Issue Date: October 13, 2002
Shoe shopping even a guy could love
I've never known a woman who didn't love shopping for shoes. Women do it solo, in groups and as a girl-bonding exercise. But it's not something we do with our men. My husband considers shopping for shoes as appealing as cleaning the toilet -- and he does it as often. When he absolutely can't wear his shoes anymore, he buys exactly the same pair again. So he was thrilled to learn he could shop from his desk. He doesn't like it, but at least it's over faster.
At Zappos.com, he can home in on that same pair of shoes in seconds by clicking on his brand on the main page. Or, if the day ever comes when he wants to try something new, he can easily search by style (casual, boot, etc.) by choosing "Search by Size" on the main page and inputting size, style, price range and color. Zappos .com carries dozens of brands and lots of models within brands. Shipping is free for many shoes. And you can return unworn shoes within 60 days (Zappos even pays return shipping). I'm having a little trouble resisting the sale section myself.
At shoesontheweb.com, sales are the order of the day. The selection isn't as astounding as at Zappos.com, and Shoes on the Web tends more toward athletic shoes, but the prices are a definite lure. Shipping is free, and guys will like being able to buy a pair of shoes with only three clicks. You can't clean the toilet that quickly.
For a guy who's determined to buy exactly the same brand again, the company's site often has the best selection. Nike (niketown.com), Bass (ghbass.com), Adidas (thestore.adidas.com), Birkenstock (birkenstock.com), Teva (teva.com), Hush Puppies (hushpuppies.com) and Kenneth Cole (kennethcole.com) all have lots of choices and are easy to shop.
By Christina Wood
|
