8 tips to buying shoes online so they always fit, Lifestyle News
Buying shoes online can be a right pain sometimes.
This is especially so when they arrive and you’re hoping to have a “Cinderella” moment, but end up having a “wicked stepsister” moment instead, trying to jam your foot into an ill-fitting pair of heels or sneakers.
While shopping online for shoes is great – you have access to countless brands that don’t have a physical retail space in Singapore – the downside, however, is it can be difficult to find shoes that match the pictures and description, is comfortable to wear and the correct size for your feet.
As such, here are eight tips to bear in mind when you shop for your next pair of footwear online so you don’t end up wasting money.
1. Shop on sites that allow you to zoom in on images
One of the biggest challenges of buying shoes online is that it can be hard to get an accurate sense of the quality and finish of the shoe.
Shop with retailers or sellers that have clear images of the product from multiple angles.
You want to be able to zoom in to get a better idea of the colour and texture of the materials used, not to mention how fine the finishing is.
2. Look for images of the shoe worn by models
Often, it helps to see the shoe worn by a model. This is especially so when you’re trying a new style.
For instance, on a model’s feet, you will be able to see how much toe cleavage a pair of heels reveals, or if the placement of the ankle straps visually elongate or shorten the legs.
If the images you desire are not available and the shoes are from a major brand, try looking for photos of them elsewhere.
Different online retailers have different ways of presenting their product and you may be able to find a variety of images photographed with different lighting or styling.
3. Start by measuring your feet
Place your feet flat on white paper one at a time and trace its outline with a pencil.
Measure the length from the tip of the big toe to the heel. Most people have feet of different sizes so do take the measurements for both sides.
With this, you can find out your shoe size for different brands by referring to conversion charts.
4. Consult individual brand sizing and conversion charts
Sizing is often inconsistent across brands, sometimes even within the same brand.
Shopping sites that stock a many different brands may offer one size and conversation chart as a guide but you should note that this is often just that — a guide that may well be inaccurate.
If the brand that you are interested in buying has its own website, consult that size and conversion chart instead.
5. Buy brands that you have tried before
When in doubt, stick to buying brands that you have worn before.
That way, you have a better grasp of which size to get and how the shoes would fit on your feet.
6. Start with a relatively cheap pair
If it’s the first time you are buying from a particular website or brand, start with a test order, and make sure it’s not something that’s too much of a splurge.
Once you’ve established that the sizing and fit of the brand work for you, go ahead to shop till you drop.
7. Make sure you’re comfortable with the return and exchange policies
Read the return and exchange policy carefully before making any purchases.
Shoes are heavy and can cost a lot to ship back, especially to an overseas retailer.
8. Consult customer reviews on the pair prior to purchase
When it comes to shoes, reviews are invaluable if you want to find out if the product is true to image and to size.
This article was first published in The Singapore Women’s Weekly.
Why you should avoid the tempting online sales and only shop in-store …
Why you should avoid the tempting online sales and only shop in-store for shoes? : Gotham Footcare: Podiatrists
Dr. Cunha explains the damage our feet could experience if we force our feet to wear ill-fitting shoes.
It’s risky to buy shoes online, especially if there is a no return policy. It’s important to remember that sizing can be different across different brands, due to their design and the materials used. You may purchase a fashionable shoe online with your size that may still not be appropriately and comfortably fit for your feet. I think it is acceptable to buy shoes online if they are sneaker from a manufactures that you typically purchase from because there won’t be variability on size that may occur from manufacturer to manufacturer. In other words, if you typically buy a 9. 5 motion control sneaker from Asics it is acceptable to purchase online because you are already familiar with the structure of the shoe and the size will be consistent with your previous pair. Simply put, if you are going to purchase shoes online, stick to comfort shoes such as sneakers and avoid fashion shoes such as heels that may vary not only in size from shoe to shoe of the same brand but also from brand to brand.
Shoes should fit and feel comfortable or else you shouldn’t buy them. Long term effect of wearing ill fitted shoes include damage to the toe nails. Wearing ill fitting shoes can compress the toes together causing the big toe nail to grow into the skin and eventually resulting in an ingrown toenail. Ill fitting shoes can also aggravate the symptoms and progression of bunion deformities as the shape of the shoe does not accommodate the normal structure of the forefoot. An ill fitting shoe can press up against the great toe pushing it over towards the second toe further exacerbating bunion deformities. When wearing ill fitting high heels for instance most of your body weight is pushed forward to the balls of your feet and this can lead to metatarsalgia.
Shoes with a narrow toe box can also cause this condition. Hammertoes are also a condition developed by ill fitting shoes. The heel height forces the toes to bend as they lean forward. Overtime, the bent toe can no longer straighten on its own. Wearing ill fitting shoes can cause tendonitis. When wearing ill fitting heels for instance you put constant pressure on the Achilles tendon by shortening and tightening it. Repeated and extended wear of high heels shorten the tendon permanently. This leads to inflammation and pain when you wear flat shoes and forces the tight tendon to stretch.
Shoes should accommodate your feet and not the other way around. There is a natural give for shoes as they will accommodate your feet more comfortably after several days of use but overall shoes should feel as comfortable as possible when you first triy them on at the store to avoid damaging your feet.
I also recommend always buying shoes at the end of the end when your feet are most swollen. If they feel comfortable at the end of the day most likely they will feel comfortable throughout the day.
Dr. Miguel Cunha
Dr. Miguel Cunha, Board Certified Surgical Podiatrist, founder of Gotham Footcare, and leading podiatrist in Manhattan is a highly trained and skilled foot and ankle surgeon with experience treating a wide array of foot and ankle conditions from minor problems to complex reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. Dr. Cunha takes pride in having a genuine interest in each and every one of his patients while providing them the utmost compassion and exceptional care.
Your First Step to Getting Better
At Gotham Footcare in NYC, we strive at recognizing your individual needs and desired outcomes while formulating an effective and personalized treatment plan with the highest quality care available.
What sets Gotham Footcare apart from other podiatry offices is our dedication to providing you with the education you need to make well-informed decisions regarding your care. Regardless of what your foot and ankle trouble may be, at Gotham Footcare our team will work tirelessly to help you feel better. At Gotham Footcare, we help you put your best foot forward.
Best online Shoe Stores 2021 | Top Ten Reviews
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We’ve done the tricky job of deciding the best online shoe stores for 2021. Shopping for shoes only accounted for roughly 30% of all shoe sales in the US before the COVID-19 pandemic, but has increased rapidly since then, according to data from NPD. That means more and more people are turning to online shoe outlets to get their footwear. There are obviously advantages and disadvantages to this – the main drawback being that you can’t handle and try-on the physical shoe or boot before you actually buy it. However, the advantages are many: cheaper prices, a larger selection of shoes, and the ability to get feedback from users – rather than store assistants – on how the shoes wear in real selecting the best online shoe stores we considered not only the stores themselves, but the way people shop for shoes in 2021. With an increasing reliance on their online outlets, traditional shoe stores have been forced to ‘up their game’ when it comes to virtual customer service, which means fewer are charging return or restocking fees. You have to be able to shop with confidence, knowing that when you buy you can always return footwear at little or no cost, if it isn’t for you. When you’re shopping our top-rated online shoe retailers, we recommend looking for a few key things when you’re buying. It’s essential that a shoe store has a robust returns policy, and we’ve actually listed these below, with each entry. Even with rich data on each shoe, and great product photography, you never really know how you’ll feel about a shoe until it’s on your foot. Doesn’t matter if it’s a heel, a comfy sneaker, a running shoe, or a pair of amazing boots – the proof is in the wearing. And if you don’t like it, you need to be able to send it back easily, and (ideally) at no extra should also take advantage of the benefits of shopping online. Sales are more frequent, and easier to browse, and you’ll often benefit from earning reward points on your purchases, if you sign up for VIP programs. We also love the ability to see feedback from other users on how accurately the shoes fit feet of certain sizes, and how well they wear and last when used for real world situations. Many sites offer various shipping options and curbside pickup, and some even offer price guarantees, to help you claim back money if you see your shoes cheaper elsewhere. You’ll even find exclusive ranges on certain sites, and some will guarantee things like ethically created or US-made shoes, for the more conscientious course, you won’t always find what you’re looking for, so check out our guide to the best online auction sites, which will help you track down more obscure online shoe storesBelow is our list of the best online shoe stores. While we have Zappos as our top pick, all the retailers below it are seriously worth checking out, as each one offers something we really like in a shoe store. Don’t think of this as a ranked list – it’s a guide to our favorite shoe stores, designed to help you find exactly what you need. (Image credit: Zappos)Excellent 365-day return policyGreat website with user reviews prominentGood price ranges, and a wide variety of is our top pick for online shoe stores because it provides an excellent all round service, while offering a good range of shoes at competitive prices. The website itself is easy to navigate, has excellent product photography, and offers loads of useful information on each product you choose a pair of shoes to view you’re given a range of sizes available, a drop-down menu with color variations, and other style options – all contained in the right-hand navigation of the page. We love that the picture of the shoes has pride of place, and there are so many images for each pair, showing you almost all the angles you could possibly want to see. Zappos also makes a feature of its user reviews, and underneath each product you get statistics from customers detailing information on the shoe, like ‘True to fit’ and ‘True to width’, so you get an idea of how your particular shoe compares to others of the same size and also get free returns on Zappos shoes, which is a big deal, and you can return shoes within a massive 365 days of buying them – one of the most generous returns policies of any online shoe store. The only downside is that you need to either print your return label, or have a sticker delivered by the USPS, which does slow down returns a little. We really appreciate how Zappos has ‘Customer Service’ right at the top of the page, in the primary navigation, and this is consistent throughout every page you visit on the site. Phone, email, live chat, and other options are all available, and the customer service is prompt and friendly. Overall, it’s a very good user an A+ rating, and accreditation, via the Better Business BureauScores 4 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsWe looked at more than 200 user reviews of Zappos, both via customer review sites, and of products purchased via the site itself. Many applaud the excellent customer service and returns policy offered by Zappos, although some note that it does take the company a little longer than some rivals to refund you the money. The average refund time is ten days, and in some instances it has taken longer. For most with issues, the customer service team appear to be friendly, professional, and largest complaint about Zappos appears to be that some people have accidentally received shoes with imperfections, incorrect sizes and combinations (a few people report getting two left shoes instead of a pair! ), and – on rare occasions – shoes that appear to already have been worn. In most cases these were resolved, but one or two customers were unhappy that they were offered store credit instead of cash refunds. Overall, however, the customer experience from Zappos is very positive, especially when it comes to selection of shoes and customer experience. (Image credit: DSW)DSW: Best dedicated online shoe storeA large range of shoes and boots, with no other clothes on siteExcellent clearance section for cheaper pricesThe JLO collection is great to browseDSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) carries many of the biggest brand names, including Nike, Steve Madden and UGG, so it is a good place to shop if you’re looking for designer shoes, boots, athletic shoes or sandals. There’s a JLO collection on there too, which has its own zone on the website, and the range is fabulous to look at. While it may not be to everyone’s taste, there’s no doubting the prestige of it. In terms of range, DSW is one of the product pages are good, but not perfect. You see good, clear product images, and we appreciate the fact that you don’t have to click through a gallery to see your shoes from all the different angles. Sizes and shoe variants are listed in the right-hand side of the page, along with an overall user score. We’d like to see more feedback from customers included here, and more buying advice, but overall the display is you sign up for DSW’s rewards program, you earn points for every dollar you spend. These points can be redeemed for gift cards, which is a nice touch. DSW only offers free shipping on all sales to VIP members, which isn’t the best. While exchanges are free, and can be done within 60 days, returns come with an $8. 50 charge. Another one of DSW’s drawbacks is it doesn’t offer as deep of discounts as other shoe stores we looked at, although there is a well populated ‘Clearance’ section on the website. While this is welcome, it doesn’t feel like an event in the same way as the sales you’ll find on other User Reviews and RatingsHas an A+ rating via the Better Business BureauScores 3. 5 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsAfter looking at more than 150 user reviews for DSW, we noted that customer service – especially in their physical stores – was something people loved. Many also praised the benefits of the VIP program, and noted that the discounts you get from it more than make up for the ‘costs’ of sign-up. You do appear to surrender a lot of data, and DSW is persistent in sending you coupons once you’re signed up, but this is no bad thing considering the discounts you will the negative side, some users noted that the delivery is far from perfect, and that customer service isn’t always as effective at resolving the issues. While the majority praise the customer service experience, some have noted that they were unhelpful. DSW has also had a few issues with VIP points balances on its site, which has drawn a handful of negative reviews. Overall, though, users love the combination of online and physical stores when it comes to DSW, making this a strength of the brand. (Image credit: 6pm)6pm: Best discount shoe storeSome deep discounts on designer brandsPlenty of stock to select fromFree shipping on larger ordersIf you’re hunting for outlet-level prices online, 6pm is a great place to start your search. It’s the outlet site for Zappos, and carries many of the same brands. However, as it’s an outlet, you can get shoes for much, much cheaper, if you’re willing to dig around for something you like. You’ll find regular discounts, daily sales, and there are numerous coupons available for the site if you know where to find site itself is more standard than many of its rivals, but is easy to navigate and contains some bright, colorful product images. Once you’re on a product page you get to see shoes from many different angles, and you can change the size and color/style settings by using the drop-down menus on the right of the page. There are no user reviews on the product pages, so you do lack that additional information on each the negative side, the service you get from 6pm simply can’t match that of Zappos. While you do qualify for free delivery if you buy two or more pairs of shoes, or spend more than $50 (which most will), returns cost extra and there is no option to exchange shoes. You simply need to pay to return the ones you bought, and buy something else. Customer support is available, but limited in terms of hours, and there are no VIP clubs or price-match promises here (as you’d expect from an outlet store). Overall, you’ll love the prices at 6pm, but be sure you want something before you buy. 6pm User Reviews and RatingsHas an A+ rating and is accredited at the Better Business BureauScores 3. 5 out of 5 via YelpWe looked at around 55 reviews of 6pm, and found them to be broadly well liked. People love a cheap price on shoes, and many were pleased with how little they paid while shopping at 6pm. Many highlighted the fact that you need to be quick to get the best deals, and almost every user has commented on how good the range of discounted shoes majority of the complaints about 6pm, especially those on the BBB, center on delivery and shipping issues of the shoes. Some users reported late dispatches for shoes, and others said delivery took longer than advertized on the site. One or two said that the shoes they received were not in a good condition, and these were returned. Overall, 6pm is good at responding to complaints, as this is a common theme of user reviews. (Image credit: Overstock)Excellent prices, and some great additional discountsClean and easy-to-use siteThere are loads of other products here is one of the bigger names in online discount retail. The site covers everything from home furnishings to electricals, but there is a superb selection of shoes to be found here too. You’ll find sneakers, heals, clogs, booties and all kinds of different shoes, all from brands such as Nike, Adidas, Birkenstock, and more. You’ll even find some designer labels like Jimmy Choo here, although they are very limited in product pages are clean, but lack a little information when compared to the likes of Zappos. You’ll see good product images of the shoes, and if you scroll around the page you will find a limited number of user reviews, but rarely enough to inform your decision-making. There’s a Q&A section, which is good when it’s populated by users, and while we applaud the effort of the Tips and Inspiration tab… the content in there isn’t very ipping is free to all states except Hawaii and Alaska, and is quicker than most other stores on this list. There’s a 30-day returns policy, which is standard, and users are responsible for the cost of ‘buyers remorse’ returns. Sadly, this does include shoes that don’t fit, which is one of the perils of buying from a more generalist an A+ rating and is accredited at the Better Business BureauScores 1 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsWe looked at over 200 reviews of and found that it’s a company with a range of both good and bad user feedback. We were surprised to see Overstock score only a single star on Consumer Affairs, so looked at the reasons why this could be. Many are for defective products that required assembly, and few of the negative reviews apply to shoes purchased on we did see was a lot of praise for Overstock’s prompt shipping, with users enjoying the fact their items arrived sooner than expected. The customer service has mixed reviews, with some stating it’s helpful and others bemoaning the fact that it didn’t resolve issues at all. Overstock is good at answering complaints via the BBB (of which there are a lot), but it does so in a very dry and factual way, which lacks a little human understanding. (Image credit:)Great variety of shoes, especially if you need specialty pairsFrequent discount codes and couponsGreat website with loads of search has a large inventory of shoes, free exchanges and helpful customer service. In addition to a large selection of everyday footwear for women and men, there are many specialty footwear options, covering narrow and wide shoes, and even things like dance shoes for search browser is useful to find a specific shoe, or you can find a category type, like boots, oxfords or slip-ons if you want more browsing options. You can also filter for such specialty features as orthotic-friendly, vegan, moisture wicking, insulated and diabetic-friendly. You can refine your search further under specifying categories like canvas, clogs, flats, size, color, price range and brand. The product photography on each page is clear and bright, and there are further options for changing size and style. Scroll a little further down, and you get a good range of customer reviews and comment on the fit of the shoes. The site is really good.
offers free shipping, and there’s no minimum value needed to qualify. If you decide you don’t like the shoes, you can return them within 60 days for a complete refund, and shipping on returns is free. However, there is a fee of $6. 95 for ‘restocking’. Items that are labeled as final sales, however, don’t qualify for returns. There’s also a rewards club called Shoefans, which is worth enrolling an A+ rating and is accredited at the Better Business BureauScores 2 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsWe looked at around 90 reviews of and found that they were largely positive. While the store scores low ratings on Consumer Affairs we did notice an awful lot of ‘user error’ reviews, or reviews calling out for very minor issues with their service, like being a day late with shipping. Where negative reviews and complaints were filed, we were delighted to see that the company’s response – especially on BBB – was prompt, polite, and often resulted in customer terms of positive reviews, people were pleased with the exchange policy on offer, and the selection of shoes. The generous exchange period was mentioned too. While clearly isn’t the cheapest online shoe store, it’s well thought of and clearly has excellent customer service. (Image credit: Amazon)Amazon: Best for ‘try before you buy’ shoesPrime Wardrobe lets you try before you commit to buyAmazon has excellent shipping and returnsGood selection of shoes and brandsWe all know Amazon and, love it or hate it, there’s no denying it’s an excellent place to buy stuff. The shoe selection at Amazon is very good, and there’s a decent range of both new and pre-owned shoes thanks to the various third-party retailers associated with Amazon. The website is actually harder to navigate than many of its rivals, but that’s because Amazon has such a massive range of items – you need to drill into the site to find sets Amazon apart, however, is the Prime Wardrobe services, which is included as part of a regular Amazon Prime membership. Here you can choose up to eight items of clothing – shoes included – at a time, and order them to be delivered to your home. There is a three-item minimum and a $1000 maximum value. Once they arrive you have seven days to try them on, and mark all unwanted items for return. After that you pay for the stuff you want to keep, and use pre-paid packaging for all the returns. It’s so, so simple and is a great way of shopping for clothes and downside? Well, it’s tough to see one, although the fact you need to be a Prime member is something of a barrier. You are slightly limited in terms of choice – not everything on Amazon is part of Prime Wardrobe, so you may not be able to use it for your chosen pair of shoes or boots. Overall, though, it does feel a lot like the future of shoe User Reviews and RatingsHas an A rating and is accredited at the Better Business BureauScores 3 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsIt’s near impossible to get a sense of the Amazon user reviews for its shoe service, so we took a cross-section of about 50 reviews across a number of products we found in the shoe section on the site. Overall, they reflected the quality of each individual brand and, while there were complaints about shipping and lost orders, they were very ‘s A rating on the BBB comes as little surprise, given the volume of complaints received for a wide range of problems encountered by users. Amazon’s responses aren’t always convincing, and many consumers fail to accept the resolution offered. Again, though, it’s difficult to find a large number that specifically relate to shoes or the Prime Wardrobe aspect of the did check some style blogs for reviews of Prime Wardrobe. Many talked about the limitations of the service, such as the narrower selection, the fact you have to use a credit card, and the three-item minimum. However, the overall impression was positive. (Image credit: Foot Locker)Superb range of sports and outdoor shoesGood returns policy and refund periodExcellent for children’s shoes tooFoot Locker has an impressive selection of athletic shoes of all kinds, including field sports, track and field and general exercise. Women’s shoes are organized by brand, price and category and you’ll find shoes specifically designed for things like cheerleading and tennis that you won’t find elsewhere. You can find shoes for children that have extra support or safety. Children’s shoes come in a wide selection of brands and colors – there are even name brand infant and toddler shoes website has a discount section so you can search for a good deal on the type of shoe you’re looking for, and you can filter by maximum price. You’ll also get discounts on site, and via the Foot Locker newsletter. Shipping costs from Foot Locker vary depending on your purchases. You can receive free shipping on select items or if you meet a certain minimum purchase requirement. If you choose expedited shipping, Foot Locker guarantees delivery within the promised timeframe or they will reimburse you for shipping, which is a nice have 30 days from the product’s shipment date to get a full refund. You can either take your shoes to your local Foot Locker store to return or exchange them, which is a nice feature if you’re based near a physical store. The rest of the returns and exchange options aren’t great – you pay $6. 99 for return shipping, although you won’t be charged for the postage of replacement items in the event of an an D- rating via the Better Business BureauScores 3. 5 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsWe looked at around 120 user reviews of Foot Locker, and separated the ones that were specifically for the online service offered. What users really like about Foot Locker is the brand and the way it treats its customers. The selection of shoes and the style of footwear is usually praised, and it was good to see a range of ages leaving positive reviews. Foot Locker’s physical stores were complimented too, and several members of the online customer service team have been praised by name, which is a great mplaints usually stem from shipping and incorrect orders arriving, which are very common among other online shoe stores. There were several grievances around ordering via phone, which isn’t a common method of buying shoes, and this does seem to have caused some confusion among customers. Unusually, Foot Locker has a terrible D- rating via the BBB, and it doesn’t seem to be that good at closing customer complaints. (Image credit: Famous Footwear)Near-constant sale events and discountsGood turnover of stockMembers club is worth joiningIf you’re looking for the best prices and opportunities to save more, Famous Footwear is one of the best options. It isn’t quite on the same level as 6pm, but is one of the best discount shoe stores out there, and has an impressive range of has a sale tab on its site and consistently runs other promotions. For example, it often runs end-of-season sales during which you can get shoes, sandals or boots for as much as 50% off. Famous Footwear also has a rewards program that earns you points for each dollar you spend. These points can then be redeemed later. When you sign up for the rewards program, you also get exclusive offers and free shipping on any orders you make online. This may be one of the best perks because standard shipping applies to non-rewards members’ you want to exchange or return items you get 60-days (or 90 if you’re a member) and you can ship back via any courier of your choosing, so the fee for this is an A+ rating via the Better Business BureauScores 3. 4 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsWe researched around 100 reviews of Famous Footwear, and found them to be quite mixed. The positive reviews focused on the quality of the products that arrived, and the fact that they had been bought for so cheap. There’s an assumption with outlet-style online stores that they’re going to be sending substandard goods, but this isn’t the case and people are mplaints tend to center on errors with being charged for cancelled orders, and for problems with shipping. The response from Famous Footwear is inconsistent, if users are to be believed. Some like how efficiently the company resolves shipping issues, whereas others found them very unhelpful. Overall, there were no real red flags from the negative reviews, as you’ll see a lot of complaints that revolve around shipping for every online shoe retailer. (Image credit: Shoe Carnival)Shoe Carnival: Best for kids shoes and costume shoesGood range of kids shoes and fancy dress wearDecent prices on shoes, although delivery and exchange is expensivePlenty of sales events to save you moneyShoe Carnival is – as the name suggests – a good place to pick up both unusual and costume footwear. While it has all the usual categories that normal online shoe stores have, Shoe Carnival has a bunch of other categories to help you complete fancy-dress and Halloween costume outfits. You’ll see sections like ‘Cowboy’ and ‘Character’ on there, which demonstrates a breadth of shoes that many other retailers can’t quite site is great for kids shoes too, and there are loads of categories that children will actually want to shop from (as well as the more practical ones they need too). Everything is sensibly laid-out when you get to a product page, with multiple photos of the shoes clearly displayed. You can select size and colors from a drop-down menu, and there are user reviews on page… even if Shoe Carnival doesn’t get the same volume of reviews as many other sites. We don’t really like how much the site tries to ‘sell’ extras to you, as it makes the experience feel a bit ipping starts at $6. 95, although it’s free if you spend in excess of $75. Annoyingly, there’s a $10 surcharge if you live in Alaska or Hawaii, which other shoe stores don’t impose. You’ve got 60-days to return items, which is pretty generous, but you will be charged a $6 fee. Exchanges are essentially treated like returns, so if you do get the wrong size, you’ll need to pay that fee when you send the original pair of shoes back, and then you’ll pay again for delivery. Of all the shoe stores we reviewed, Shoe Carnival has the worst exchange Carnival User Reviews and RatingsHas an A+ rating via the Better Business BureauScores 2 out of 5 via YelpWe looked at around 45 user reviews of Shoe Carnival, as there were fewer related to the online version of the store than the brick and mortar retailer. What we found were a lot of critical reviews that took issue with the delivery and returns process of the site. Some users had really struggled to return items, and in some cases the issue had been ongoing for several months. While users had fewer issues with the stores, they also suggested that customer service was average at best. Another more troubling review suggested that they were unable to get a refund for a defective item and, while there are often reasons why stores won’t accept refunds on worn shoes, this wasn’t an isolated case. We also noted that several users didn’t like the more aggressive sales tone that both the regular stores and the website take with customers, with one noting “Just let the shoes be the shoes”! We couldn’t agree more. (Image credit: ASOS)ASOS: Best for shoe inspirationA great range of brands, some of which are lesser knownGood prices, and lots of discounts availableGreat returns method and policyASOS is a UK brand that is rapidly growing in the US. And with good reason – the site has a large range of shoes, and other clothing, and it’s incredibly easy to buy from. While the selection isn’t as wide as the likes of Zappos, you’ll find a number of brands here that aren’t as common across the rest of the shoe stores we’ve listed here, so if you’re looking for something a little different you’ll likely find it here. It’s great to just poke around on the site looking for new shoes and clothes, so we’ve listed it as our top pick for oduct pages are laid out a little differently to many other shoe retailers, but you’ll recognize all the elements, including a gallery of pictures of the shoe itself, and an option to change the size and style too. There are no user reviews on site, but there are help guides to assist you with finding the right size and it comes to delivery and returns, ASOS is very good. While the returns policy is only 28-days for a full refund, you can also get store credit for up to 45-days. You can return items via any USPS office, and you can often use the same packaging your shoes arrived in for the return, which does save you money. There are no paper slips to fill out in ASOS orders, so all the returns process is done online, which is better for the environment. Overall, we like what the company is trying to do User Reviews and RatingsHas an F rating via the Better Business BureauScores 4 out of 5 via TrustpilotWe looked at over 200 reviews of ASOS, and found some very inconsistent things. While it has a terrible F rating at the BBB, many consumer review sites – like Trustpilot – have very favorable overall scores for the site. A rating of 4 stars on Trustpilot, for example, is higher than most other retailers on this list. Positive comments focus on the customer service that people have received, and the speed of resolution that occurred. The company is quite prompt at responding to complaints on the BBB too, so we don’t see why the rating is so most common issues that people face with ASOS are around the time it takes to process some returns, and to refund the customer. While it’s fairly standard, we note that the company promises a refund within 14 days, which is unacceptable given how quickly they’re able to accept payments. A few people have bemoaned the lack of a complaints department, and seem to have vented frustrations elsewhere, but overall the customer experience seems very good with we choose the best online shoe storesAbout our online shoe store guideWe have considered all the big names in online shoe and clothing retail to create our guide to the best online shoe stores. We arrived at the final ten options by browsing and using each site in a variety of ways to determine the customer journey and the overall quality of service you will experience. Because we know this can vary across states and customer orders, we looked at over 1000 user reviews to give as accurate an impression as possible of the experience you’re likely to get at each online shoe store. Our Promise to You1. Range and pricesAn online shoe store lives and dies by the value it offers, and the range of shoes you can get. The magic combination is good quality, cheap shoes, in a large range of popular styles. We often see online shoe sites offering discounts on end-of-line shoes, which is often the best time to buy, but many will have the latest styles in-stock at prices lower than what you find in your local shoe retailer. 2. Website experienceOur whole team are experts on website experience and user journeys. Because everything is done online when it comes to buying shoes from web retailers, we look at the whole process – from first arrival on the website, through to receiving and keeping the product you get. We know that the user journey doesn’t end when you checkout, or when the package is delivered, and we take that into account with each store we assess. 3. Shipping and returnsThe shipping and returns policy of an online shoe store is vital. One of the drawbacks of buying shoes online is that you can’t try before you buy, so you need to be able to return shoes that don’t fit with the absolute minimum of fuss. So, we consider things like: do stores provide packaging for return? Do they allow free returns? Do they allow you to easily return items via couriers or drop-off points? 4. Customer service and knowledgeOne of the reasons to buy shoes in physical stores is that you get to chat to knowledgable assistants who can advise you on fit, how to protect shoes from damage, and advise you on other shoes they have in stock. These are things online shoe stores have to replicate virtually, so we consider the methods they use to provide these aspects of the service – from information on how to measure your own feet, through to customer aftercare and similar product recommendations. 5. Discounts and salesFinally, we look at the frequency with which retailers offer sales and discounts on their stock. Not only are these excellent opportunities to save money for you, but they’re also good for clearing out old stock to make room for new shoes, so a retailer with more sales tends to refresh their range a little more Shoe Store FAQsWhile we’re sure most of you know how to shop via the best online shoe stores, we have collected some useful advice for the overall process of buying shoes online. Most of this centers on refunds, exchanges, and your rights as a consumer, so it’s worth a quick are your consumer rights for refunds? While most of the best online shoe stores offer at least a 28-day refund policy on all items, we find that the terms of these policies vary wildly. You may be wondering what your rights are, as a consumer, and the answer is that it varies per state. This guide from the excellent FindLaw website breaks down your federal and state rights in relation to online shopping, so if you’re in any doubt, head over there and look up your particular state. California, for example, mandates that a full refund must be offered within 30-days but ONLY if the retailer fails to clearly state their refund policy at the point of sale. Most other states do not offer these protections.
The basic summary is that, while it’s seen as best-practice for retailers to do so, stores are not legally required to accept returns on goods whatsoever. So, while it’s unlikely you’ll find any online shoe stores failing to have a refund policy, you are not legally protected if you buy from somewhere that doesn’t have a full returns policy. Ouch.
When it comes to specific online protection, we note that federal law states that the site’s refund policy must be clearly displayed on a website in order for online purchases to be valid. So, if this isn’t the case, the site has no right to charge you for an item, and therefore you could very reasonably ask for the full amount of money to be returned on the ground that the sale wasn’t valid in the first place. A little confusing, but it does
Frequently Asked Questions about ordering shoes online tips
Is it a good idea to order shoes online?
It’s risky to buy shoes online, especially if there is a no return policy. … Simply put, if you are going to purchase shoes online, stick to comfort shoes such as sneakers and avoid fashion shoes such as heels that may vary not only in size from shoe to shoe of the same brand but also from brand to brand.
What’s the best way to order shoes online?
Zappos.com: Best online shoe store overall.DSW: Best dedicated online shoe store.6pm: Best discount shoe store.Overstock.com: Best shoe store for discounts.Shoes.com: Best store for specialty shoes.Amazon: Best for ‘try before you buy’ shoes.Foot Locker: Best for sports shoes.Famous Footwear: Best for shoe sale events.More items…•Jun 7, 2021
When buying shoes online should you buy a size bigger?
Go with the larger size if your feet are 2 different sizes. If your feet are uneven, use the measurement of your longer foot when investing in a new set of shoes online. For example, if your left foot is a size 8.5 and your right foot is a size 9, purchase shoes that are a size 9.