Online shopping

[redbird]

I just got my package from "Chickiepye's exotic toys." I didn't recognize the name offhand--because what I'd ordered wasn't a toy by any definition, it was a belt pouch for my PalmPilot. Specifically, a replacement of the pouch that I've worn out in the six years since I got my first Palm; they don't make them anymore. This should mean my Palm stops falling on the floor (since the new one has a solid velcro closure, unlike the one I've worn out).

I also have warm enough pants, with actual pockets--the nice people at LL Bean were able to tell me how deep the pockets are on their pants, so I was able to order with some confidence. Granted, these corduroys are closer to burgundy than purple, but it's a good color. Also, not having worn cords in years, I'd forgotten the noise they make (at least, when worn by someone heavy enough that her legs touch when she walks). But they're warm, and they fit, and they have pockets. And there are several more pairs of pants in the package.

FreshDirect, on the other hand, loses more points: I took down an unopened jar of jam from the last order, yesterday morning, and saw that some of it had oozed down the edge. At best, that means the seal was broken (and it's labeled "refrigerate after opening"). Since the seal appeared still intact, cattitude pointed out that they may have damaged the jar itself, which would mean bits of glass in the jam. I threw it away, unopened, and used a different flavor of jam in my yogurt. I am glad to have gotten a refund, rather than a credit toward my next order, for the yogurt that they also ruined, because I don't think I'll be ordering again. Spilled yogurt is annoying. Broken glass in jam is dangerous.

Despite having looked at a variety of shoe-store websites, I won't be ordering boots online: too little of what I try on fits. If I'm feeling brave, I have a mental list of shoe stores to visit tomorrow, because I rediscovered yesterday that my winter boots, while warm enough, don't actually fit as well as I'd like, especially for walking any significant distance. (The list, at the moment, is the New Balance Store [because I could also use another pair of sneakers], Harry's Shoes on Broadway around 82nd, and a store whose name I don't remember, on W. 181st Street between the A train and Broadway, where I got the current boots--yes, that may be a bug rather than a feature--which is conveniently on the way home and near Gruenbaum's bakery, so I'd at least get a loaf of rye bread out of it.

Comments

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

Zappos.com is really, realy good about returns.

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

It doesn't matter how good the company is about returns when the company hassling you about returns is such a small fraction of the overall hassle. Getting packages delivered to the apartment building, when everyone who lives in the apartment works full-time, is a big hassle. Shipping an unwanted package back to the supplier is another big hassle, mostly having to do with carrying the package to a place that will ship it, when they're open. Sure, it makes it worse if a company makes you pay shipping charges to return something, or if they have a short time limit...but even without that kind of problem, it can be extremely difficult.

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I know about the hassles of shipping packages to and fro when you work fulltime. Getting a box of review porn (which I would really not like shipped to work, thank you) every month might have something to do with that. For a while I was also packing and shipping books for Black Books. And then there are the review CDs and books that don't fit in my mail slot and so on. Everybody at UPS and the post office seems to know me by name.

[redbird]

The thing I may not have made clear is that, if I'm very lucky, if I try on a dozen pairs of shoes in what is nominally my size, one will fit. That's an awful lot of returns.

[dhole.livejournal.com]

I believe that the store is called "Frank's", but I'm not entirely certain about that -- I got my shoes there until I was about five or six, and then my mother started taking me over to New Jersey for that sort of thing.

I'm actually finding it rather sad that I can't remember the name of the shoe store.

[callunav.livejournal.com]

When you're next up Boston way, there's a Rockport outlet west of town on Route 20, according to Julian. We stopped there once on a random outing. I'm a big Rockport fan, and outlet prices made them actually affordable.

Just a thought.

Do you have funny-shaped feet, or are you just fussy about appearances? Just curious. (I'm mostly just fussy, myself, because I put expensive athletic/orthopedic insoles into all my shoes, so it doesn't matter if they don't /come/ with really good arch support and cushioning, I'll MAKE them have really good arch support and cushioning. But that's, you know, me.)

[redbird]

Unusually wide; I'm not sure if that counts as funny-shaped. It's not even an issue of putting really good arch support or cushioning in--all too often, even with shoes labeled as "wide," I can't get the front of my feet into them.

I might try the Rockport outlet, if adrian_turtle is up for the trip.

[janetmk.livejournal.com]

I also have a wide foot and suffer the same hassles finding shoes that fit. I'm willing to pay a premium if I find ones that are comfortable. It's worth it to me--I do a lot of walking and I'll wear the shoes until they are totally disreputable.

I've had some luck with Eccos though they discontinued the model that fit me the best. Last year I bought a pair of biege shoes of the British brand Hotters--they are just right. I recently returned to the shoestore where I got them hoping to buy the same shoe in black or brown. They no longer carry that brand. Bummer.

I did find a waterproof, very comfortable low boot there--ToeWarmers, from Canada. I've worn them a couple of times now--they stood up to the slush test. And even though they aren't leather I've worn them all day (at work) without getting overheated feet.

Good luck in your quest.