I live next to Zappos! - YouLookFab Forum

Ok I don't, but I want to. I want to live next to ANY big shoe warehouse - Amazon, Nordstrom....doesn't matter. I'm so frustrated with ordering and returning shoes! The time I spend reading reviews, ordering the shoes, waiting for delivery....oh the anticipation....like Christmas Morning! But not anymore. Now, I dread seeing the boxes on my front step.... in less than 1 second after trying on, I can tell it's not going to work. What if I try a different size? Ugh...that may or may not work- 90% of the time not. Now the hassle of printing the return label, taping up the box, driving to the UPS store. Not to mention the large amount of money floating (albeit temporarily) on my Visa Bill. I've been buying and returning shoes all Fall! It's become my new hobby! DH is calling me Imelda and has a concerned look on his face.

The real thorn is that I probably contributed to this problem. I was On-Line shopping when it first became a thing. I just loved ordering from the convenience of my computer with a few clicks and WA LA a package appeared on the doorstep. It seems the outcome of this is fewer shoes and customer service in the BM stores. Also the choices of shoes have exploded making the reviews and online pages and filters exhausting. I'm not even sure the reviews are real - or relevant to me.

There's got to be a better way! Right? Anybody else have these problems?

10 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I dread the online shopping ordeal. Don't know what else to say. Lol. Sometimes I fantasize about only getting things from one store... Except that would probably only leave me Target and find them very expensive now for what you get...

Sveta

(website)

I guess the grass is always greener...I dream of being able to order shoes from Zappos, Amazon, Nordstrom without an additional expense of international shipping and returns or hassle of driving over the border to pick up the boxes and an ordeal of taking them through the customs... But alas...for Canadians this all stays a dream
My case is especially miserable as they just do not stock shoes in my size in the stores. At all! So online shopping is my only option but meager Canadian online options do not inspire

Meow

Oh Sveta - what a spoiled BRAT I sound like! I didn't mean it that way at all. I do have a standard size (US 7.5) and I live in an area where next day shipping - even on Sundays is becoming the norm. Next day - at "No additional cost". But I think, "Be careful what you wish for". I remember when clerks in the shoe department measured your foot size, brought out the requested shoe and several other "I might like", then kept checking back and offering suggestions. Just today, I was at Macy's and waited 15 minutes for 1 of the 2 sales clerks to help me. Then he just plopped down 2 boxes of shoes saying they were out of my size in the rest and disappeared for another half hour! The entire time, I was thinking it may be easier just to order on line. But then I went home and found the shoe I was interested in by BORN is only offered at Macy's. Do they do this just to make us CRAZY!

Ok - I am spoiled.

Jeanie

I go on and off the Zappos ordering. Sometimes I just get excited that I will find the ONE I am looking for but they never fit and I don't enjoy the returns. I have had much better luck going to the stores and just trying on boatloads of shoes.

Sal

I think the choice is overwhelming, and the bricks and mortar shopping experience from the large chains is getting worse...And shoes are the hardest to get right of course.

I have had excellent service from two local boutiques and I get my BEST pieces at smaller places, either local designer or shopping a range of local and imported labels. The price is high though so I do add some chain store pieces, and then I look online, go into the store, they don't have my size nor offer me any assistance (or are too pushy) which tempts me online for the larger range. I am trying to get less pieces from chain stores and most from smaller local places - but it is a work in progress.

Helen11

I can sympathise with that excitement/ dread of the parcels arriving! I love the variety offered online - there are limited choices in my town. But the sites I shop on rarely offer reviews to help. Perhaps I should take Sally's advice and shop at the independent places. Or find a brand that fits me, then start all outfit creation with the shoes.....

rute

I feel your pain! I have small and thin feet and it's so difficult to find shoes for me!
I simply cannot order online!

jenanded

I hear you... and Sveta and others. I have an unusual size and have to shop far and wide. It costs about $100 for return postage USA to Australia if a shoe doesn't work. On the flip side some do. To and from the UK is $7 and its further than the US.

Anyhow, if you could try on in store, how many pairs do you try to get a good pair? We shouldn't be surprised to have so many returns, as annoying as it is!

cheryle (Dianthus)

I am another Canadian but live closer to the border so do shop on amazon and other U.S. retailers and am getting pretty good at figuring out which brands and styles will work for me but still end up making mistakes. The difference is that it is usually not worth the expense and hassle to return the mistakes. On the upside, my niece got a few brand new pairs of boots a few weeks ago so there was some happiness from the mistakes.

Anonymous

Me! Me! I have this same exact problem. My BF too has expressed some concern.

The only solution I have found so far is to not buy any shoes that are not wide width. That helps A LOT. I find I keep more 75% of the shoes I order because they do fit now.

Committing to only buying wide width takes a lot of resolve. I can't tell you how many shoes I have salivated over on the internet but then never bought because I knew I would be returning them shortly afterward.

If you can break down the reason why the shoes you are ordering don't work for you, that would be a major step forward. Is it sizing?

Btw, shoes are one of the most challenging things for me to buy. I have very fussy feet and the shoes let me know in no uncertain terms if they are not going to work. I would prefer to return them (despite the hassle) rather then feel pain.

kkards

well, i love being able to order shoes on line, i wear a size 6, which most stores only get 1 of. so often, even if i see something that i want, my size is sold out. yes, i do have to return more often, but then again, i'm not limited to what happens to be in stock in my size in my small city.

Category