. I’m sorry you didn’t like them.
Thank you for your honest review. I’ve already amassed a nice collection of Lucky Brand flats and was looking at Tieks for something flamboyant. Well, I will just continue to thoroughly enjoy my LuckyBrand that has given me the best feel for its price range and enjoy Tieks on Pintrest.
That’s awesome! I’m glad you found some that are comfortable and affordable! The Tieks hype is pretty crazy, isn’t it?!!