Zappos

One thing I love about the 'net is the ability to find things quickly.

Contrast that to shoe shopping. Usually, I have to go to several stores to find what I was looking for, and then I might get lucky and actually find the size AND width that I wanted. Mabye. Never mind the spotty service.

Ah, then I found Zappos. I was looking for a pair of slippers. I knew what I wanted, and went to, seriously, a dozen stores looking for them - both shoe stores and department stores. Nothing. So, I went online, and found Zappos.

Now, I know what you're thinking; I can't buy shoes online - I don't know if they'll fit, and if they'll look good on me, and so on. I hear that; that was my concern too. To be able to stay in business, Zappos would have to be able to work with those concerns, and they do - wonderfully.

So I found the pair of slippers I wanted. They were around $54. Maybe you think that's a bit pricey, but these are a name brand, high quality slipper, not some stuffed foam chinese junk in Wal-mart for $7.77. I was willing to pay more to get more. So I look over the slipper - they have it photographed from every angle - and it looked great. Still, I wasn't sure - what if it didn't feel plush enough, or fell off when I walked?

So i checked out the shipping and return policy. I almost dropped my mouse. Shipping was free! Gotta love that - and the return policy was almost making myself ask how they can stay in business; you can return your purchase up to a year later, used or not! How can they do that? Can you imagine walking around in a pair of sneakers for even two days, and trying to take them back to the shoe store? I can tell you what happens - they won't take them back - been there, done that. Oh, and if you do have to ship the shoes back? They pay that shipping too. How can you lose?

So I placed an order for them over the web. Got the confirmation of the sale. Then I got a call a couple of hours later from Zappos. "Sorry sir, that size is not in stock" Sigh! "We'd like to send them to you free, when they come in." HUH? "Yes, we'd like to send them to you, free of charge when we get them in. Should be in about 3 days." Wow, ok. And sure enough, about 5 days later, they came. I loved them. I still can't belive they just gave them to me. Now THAT is service!

So, my dumb dog tears apart one of them a few months later. I went back to Zappos and ordered again, and again, I was very satisfied (it was in stock this time).

Try Zappos next time you're in the market for shoes - you'll love the service and the product!