It may come as a big surprise that e-commerce has become “Big Business” in the eyes of both shoppers and shopkeepers alike. As with anything new, there are those who jumped anxiously onto the bandwagon immediately, those who stay as far away as possible, and those who’ve managed to stay neutral in the middle of it all. Maybe they have security concerns, or don’t like to buy items that they can’t physically touch or try on, including shoes, or maybe they just don’t know how to do it. No matter what your personal opinion on shopping over the Internet is, we’ve compiled the best list available, “The Top 7 Tips for Buying Shoes Online,” to ease any worries you might have:
1. Look for a Verisign seal or another security logo. For those with concerns of identity theft, you should know that shopping online with your credit card is no more of a security risk than swiping your plastic at your favorite brick and mortar shop. For added assurance, look for a security logo on the front page to be sure that any personal financial information that you enter has been “blocked” from anyone else.
2. Be sure your shop of choice has an above average return policy. Even though a basic return policy would do the trick, it’s never a bad thing to do business with a company that “goes above and beyond” in their customer service. A “no questions asked” type of return without a specific timeframe will help with buying gifts, a “worn with no worries” type will ease your mind when purchasing a pricey brand that you’re unfamiliar with.
3. Free Shipping Free Shipping Free Shipping! Not for buying only shoelaces, but with a minimum purchase, you shouldn’t have to pay for delivery.
4. Find an online retailer with a wide selection of styles and brands. Even though your shoe-shopping mission for today is one particular item, next time you might be in the market for something else. Besides, variety is the spice of life- the more you have to choose from, the more your needs will be met.
5. Wide selection of sizes. There’s nothing worse than finally narrowing down your choice to a single shoe, only to find they’re fresh out of your size. A good store will have deep inventory across all size ranges.
6. Purchase from an e-commerce site that also has a physical location. Not only will this give your mind a rest from thinking that you’ve been ripped off by a fly-by-night online scammer (for a real shop exists with real employees and real merchandise), you can always return your purchase there instead of popping it into the post. The staff will be knowledgeable about the merchandise they sell and able to give you suggestions as to trends or a different shoe to better suit your needs.
7. If at all possible, find a similar shoe at a nearby store and try it on. If you know exactly what you’re looking for, by all means, alleviate the possible need for a return by trying one on nearby and then finding the best deal on the World Wide Web.