We have been reviewing online shoe stores since 2016. We did in-depth searches on each website looking at shoes for women, men and children, finding what kind of deals were available and contacting customer support with questions. The best online shoe store we found is Zappos.com. Major benefits include a year-long return policy, 24/7 customer service and a vast inventory of shoes for men, women and children.
Zappos.com
Shoes.com
Foot Locker
Zappos.com
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There is free shipping on all inventory and VIP members can qualify for free expedited shipping.
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You can return items up to a year after purchase.
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It has a wide selection of categories and hard-to-find sizes.
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You’ll want to pay attention to pricing because pricing for different colors of the same style shoe can vary greatly.
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Regular customers will have to pay for expedited shipping.
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The store does not offer a shopping rewards program.
Shoes.com
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Its wide selection of specialty shoes include vegan, insulated, orthotic- and diabetic-friendly options.
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You can return most shoes within 60 days and the company pays for shipping.
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This company has free shipping options.
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There is a minimum purchase requirement to qualify for free shipping.
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Final sales items don’t qualify for refunds.
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There is no live chat option.
Foot Locker
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You can look for specific features in athletic shoes like lightweight and motion control.
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You can return shoes through the mail or to a store in your area.
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You can get reimbursed on expedited shipping if it doesn’t arrive on the promised date.
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This store is limited to athletic footwear, so you’ll have to look elsewhere for other types.
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Free shipping options are more limited compared to other stores we looked at.
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If you return shoes through the mail, you pay for shipping.
Why Trust Us
Since we started reviewing online shoe stores in 2016 we have spent over 30 hours exploring their features, their inventory, service policies and online support. We feel confident about our recommendations as a result. At some point, we contacted each of the stores in our lineup with various questions related to our findings and to clarify things we had a limited understanding of. The stores had no input or influence over our testing methodology, nor was the methodology provided to any of them in more detail than is available by reading our reviews online. Results of our evaluations were not provided to the companies in advance of publication.
How We Researched
We evaluated shoe stores by simulating the experience of a customer buying shoes online. We did searches for specific types of shoes and priced them across different sites to find good deals. We consulted with people who regularly use online shoe stores and got valuable feedback about who provides the best service and which stores have the best selection for specific types of shoes. We explored the advantages of online buying over buying shoes in a store. We did extensive research online to the best online shoe stores.
What to Look For in Online Shoe Stores
Deals & Discounts
One of the advantages to shopping for shoes online is the numerous sales and discounts you can find. Many companies provide daily deals where a handful of shoes are on sale for that day only. You can also search through clearance sections to find shoes at steep discounts. Holidays, end-of-season and other sale events can also spur discounts.
Look for online shoe retailers that provide an email newsletter and subscribe to it. Often, these emails contain promotional codes and coupons you can use to get further discounts that aren't available to the general public.
Shipping
One disadvantage to shopping online instead of in a brick-and-mortar store is shipping costs, which add up quickly, especially if you are shipping several pairs of shoes. Look for online shoe stores that provide free shipping.
Other stores may give you free shipping once you've hit a minimum purchase requirement. And some stores may charge a flat shipping fee. Before you spend too much time browsing a store's inventory, read its shipping policy to avoid paying costly fees.
Standard shipping is usually 10 days, but it’s nice to have the option for faster delivery times when you need it. Most online shoe stores offer expedited shipping for an additional cost. Most retailers offer order tracking so you can check on the status of your shipment.
Returns
When it comes to return policies, longer is better. Look for shoe stores that offer 60-day or longer return times; this gives you more time to make it to the post office to return merchandise.
Easy Search Options
Some of the best online stores provide a toolbar where you can search by keyword. Many companies let you filter results by style, brand, size, width, color, heel height, price range, etc. These search filters allow you to bypass dozens of shoes to zero in on what you want.
Online shoe stores provide convenience and a larger selection of shoes than you'll find in a brick-and-mortar store, saving you time and money. And, best of all, no more long days spent driving all over town to different shopping centers in search of that perfect pair of shoes.
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