Shoes glorious shoes! Buying shoes for children can be compared to putting a kid in a candy store. There are so many adorable pairs, how can a person decide?
Shopping for shoes online is even more fun because you don't have to haul an armload of boxes to the car. However, shopping for shoes online also poses some uncertainty. Will the shoes fit? Will they hold up?
Here are a few online shoe buying tips to make sure your online shoe shopping experience is everything it should be - pleasant, practical, and safe.
Listen to The Better Business Bureau
The BBB recommends only shopping at secure sites with the prefix HTTPS in their URL. The S means it's secure.
Keep all registration passwords secure to protect yourself from phishing and identity theft.
What is the store's privacy policy? It should be listed somewhere on their site. Make sure they're not profiting by selling or renting your personal information.
Make sure the shipping and return policies are straightforward, fair, and acceptable to you. It's not too much fun to click "buy" and then find out your not going to see those cute little shoes for weeks.
Always keep your receipts. Often times a store will say they'll email you a receipt. Don't count on that. Receipts can get lost in your email junk folder and lost forever. Print a copy of your receipt and keep it safe - just in case.
Research the Retailer
Look for online reviews about the store. There are many review sites online which make it easy to find information. The Better Business Bureau is also a great place to find feedback.
Become aware of the brands the store carries. Are they good brands or designers with a good reputation? Does it hold true to sizing charts or do items tend to run large or small?
How Well Are the Shoes Described?
The best online retailers provide very detailed descriptions about their products. They'll provide information about the materials as well as information about the size.
Presumably you wouldn't buy a pair of shoes without a picture - after all that's half the fun of buying shoes. Make sure there is at least one accurate picture of the item you're comparing and considering. A retailer that allows you to zoom in on a particular shoe image is even better! .
Know Your Child's Shoe Size
The good news is that children's shoes tend to run fairly consistent when it comes to sizing. So once you know your child's shoe size you can be fairly certain they will translate to most brands.
Shoes can be measured in inches, millimeters and centimeters and it's important to know what your child's measurements are and how that data converts. Why? Because different countries size their shoes differently. This includes U.S., U.K., European, Mexico, Japan and even U.K. Australia shoe sizes. However if you know their measurements you can be certain to get the right size in any brand.
If you know your child's shoe size in U.S. sizes, but the shoes you're looking at online are listed in European sizes you can often find conversion charts online.
If you're uncertain about how your child's shoe size translates to the brand and make of the shoes you're looking at, order a half to a whole size larger. That way they at least have room to grow.
Online shoe shopping can be a tremendous time saver and a whole lot of fun, provided you take a few minutes to protect yourself. Make sure you know your child's shoe sizes, and how they convert, and make sure you're shopping with a responsible retailer. - 17943
Shopping for shoes online is even more fun because you don't have to haul an armload of boxes to the car. However, shopping for shoes online also poses some uncertainty. Will the shoes fit? Will they hold up?
Here are a few online shoe buying tips to make sure your online shoe shopping experience is everything it should be - pleasant, practical, and safe.
Listen to The Better Business Bureau
The BBB recommends only shopping at secure sites with the prefix HTTPS in their URL. The S means it's secure.
Keep all registration passwords secure to protect yourself from phishing and identity theft.
What is the store's privacy policy? It should be listed somewhere on their site. Make sure they're not profiting by selling or renting your personal information.
Make sure the shipping and return policies are straightforward, fair, and acceptable to you. It's not too much fun to click "buy" and then find out your not going to see those cute little shoes for weeks.
Always keep your receipts. Often times a store will say they'll email you a receipt. Don't count on that. Receipts can get lost in your email junk folder and lost forever. Print a copy of your receipt and keep it safe - just in case.
Research the Retailer
Look for online reviews about the store. There are many review sites online which make it easy to find information. The Better Business Bureau is also a great place to find feedback.
Become aware of the brands the store carries. Are they good brands or designers with a good reputation? Does it hold true to sizing charts or do items tend to run large or small?
How Well Are the Shoes Described?
The best online retailers provide very detailed descriptions about their products. They'll provide information about the materials as well as information about the size.
Presumably you wouldn't buy a pair of shoes without a picture - after all that's half the fun of buying shoes. Make sure there is at least one accurate picture of the item you're comparing and considering. A retailer that allows you to zoom in on a particular shoe image is even better! .
Know Your Child's Shoe Size
The good news is that children's shoes tend to run fairly consistent when it comes to sizing. So once you know your child's shoe size you can be fairly certain they will translate to most brands.
Shoes can be measured in inches, millimeters and centimeters and it's important to know what your child's measurements are and how that data converts. Why? Because different countries size their shoes differently. This includes U.S., U.K., European, Mexico, Japan and even U.K. Australia shoe sizes. However if you know their measurements you can be certain to get the right size in any brand.
If you know your child's shoe size in U.S. sizes, but the shoes you're looking at online are listed in European sizes you can often find conversion charts online.
If you're uncertain about how your child's shoe size translates to the brand and make of the shoes you're looking at, order a half to a whole size larger. That way they at least have room to grow.
Online shoe shopping can be a tremendous time saver and a whole lot of fun, provided you take a few minutes to protect yourself. Make sure you know your child's shoe sizes, and how they convert, and make sure you're shopping with a responsible retailer. - 17943
About the Author:
Looking for unique shoes created by some of today's most creative designers? Kate Marie Wilber is the owner of Barefoot Bella Children's Boutique, your premium source for children's boutique shoes from infant to size 13. Visit www.BarefootBella.net for the perfect items for the precious boy or girl in your life.
