How to order shoes online to avoid disappointment?
Online shopping is a real godsend for people who lack time, don't like going to stores or simply want to have more choice. While there's usually nothing particularly difficult about it, buying shoes online can cause a few problems. We tell you what to pay attention to and what mistakes to avoid when buying shoes online.
The devil is not that scary...
Shoes are one of the products where online shopping tends to be a bit complicated. Many people appreciate the opportunity to try on shoes in person and make sure they are comfortable.
However, online shopping is a real saving of time for busy people and nerves for those who cannot stand long queues and rude salespeople. Moreover, you can also save money this way. If a pair of shoes stole your heart in a stationary store, but its price discourages you from buying it, be sure to write down the name of the model and look for it online. You can probably find the same shoes at a lower price with a little effort.
Fortunately, shopping for shoes online is not as complicated as it may seem. All you need to do is stick to a few rules and follow our tips and you will certainly avoid disappointment.
Measure your foot carefully
Do you think you know your shoe size perfectly? Nothing could be further from the truth! Sizes may vary depending on the manufacturer, and even if you always buy from the same one, your foot dimensions may change, e.g. due to pregnancy or weight loss.
If you want to minimize the risk of buying shoes in the wrong size, be sure to measure your feet. This is the most important aspect and will probably help you avoid having to return the goods.
How to easily and precisely check your shoe size without trying them on?
When measuring your feet, pay special attention to their length. For measurements, you will need a piece of paper, a ruler and something to write on.
Place the sheet of paper on the floor and carefully outline the shape of the foot. Use a ruler to mark parallel lines along the toe and heel. Starting from the line at the tip of the longest toe and ending with the line at the tip of the heel, measure the length of your foot and then add half a cm to maintain the necessary margin and ensure comfort while walking.
Don't forget to repeat these steps for the other foot. If the dimensions differ, choose the size based on the larger one.
Then make sure that the insole length you measure corresponds to the given size. In many stores, you will find this information in a separate size chart or directly next to the shoe size.
Familiarize yourself with the specifics of a given model
If you already know which size to choose, make sure that the specificity of the pair of shoes meets your needs. Take into account aspects such as:
- sole material
- insert material
- outer material
- heel or platform height
- clasp
Look for opinions from other customers and compare prices on various websites
If you want your online shopping to be satisfactory, read the opinions of other customers. Thanks to this, you will learn about their experiences with a given seller, as well as what quality a particular pair of shoes actually is.
Remember that one pair of shoes may be sold at different prices in several stores. If you want to be sure that you buy it at the lowest possible price, spend some time looking for the same product on different websites. You will surely be shocked by how much prices vary between stores.
However, if the price seems suspiciously low to you, be careful. Check whether the seller is reliable based on the opinions of other people. Remember that there is no shortage of scammers - especially on the Internet.
Read the returns and complaints policy
Despite carefully measuring your foot and selecting the appropriate size, there is always a possibility that you will want to return the ordered shoes. For this reason, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the returns policy of a given store before finalizing the purchase. Check who covers the costs of returning the parcel and how your money will be refunded. Also check the procedure for shoe complaints.
Remember to check whether the shoes are comfortable and meet all your requirements after receiving your new purchase. Without removing the tags, try them on at home and make sure everything suits you. If you find that your shoes are rubbing, you can wear them around the house for a few days to stretch them out a bit. If this process fails, you can easily return the shoes within the time specified by the seller. However, make sure that there are no visible signs of wear on the shoes. In this case, the return may be rejected.
Enjoy your new, fitted shoes
After precisely measuring your foot and selecting the appropriate insole length, as well as making sure that the bottom pair of shoes meets your requirements and that the store is reliable, you can successfully complete the purchase.
This may seem like a bit of a time-consuming process when shopping for the first time, but it will get faster and faster each time. If you want to save yourself time, a great way is to buy shoes from the same brand that you have been using for years.