Grayson Tassel Loafer (Men)

I've been a longtime AE customer with easily 30 pairs across their product line spanning 20 years - dress, handsewn, casual. I already own the Grayson in a rare two-tone version in bourbon w/black tassels/trim when I decided to order the navy color. Beautiful shoe and color but now on the THIRD attempt to get a pair whose tassels are not woefully loose and flopping around on one (or both) shoes. Also found the coloring to be notably different shades between the left and right shoe on the second pair that came in. The first pair had one shoe that was clearly wider and looser fitting with heel slippage on one shoe. Both pairs easily could have passed as factory seconds in my prior experience. Where is the quality control?? I am glad I ordered them for delivery to the store so that at least the helpful store salesperson was able to immediately order another pair into the store on exchange. Two pairs down and hoping the third time is the charm. We're down to the last pair remaining in AE stock in my size and the navy color -- so if this one isn't up to par, this will likely be my last AE shoe. I, like many other negative reviewers on the AE site, have noticed the quality going downhill over the years. It's painfully obvious to me - and given the collection of AE shoes I have amassed, I have the ability to say that based on a healthy sample size! I've already started gravitating to other brands in the same price range - and it isn't close.