You can buy just about anything on the internet, including sneakers. But buying shoes online can be tricky, because it’s difficult to know if they’ll fit properly. Sneakers are especially challenging to buy online, because most shoe stores don’t have the same sizing for each brand.
There are ways to avoid getting a pair that doesn’t fit. Here are five secrets for buying sneakers online:
1. Know your size
This sounds obvious, but it’s important to remember that every brand has its own sizing. Your size 10 Nike Air Jordan sneakers may not fit like your size 10 Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars or Vans Authentic low-top sneakers. Make sure you look up the brand in question and see how its sizing compares with other brands. And of course, know your measurements so you can cross reference them with the product page size chart if available, see here for rare sneakers.
2. Look up reviews
A lot of people write reviews of the products they buy on Amazon, eBay and other large retail sites. The reviews will let you know if a particular pair of sneakers runs large or small and what issues previous buyers had with their orders. If something is amiss, you can read about it before you place your order and make an informed decision.
3. Look for detailed measurements
When shopping for clothing items, check out their sizing guide or look at the model’s measurements. If the store doesn’t have either of those available, check the item’s description for detailed measurements. Usually, stores like Style Shake will include a size chart so you can compare your own measurements to theirs.
4. Have Your Information Ready
It’s really important that you have your information ready before trying to buy a shoe online. The whole process should take less than 30 seconds, so you don’t have time to start fumbling around for this stuff during checkout. You should already have the billing and shipping information along with the credit card number already saved in the site’s system, so all you need to do is click “place order” once it’s time to check out.
5. Use Multiple Devices or Windows
There’s no rule against having multiple windows or devices open at once when trying to buy a shoe online, but be careful about what kind of computer or browser you’re using. With most sites, if two separate accounts try checking out from the same IP address simultaneously, the site will lock both accounts out as a security measure until an administrator can intervene and sort it all out (which usually takes longer than you’d like).
6. Check out multiple sellers
There are a few different options when it comes to buying sneakers online, but the two most common are buying directly from the manufacturer or buying through a third-party seller (usually on Amazon). Since third-party sellers are able to set their own prices and shipping policies, it’s important to check out multiple listings before buying. The same pair of shoes could be hundreds of dollars cheaper just a few listings down the page.
7. Make Sure They Fit
We can all agree that sneakers should be comfortable. You shouldn’t have to break them in just so they fit right. Go with a tried-and-true brand like Converse because they know what they’re doing when it comes to making shoes that last longer than one season and don’t hurt your feet after wearing them all day long!
8. Check the Brand’s Sizing Charts
The first step in buying shoes online is getting to know your size. Unfortunately, this isn’t always as easy as going by what you normally wear. That’s because different brands use different lasts — the mold used to create their shoes — and each last translates into a different fit. Some brands run large; others run small; still others are true to size. All of these factors can make it tricky to buy shoes online.
Thankfully, there are some tools that can help you out here: sizing charts. Many retailers will provide a chart comparing the brand’s sizes with your own foot dimensions in inches or centimeters (or another unit of measurement). These are usually found on product pages, but even if they aren’t, the retailer’s site should have them somewhere online (or at least be able to tell you about them over the phone).