If you’ve been on social media lately, you’ve probably seen the touching ads for Tanner Shoes. The ads show an elderly couple, smiling and saying goodbye after 34 years of making handmade leather shoes.
The music is emotional, the story feels real, and the discounts seem amazing—up to 80% off because the shop is “closing forever.” But when you look closer, the whole story starts to fall apart.
What is Tanner Shoes?
Tanner Shoes says it’s a family business that made leather shoes in the U.S. for over 30 years. They claim the couple in the ad is retiring and that they’re offering a final sale.
The website shows fancy leather shoes that were supposedly $350–$400, now selling for under $100. But that’s not the real story.
The website was created in December 2024—not 30 years ago. And the people in the photos aren’t real. The pictures are made with AI, and some hands and faces even look weird and fake.
Reviews online say the shoes actually come from China and that many people didn’t even get what they ordered.
Our Opinion
After checking everything out, it’s clear that Tanner Shoes is not being honest. There’s no proof that a real couple named Tanner ever made shoes in Florida.
Their address doesn’t lead to a real store—it just drops you on a highway when you look it up on Google Maps.
The phone number goes to a random voicemail, and the email support rarely replies. That alone makes things suspicious.
People who did get their orders said the shoes were cheap and poorly made. Some were made of rubber or plastic instead of leather. The shoe sizes were often wrong, and some pairs had logos that didn’t match the ads.
One person even got a shoe with a Timberland-style logo. Others found the same shoes being sold on Chinese websites like Temu—but for much less money.
So, while Tanner Shoes says it’s a final “heirloom” sale, they’re really just selling cheap products for high prices.
The ad tricks people by using fake emotions. It shows a retiring couple, talks about a closing sale, and makes you feel like you’re helping a small business. But the people in the ad aren’t real.
The story is made up. And those “80% off” deals?
In many U.S. states, it’s illegal to lie about discounts if the product was never sold at the full price. Some buyers even saw their payments go to a company in China—not to a U.S. shoemaker. That’s a huge red flag.
Returning the shoes is also a big problem. Since the items come from China, you have to pay a lot to send them back—often to addresses that don’t seem real.
Some people said the company refused full refunds and offered only small amounts of money back instead. This feels like a scam that hides behind a fake story and pretty pictures.
If you ordered from Tanner Shoes and feel scammed, you’re not alone. Hundreds of people on Reddit, Trustpilot, and YouTube have said the same thing.
This isn’t a simple mistake. It’s a clear plan to fool people using fake ads and a fake backstory.
What To Do If You Got Scammed?
If you bought from Tanner Shoes and think you were tricked, act fast. Call your bank or credit card company and ask to dispute the charge.
Many credit cards let you get your money back if the purchase was a scam. Save everything—screenshots of the ad, the website, your order, and any emails.
Report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and tell the Better Business Bureau too. The more people report it, the more chances others won’t fall for it.
If you paid with PayPal or a similar service, you should open a case there as well.
Next time you see a deal that seems too good to be true, do a little research.
Google the company, read real reviews, check when the site was made, and see if others have had bad experiences.
Just a few minutes of checking can save you from wasting your money.
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[…] Tanner Shoes says it’s a family business that made leather shoes in the U.S. for over 30 years. They claim the couple in the ad is retiring and that they’re offering a final sale. […]