Purchased new J&M shoes from Amazon. Have worn these shoes for two days at a conference. Fits well for hard leather dress shoes. I have wide feet and 1E width shoes are still too tight. These were 3E at 7.5. The bottom of the shoe is smooth. I wore mine for the first time at the conference. I felt like I was going to slip and fall. I do not sleep well when I travel, add-on the East-West Coast 3 hours time differential, and I was having a lot of trouble maintaining my balance. Wear your around the house and scratch up the bottom a little to increase traction. I paid $124 for my J&M Oxford. For the price I paid I cannot complain. I purchased a pair of New Balance minimus cross-training shoe for about $100. Minimus means for the same amount of money you get less shoe. I like New Balance but pay money for less?