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> 1) Are you incapable of finding the right size shoes yourself? The boxes are usually laid out fairly logically and it's pretty rare for there to actually be a

> 1) Are you incapable of finding the right size shoes yourself? The boxes are usually laid out fairly logically and it's pretty rare for there to actually be anything of use "in the back". Having large feet, its pretty common for shoes not to have something in my size in the front, but maybe 50% of the time there are shoes in my size in the back.

enobrev 8y ago
It's very rare that I shop for shoes in person any more, but the few times I've found myself in a shoe store in the past few years, I'll generally just ask a rep to bring me or point out everything they have in a size 14, which usually ends up being 2-3 pairs. The best places will understand immediately - some will even know off-hand which ones they have in larger sizes. Most of the time, the rep will respond with an awkward laugh and ask if there's a particular shoe I'm interested in. At that point, I'll pick literally any random men's shoe and ask them to bring it to me in a size 14. When they return, either they'll come back with a couple pairs of shoes in my size (not the one I asked for), which is great, or they'll come empty handed and I'll ask again, if they can bring me (or point out) everything they have in a size 14, which will generally end up being 2-3 pairs.
- rtkwe 8y ago
  Wonder if their initial reticence might come partially from shitty software making it hard to find all available shoes of a given size across all styles?
  - enobrev 8y ago
    I used to assume it was just due to a poorly organized back room, or possibly laziness. But it's seemed more that they're not understanding the question as asked. How often does someone walk into their store and ask them to bring all of a single size to the front? Once they go to the back room to try to find boxes with the number 14 on them, they generally realize the issue. I've tried going with the longer explanation, but the dance goes on regardless, and my version is the most abridged, thus far. Instead I'll generally order a few pairs online and then send most back. It's inefficient and wasteful, but Zappos offers next day shipping free for members and an excellent return policy, which is hard to pass up.
    - rtkwe 8y ago
      Yeah I'd bet they also think "You know how many styles of shoes we have?!" when you first ask then realize how limited the options are once they actually go back.

enobrev 8y ago

It's very rare that I shop for shoes in person any more, but the few times I've found myself in a shoe store in the past few years, I'll generally just ask a rep to bring me or point out everything they have in a size 14, which usually ends up being 2-3 pairs. The best places will understand immediately - some will even know off-hand which ones they have in larger sizes. Most of the time, the rep will respond with an awkward laugh and ask if there's a particular shoe I'm interested in. At that point, I'll pick literally any random men's shoe and ask them to bring it to me in a size 14. When they return, either they'll come back with a couple pairs of shoes in my size (not the one I asked for), which is great, or they'll come empty handed and I'll ask again, if they can bring me (or point out) everything they have in a size 14, which will generally end up being 2-3 pairs.

rtkwe 8y ago
Wonder if their initial reticence might come partially from shitty software making it hard to find all available shoes of a given size across all styles?
- enobrev 8y ago
  I used to assume it was just due to a poorly organized back room, or possibly laziness. But it's seemed more that they're not understanding the question as asked. How often does someone walk into their store and ask them to bring all of a single size to the front? Once they go to the back room to try to find boxes with the number 14 on them, they generally realize the issue. I've tried going with the longer explanation, but the dance goes on regardless, and my version is the most abridged, thus far. Instead I'll generally order a few pairs online and then send most back. It's inefficient and wasteful, but Zappos offers next day shipping free for members and an excellent return policy, which is hard to pass up.
  - rtkwe 8y ago
    Yeah I'd bet they also think "You know how many styles of shoes we have?!" when you first ask then realize how limited the options are once they actually go back.