Source: ezinearticles.com
Shoes are sold in so many places; it's difficult for most of us to pick out the ideal places to shop. While some people have their favorite shops, most of the time people gravitate towards sales which are advertised locally in the paper. However, recently newspapers have gone out of business, or are only available online, which brings in another area of shopping. So how to find the best place to shop for shoes, either online or locally is a task that is best left up to shoe shopping experts, like me.
How to find a good deal locally:
1) Check out the newspaper for advertised sales. Almost every store has a sale going on at some point; the trick is finding when certain shoes are available. Perhaps that Prada wedge sandal you saw in the window a few weeks back is offered at 30% off this week. Online newspapers usually have local store ads; however, some have web store ads.
2) Flea markets often have brand new styles of shoes. While one should be wary of counterfeit products, many look-a-like shoes can be purchased at low cost. Many flea markets have stalls that even carry brand names such as Steve Madden and Crocs. Some are left over or discontinued styles, but be careful as some are stolen merchandise. If a product is sold for an extremely low price, such as $5, it's most likely stolen or a knock off.
3) Craig's list offers local searches for used and new shoes. The only downfalls are that the selection of styles is limited, and the shoe is probably worn.
Shopping online offers many opportunities for a great deal:
1) Amazon.com is one of the best places to find discontinued merchandise from brand name designers and merchants. Typically you can find Prada, Ferragamo and other designers being sold by places like Macy's and Target. Amazon is my number one choice because it often has free shipping with purchase. Check the disclaimer when you're shopping as each product or merchant may have different rules.
2) eBay is another fantastic shop for finding shoes both used and new. Like a flea market that reaches around the world, merchandise is usually bought in bulk by individual merchants and sold at low cost through eBay. Typically, one will find the most trustworthy merchants with high positive feedback.
3) Individual department stores all have shops online. Most of the time they do not carry their full line at their web store. However, you can sometimes order your style directly to your local store. Check with the department web stores for more information.
Both local and online shops have a variety of advantages and disadvantages. It's important to remember that shoes can sometimes weigh quite a bit and up the cost of shipping. They also have a unique size and cannot be folded differently, unlike clothing. This can also affect the shipping price. However, local department stores and boutiques have overhead costs of personnel and rent, which drives up the price.
Having all the information can help you make the best choice. Spend a little time researching the different shops or styles you want to buy in order to save the most money.
As a fanatical shoe shopper, I find that wedge shoes end up in my closet more than most other styles. I have around 20 pair and each is unique in its own way. For more about womens wedge shoes and wedge shoes, please visit me at my website where there are a wide range of topics now, and to come, on wedges.