The testimonials below reflect the views and experience of professionals in the field of  Orthotic/Prosthetic Services and that of amputees from Australia and abroad.

We would like to encourage those of you who have experienced difficulties in dealing with big name sock companies, in trying to get the right sock, to approach us by simply sending a short email. Let us know what your needs are and we will do our best to fulfil them. As this is a family business you will be dealing directly with the Managing Director who will look after you from start to finish.

30 March. 06

Hi, and I had e-mailed you about a week ago about a stump sock. I did some measuring and found them to be as follows. The sock that he uses now is 12 inches long and 6 inches at the top and 4 inches at the toe area. I measured his stump and measured it about the length only as high as his sock goes which is 19 inches. The width at the top is 16 inches and at the bottom is 12 inches. His leg has been cut off a short way below the knee. Hope I clarified this easily enough to understand it as I have no idea what I am doing. Thanks for now and what would you recommend for the type of material. His family does not have a lot of money and I would like it to be reasonably priced. The one that he has now reminds me of the material and color of the ace bandages. Thank you for now and my e-mail again is sperlbp@gwtc.net Thank you so much for the help so far, Penny Sperl

Dear Penny,

Thanks for your email.

The attached quotation is for 1 Cool Wool sock and 1 Fleecenette (CoolMax) sock.

I suggest that initially he should try these 2 socks so that he can work out which material he prefer. Also, he may in future like a thicker or thinner sock.

He will be eligible for the Introductory Offer on his next order for 6 socks which can be a combination of different types of socks.

If you need further advice please don't hesitate to contact me.

Ellie Cohen

I am wondering how to order the 2 stump socks so please e-mail me and let me know. Thanks much Penny Sperl sperlbp@gwtc.net

Hi Penny,

If you want us to go ahead with your order as quoted you'll have to first arrange payment.

Once payment is received we will start preparing your order which will take around one week to despatch. We will advise of the progress of your order. The socks will be sent to the address that you will enter in the Paymate Express form when making your payment.

Please make your payment with Paymate. First click on this link………………..

If you need further advice please don't hesitate to contact me.

Ellie Cohen

Dear Penny,

Paymate has advised us of your payment. Thank you.

Your order is now being prepared. I'll be in touch again to advise despatch of your order in a day or two.

Thanks again

Ellie

Hi Penny,

Your order was sent to your address today. You should expect delivery within one to two weeks.

I will appreciate it if you could advise me upon receipt of goods.

Ellie Cohen

Ellie,

I received the stump socks yesterday which is the 17th. Thank you so much and I think they will work out well for him. It was wonderful working with you and you were so very helpful. Thank you so much, Penny Sperl

Hi Penny,

Thank you so much for the nice comment.

I would like to ask your permission to post some snippets of your correspondence with us on the Testimonials page of our web site.

We usually would sign off the comment with name, city, country and email address (It is quite ok if you wish us not to include your email address. just let me know).

There is no need for you to make any new comments unless of course you want to. We'll simply use comments from your previous emails.

Awaiting your reply.

Best regards,

Ellie Cohen

Ellie,

That is fine if you use my comments. I truly think you handled everything so professionally yet with very helpful e-mails.Thanks again, Penny Sperl

Ellie

8 Feb. 06

Hello,

I am trying to find socks for my dad, he lost the front part of his foot in a factory accident when he was 16. He is now 84 and I need to order some socks for him.

He has a couple that are too small for him, the part that goes over the stump. They are not bulbous at the end. The size on the package says 6 inches across the top…….What size should we order? He wants the bulbous end…….. We would be ordering the 6 of the all wool.

Also can you give me a rough idea of the cost in American dollars?

I appreciate your help.

Thank you,

Barbara Gabriel

--------------------------

Dear Barbara,

Thanks for your email.

I need you to answer a few questions which will help me determined the best option(s) for your dad.

1. Is the sock he is using now straight up and down or does it have an angled foot section (as in common socks)?

2. If it hasn't would he like it to have a foot section?

3. Would he be interested in our new, stretchable, Cool Wool Sock (81% wool, 19% CoolMax)?

    For more details about the Cool Wool click here: http://www.hellersocks.com/CoolWool.htm

Please note that we can make a bulbous ending on a straight sock only (not one with a foot).

A stretchable (Cool Wool) sock with a foot (no bulbous) will allow for the bulbous ending of the foot.

The cost for this sock is roughly 13 - 15$US before any special offers or discounts.

Waiting to hear from you.

Ellie

-----------------------

Hi Ellie,

Thank you for your quick response.

I spoke to my dad and he said the sock he is using now is straight up. The socks he was using in the past were with a bulbous end. He had worn them all out and could only find the straight ones. These he is finding too small, they do not have enough room at the bottom. He would not need an angled foot section, the bulbous ended sock will work fine……….

He said he would like to try the stretchable Cool Wool socks you mentioned, perhaps 5 of those and one of the Cool Wool Heavy.

Let me know if you need any more information.

Thanks again,

Barbara

-------------

Hi Barbara,

We are now getting closer. We will make the Cool Wool sock with a bulbous. Just a couple of questions:

I understand that the 4.5" measurement is not big enough for the bulbous area. Is it big enough for the portion just above the bulbous or should it be smaller at this point? And, what should the bulbous area measure across? Also, is he happy with the length of 12"? 

The sock itself will be knitted approx. 15% smaller than the given measurements as it will stretch to fit.

Ellie

-----------------------------

Hi Ellie,

The 4.5 inch measurement is fine for the area above the bulbous……………

He also suggested that maybe we should make one sock to make sure it fits. Do you think this is a good idea? Then we can fine tune the measurements if need be instead of having 6 socks that don't fit as well as they might.

Anyway, let me know. I will await your reply.

Thanks so much for your patience!

Barbara

------------------------------

Hi Barbara,

Yes, I think it is a good idea to try one out first, only it will be at the list price plus postage. See attached quotation.

You will be eligible for our Introductory Offer with your next order. Also, please note that the estimate I gave you earlier was way too high. The cost of the sock is A$12.00 (Approx. 8.88$US). The total cost with postage is A$20.00 (Approx. 14.81$US). The Heavy Cool Wool will be approx. A$3.00 dearer per sock.

Many thanks

Ellie

-----------------------------------

Hi,

OK, I sent the payment for the first sock.

My address is……..

Can you give me a rough idea when the sock will ship? I really appreciate all your help, I can't believe I couldn't find anything in the States for him but I'm sure glad I found your company! It's nice to receive such great customer service.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Thanks so much,

Barbara

------------------------

Hi Barbara,

Your order was sent to your address today by Air Mail………….

Thanks for trying our socks.

Regards

Ellie

-----------------------

8 March. 06

Hi Ellie

My father tried the sock on and said it was perfect - quite a rave from him! We couldn't get over how nicely it was made and how soft it was on the inside! Beautiful!

Anyway, he said he wanted to wear it and then he would decide on the next order so I will be in touch soon.

Thank you so much for all your help.

Sincerely,

Barbara Gabriel

southpaw275@earthlink.net

Trumbull, Connecticut

USA

----------------------------------

Hi Ellie,

I went over my dad's last night to open the package with him and I was wondering if there is another package coming. The sales slip said there were: 5  XWSS12W Cool Wool socks   plus

                              1  XWSS12WXH Cool Wool Extra Heavy    plus

                              1  X420+ Fleecenette - Narrow Short.

  In the box were 4  XWSS12W Cool Wool socks   plus

                              1  XWSS12WXH Cool Wool Extra Heavy. That was all that was in there.

When you get a chance, can you check on this for me?

Thanks, Barbara

------------------------------

Hi Barbara,

This is very odd. I can tell you that I'm 100% certain that the package left our premises with the 7 socks.

We take great care and check all quantities at least twice before sending. We also take accurate measurements of socks and packages. This is to ensure that we can accurately account for the content if the situation arises.

The package gross weight was 450 grams. This accounts for:

5 socks @ 44 grams

1 socks @ 67 grams

1 sock   @ 28 grams

Packing material @ 135 grams

I fully trust in what you are telling me. My concern is that either someone else, somewhere along the route between Australia and the US, has removed 2 socks (very unlikely) or perhaps when you opened the package they fell out unnoticed. Please check the surrounds where you opened the package. Did the package seemed as if it was tampered with?

Please let me know.

Regards

Ellie

------------------------------

Hi Ellie,

I know this is very odd. I think (but I would never tell him) my dad might have opened the package and maybe the 2 socks fell out and perhaps got thrown out. I may never know. I could tell you that we are sure they were not in there but I cannot. I wasn't there when he opened the package.

So how about if we do this: please send me the 2 socks we are missing. I will pay you for them plus whatever shipping there is. I will tell him (and I really hate to do this, too) that I contacted you about the missing socks and you are replacing them. Whatever happened to them, it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. I don't want to get into an argument with him. You have been really nice all through this and I don't want 2 silly socks to ruin our business together.

Let me know what to do next and thanks for trying to help me sort this out.

Regards, Barbara

------------------------------------

Hi Barbara,

How about this option. I'll send you the 2 socks free of charge with your next order.

Please advise.

Ellie

------------------------------

Hi Ellie,

Sorry for the delay but Easter week is very hectic around here; my mother and I were baking bread all day!

I thought about your very generous offer and spoke to my mom about it and we decided that while we appreciate it very much, the problem is that when my dad asks me what happened with the socks (thinking he is in the right and the socks were missing) I have to be able to tell him that they are being replaced soon. I don't want to seem ungrateful - I hope you understand.

Also, since my dad is 84 years old and the socks he did receive are of such fine quality, the chances of our placing another order in the near future are pretty slim!

So what do you think? I hope I am not driving you crazy -

Best regards, Barbara

----------------------------------

Hi Barbara,

No problem. Replacement socks are now being knitted. They should be ready to go early next week.

No payment is required.

Wishing you and your family a Happy Easter.

Ellie Cohen
Managing Director
S. Heller Enterprises
Manufacturers of Quality Stump Socks
Australia
www.hellersocks.com
Direct: (61) 3 9859 5263
Mobile: (61) 0422 589 435

------------------------------------

Hi Ellie,

I wish you would let me pay for them. There is really no reason for you to absorb the cost of what is probably our mistake.

If you send me the link for paymate I'll just put it on my VISA.

Let me know and a Happy Easter to you and yours as well!

Sincerely, Barbara

----------------------------------

Dear Barbara,

Sorry about the delay in replying to your email.

If you wish to pay for the 2 socks please follow the instructions below.

I have attached a quotation.

Please make your payment with Paymate. First click on this link........................

Please let me know what you have decided to do.

Thanks

Ellie

------------------------------

Hi Ellie,

Not a problem. I hope you had a nice weekend.

I have followed your instructions and have made payment.

Thanks for your help and for replacing the socks so fast! I'll let you know when they arrive.

Best regards, Barbara

-----------------------------------

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for making payment. The socks were sent today.

Regards

Ellie

---------------------------------

Hi Ellie,

The socks arrived yesterday, there were 2 in the package so all seems to be in order!

I want to thank you for all the trouble you took and for your patience and kindness. I'll probably give these to him Thursday and no one will be the wiser (except me and my mom!)

Again, dealing with you and your company has been a pleasure - I will miss our little correspondences. :o)

Take care and best regards,

Barbara

14 Nov. 05

Hi there!

The prosthetic sock that you made for us, Ref: XWS130, was a success and we would like to order some more.

Please could you fax/post costs for:

- Single socks

- Bulk buying

- Postage

- Any discounts you can offer

Regards

Laura Hillas - Prosthetist

RSL Steeper, Nottingham

United Kingdom

The following series of emails between us and Linda Young, of Somers Connecticut, with whom we had a prolonged but utterly rewarding experience working with, encapsulate the essence of what we are all about here at S. Heller Enterprises.

According to Linda, it has taken her 30 years to finally find a sock that she really liked. She was kind enough to allow us to post some or most of her emails to us, over the past 8 months, on this web page. And it all started with the following email:

17 Dec. 02

Hello:

I read with great interest your stump sock site!!
I have been a BK amputee for 30 years.

My 2 issues are 1) I like to stay active and I go through a l-o-t of socks
and 2) I am a big girl :>)

I have been suffering through our domestic socks for all these years - so
far, Sterling are the ones I can wear.

I need a 10" top, 5" toe and 12" length.  BUT - my leg is very blunt, so I
need very minimal 'point' on the sock.  Meaning I need 5" width  NO MORE
than 2" from the bottom.

I am pulling out my hair.  I just ordered a dozen of the Sterling socks, and
they are all 'pointy'.

I'm also in a bind because I need these socks quickly and now my order from
Sterling is not going to work (again).

Is there any way I can pay an extra fee to have an order expedited through
you?  I would love to be able to purchase Merino socks (I am a spinner)!
I only wear wool, and I need 5 ply.

Please reply ASAP...  I would very much like to place an order.

17 Dec. 02

Reply:

Dear Ms. Lin Young,

Thank you for your interest in our Stump Socks.

I'll be glad to help you in your search for the right sock.
As we specialise in Made-To-Measure socks we'll have no problem in tailoring
one for you.

In designing your sock I suggest the following:
At the 5" mark (56 needles), instead of tapering sharply down to the usual
12 needles (1 1/4"), which will give it a pointy 'Toe', I will design it to
end with 40 needles (approx. 3 3/4" wide).................

There will be no extra charge for tailoring this sock for you even if we
need to make some changes after the first sample. (a saving of A$9.50).

Unfortunately there's probably just enough time to send you the one sample
before the end of year holidays. Which means that you have to act quickly
and send your payment via https://www.paymate.com.au/ as soon as possible so
that we can commence making your sample and hopefully you will get it before
Christmas.............

You'll be able to take advantage of our Introductory Offer on your following
order.

If you need more information please don't hesitate to ask me.

Regards

Ellie Cohen
Managing Director
S. Heller Enterprises
Manufacturers of quality Stump Socks
www.hellersocks.com

17 Dec. 02

Ellie:

Thank you so much for working with me!

You probably have a good understanding of how much it can affect quality of life when you have poorly fitting socks.  I end up doing damage to my stump so frequently because my socks felt, shrink and generally don't fit.

I am very much looking forward to becoming a loyal customer of yours :>)

Here is my home email address, which you can feel free to use at any time.

Regards,

Linda Young

17 Dec. 02

Reply: