Shoebuy vs Footsmart vs Payless: Shoe Stores Reviewed & Compared

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Shoebuy vs Footsmart vs Payless: Shoe Stores Reviewed & Compared

Sam Montana
Updated November 21, 2013
6 minute read
Table of contents
Shoebuy
Footsmart
Payless
Dive deeper into brands mentioned in this guide
FootSmart: FootSmart.com reviews, FootSmart discount codes

Shoebuy

Shoebuy started in 2000 and now claims to be the largest internet retailer of shoes and related apparel. Shoebuy has partnered with 1,250 manufacturers and carries more than 1 million products from name brands including:

Shoebuy has the following shoe and apparel categories:

  • Brands
  • Women
  • Men
  • Kids
  • Clothing that includes socks, gloves, ski apparel, running, outdoors and more.
  • Accessories
  • Bags and backpacks

Shoebuy Shoe Categories

Shoebuycarries all types of shoes for men, women and kids including:

  • Men: Business shoes, comfort shoes, cowboy boots, running shoes, loafers, sandals, sneakers, walking shoes, slippers.
  • Women's Shoes: Flats, clogs, pumps, athletic shoes, sandals, slippers, sneakers.
  • Kids: Infants/toddlers, adjustable strap, athletic, Mary Janes, sandals, sneakers and flats.

Shoebuy Free Shipping

Shoebuy is currently offering free UPS Standard Ground shipping anywhere in the United States. There is no minimum order amount required for this free shipping offer.

Shoebuy Return and Refund Policy

Shoebuy allows you to return any product to them within 60 days of purchase and the return shipping is free with their pre-printed return label.  All returns must be unworn and unused. You can return a product for a refund or an exchange.

Shoebuy Price Match Guarantee

Shoebuy has a price match guarantee that states if you find a lower price on another website, they will refund you 100% of the difference between the lower price and the price at Shoebuy.

Shoebuy Coupons

Shoebuy Customer Comments

Shoebuy has good customer ratings and reviews. A few comments from well known publications include:

  • "We ordered online and weren't the least bit disappointed with the site: It's a shoe-buyer's dream with plenty of sizing tips." – Wall Street Journal
  • "No wonder GH fashion-department staffers surf here." – Good Housekeeping

Bizrate.com has given Shoebuy the following customer ratings:

  • Overall satisfaction of 9.0 out of 10.
  • Would shop here again: 9.0/10.
  • Likelihood to recommend: 9.1/10.
  • Satisfaction with checkout: 9.1/10.
  • Price relative to other online retailers: 8.6/10.
  • Product selection: 8.9/10.
  • Shipping charges: 9.5/10.

Footsmart

Footsmart was founded in 1989 with their headquarters in Norcross, Georgia. Today they are a division of Benchmark Brands, Inc. Footsmart is more than a shoe store since they carry shoes and products designed to help those with feet pain and lower back pain. Shoes that are designed for people that have to be on their feet all day. Footsmart carries more than 3,000 comfort, health and pain-relieving products.

The Footsmart website has a great section titled Foot Health and another section titled Lower Body Health. These two sections show you the area of the body with and health problems and when you click on one, you will then be shown all of the products that can help you for that particular pain.

Footsmart Shoe Categories

Footsmart carries shoes and pain relieving products in the following categories:

  • Men and Women’s shoes include occupational shoes, boots, casual, therapeutic shoes, trail and hiking, running and more.
  • Slippers
  • Foot Health
  • Lower Body Health
  • Socks
  • Hosiery
  • Footsmart also sells products that will help you feet feel better like, footbaths, massagers and creams/lotions and gels.

Footsmart also has a section for hard to find widths:

  • Narrow
  • Medium
  • Wide
  • Wide Wide
  • Extra Extra Wide

Footsmart Foot type Chart

Footsmart also has a helpful guide that explains the type of foot and arch you have. This can be important when choosing the right type of shoe.

Footsmart Shoe Brands

Footsmart has a large selection of major brand shoes, therapeutic and occupational shoe brands including:

Footsmart Shipping

Footsmart does not offer free shipping, but they do have flat rate shipping of $4.99 no matter what the order amount is. This flat rate shipping cost is for the 48 continental United States. The flat rate shipping offer does require a code to be entered in at the checkout.

Footsmart Return and Refund Policy

Footsmart will accept returns on most products within 60 days from the date of receipt. Upon inspection of the returned item, they will refund the purchase price of the product minus any shipping or handling costs. All returns must be in unworn and resalable condition and in the original packaging.

Footsmart Coupon Codes

Footsmart Customer Comments

Footsmart is a Bizrate.com Customer Certified store. They have good customer ratings and comments. They have been rated the following by Bizrate.com:

  • Overall satisfaction of 8.5 out of 10.
  • Would shop here again: 8.7/10.
  • Likelihood to recommend: 8.8/10.
  • Satisfaction with checkout: 8.8/10.
  • Price relative to other online retailers: 7.9/10.
  • Product selection: 8.7/10.
  • Shipping charges: 7.9/10.

Payless

Payless was founded in 1956 in Topeka, Kansas and today they are the largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere. Payless is known for carrying good shoes at affordable prices with their children’s shoes starting as low as $10 and women’s shoes starting at $15. Their categories are simply labeled women, men, girls, boys and accessories. They carry all types of shoes including:

Payless carries many brands of shoes and boots including:

Payless Free Shipping

Payless offers free in-store delivery and free shipping for orders of $35 or more.

Payless Return and Refund Policy

You can refer to the back of your receipt for refund and return instructions. If you have made a mistake with your purchase, you can return the product for a refund minus shipping charges. You can also return a product to any Payless retail store for an instant refund.

Payless Coupons

Payless Customer Comments

Payless has good customer comments and ratings. Payless is Customer Certified by Bizrate.com where they have the following customer ratings:

  • Overall satisfaction of 8.9 out of 10.
  • Would shop here again: 8.9/10.
  • Likelihood to recommend: 9.0/10.
  • Satisfaction with checkout: 8.7/10.
  • Price relative to other online retailers: 8.6/10.
  • Product selection: 8.5/10.
  • Shipping charges: 8.3/10.

Shoe Store Conclusion

All three shoe stores carry many shoe brands for you to choose from. There are important differences with all three shoe stores. Shoebuy has a large selection of shoe brands to choose from. Shoebuy has a Price Match Guarantee, which means you will be getting the shoe you want at a great price. ShoeBuy also has a good return policy and return shipping is free when you use their pre-paid return label.

Footsmart is different than the other two shoe stores in that they sell many shoe brands and products for people with foot and lower back pain. Their products and shoes are designed to alleviate foot and lower back pains. The Footsmart website also includes many helpful pictures and articles concerning different foot pain and lower back pain symptoms.

Payless is probably the best known of the shoe stores and their advantage is low prices. Children’s shoes start as low as $10 and women’s shoes start for as low as $15. Payless also has free ship-to-store delivery, which is helpful if you live near a Payless store. 

Written by Sam Montana
I enjoy writing about health, nutrition and health related topics. I am certified in optimal nutrition from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a certified Food Over Medicine instructor from the Wellness Forum Health Center.