The Oxford Cobbler

Jake Cross
1 Star
I had a bad experience with the "Oxford Cobbler". I went there to get some extra copies of keys cut for my father's new doors on his porch. I had just a few days earlier taken the same keys to have two new copies cut on Elms Parade in Botley whilst I was in the area. The man there cut two copies which worked perfectly in the lock. However my father had later decided he could do with another copy, so as Oxford Centre was more convenient to get to than going back to Botley I visited the "Oxford Cobbler" in the Covered Market. The pricing made it better value to get two keys cut. The guys who served me were friendly and helpful and cut the keys quickly. However when I got home the keys did not turn in the lock. So the following day I returned to the shop to get keys that fit, this time there was a different pair of employees. I had spotted what looked like the discrepancy between the original and the keys cut. I pointed this out to the man in the shop, who brushed off my observation. He then proceeded to cut two new copies. However I noticed the same discrepancy in the two new keys compared to the original. And the man brushed it off again. I expressed my concern and he was somewhat rude in response. Sure enough when I got to my parents house the new keys did not work either. My father then phoned the Oxford Cobbler and spoke to the same member of staff. He tried to shift the blame, implying we must have had a old lock and similar excuses. My father then promptly took the keys to Timpsons in Kidlington who cut two new copies which when my father got home fitted perfectly. It seems likely that the original blank the Oxford Cobbler used did not match and so when the key was cut it was not correct. Organising this all was a significant waste of time. The man in the Oxford Cobbler should have spotted the issue especially as I pointed it out to him. In life we all make mistakes however it was his attitude that I think was really the problem.
Wednesday 30th March 2022

Craig D. Williams
1 Star
This place is called “The Oxford Cobbler,” yet when I went in with a scratched leather boot the guy couldn’t care less and said he didn’t have the tools/equipment to repair, while standing in front of all manner of machinery and tools etc. No advice, nothing. Not what you’d expect from a place calling themselves a cobbler.
Thursday 3rd February 2022

Andrew Orr
5 Star
They kept my boot for a few weeks while I was out of the country, and seem to have done a good job replacing the zipper
Tuesday 22nd March 2022

Rachel Annand
5 Star
Tiny repair done with amiabilty and no charge. Excellent.
Monday 18th October 2021

Sarah Bishop
1 Star
Horrendous indifference. The male member of staff was bored. No communication to any customers 2 went somewhere else. 2 elderly customers wanting to pay he was quite rude and unhelpful with their payments. Then I was told no can’t do that and that was that. I walked away feeling totally dismissed. He needs to be shown the door and an enthusiastic employee put-in his place.
Monday 24th May 2021