I received orthotic shoes with inserts from Arnold's once each year for several years. The VA pays for one pair of shoes per year but I pay $60 for the Podiatry visit.
Initially I was very happy with the service received. There were previous issues with inserts which they adjusted to fit me reasonably well but not great. Year before last the inserts were way off and I couldn't walk with them for very long before my feet started hurting really bad so I finally disposed of them and used some previous inserts.
In the past they showed to be very veteran-friendly and I even suggested to my podiatrist at the VA that he recommend them to all his patients which he eagerly said he would do after I let him know they provided me with 2 pairs of shoes for the VA order that only paid for 1 pair.
Last year, a huge plus is they upgraded the way they fit you for shoe inserts. Instead of having you stand in foam to make impressions, they use a special camera. Quick and easy and for the 1st time I received inserts which were a joy to walk in.
However, last year when I went in, there was a really young man helping me and he rushed me to make my shoe picks...my 1st and 2nd choice and several alternates in case those 2 were not available. I hadn't even had time to look at all the options but I hurriedly jotted some down. After the shoes arrived I was called back in to pick them up and usually they want me to try them on and make sure they fit right. It was the same guy and he just wanted me to look at them and go. After I got home and tried them on, one pair was not wearable. There was so much depth in the shoe that I was unable to tighten the shoes up enough so I could walk without the shoes slipping off my feet. I called and complained about them and when I arrived back with the shoes, I encountered a man I will just call Mr. Sourpants. He quizzed me, asking me things like, "didn't the other guy tell you these shoes are intended for people with extra large special inserts which you don't have???" Ummm, no, he didn't offer me any information and was rushing me out. Why would I have picked shoes that I was told would not work with my inserts? Why would HE have allowed me to choose shoes not suitable? After some more back and forth he agreed to exchange them and to his credit he did allow me ample time to review options in the shoe catalog.
I no longer recommend them. This year when I was called to come in for a fitting I asked her if they could just use the same prescription as the previous year. Maybe save them some money and guarantee myself good inserts again.
She agreed and I went there only to look in the catalog and pick shoes. When I arrived, it was Mr. Sourpants. My previous VA orders were for 1 pair of shoes but they always provided me with 2 pairs, something I was told before by an employee that they did for veterans. I was ok with just getting the one pair but merely inquired about the change which I was guessing became too expensive with increased veteran clientele. Wow, he suddenly started treating me like I was a scammer and became cold and hateful towards me and denied they ever did such a thing. I had no desire to be treated like that again and when I was called to come pick up the shoes I told the lady I no longer wanted them and to donate them to someone else or send them back and pocket the money. I am done with this place. read more
