Most people wear their shoes far past the point where a resole would have been cheap and easy. By the time the heel is worn down to the welt, the damage has usually spread to the midsole and the upper, turning a $40 fix into a $90 one.
The penny test
Hold a coin against the tread of your heel. If the tread is flush with the edge of the coin — meaning the sole is smooth — it's time to come in. The same rule applies to the ball of the foot, which wears faster than the heel on most people.
Why early is better
When a sole wears through, the leather upper starts flexing in ways it wasn't built to. That's what causes the creases and cracks you can't reverse. Resoling at the first sign of wear protects the part of the shoe that actually costs money to replace.
Bring them in and we'll take a look — a quick inspection is always free.