I've just had an irritating experience with a couple of shoe sites: My Shoe Store.com (MSS) and Lord John's Footwear.com. (LJF). They're affiliated somehow, but it's not clear how.

I placed two orders with MSS back on Dec. 16th. These were for shoes that were becoming difficult to find in the size and color I wanted (Merrell Spire). After Googling, I found MSS had the best price so I ordered from them (and the order told me each product "is available&quot. I've regretted it ever since.

They cancelled the first order after 4 days, saying it was now "unavailable". Now, 2 weeks later, they've cancelled the 2nd order and I'm scrambling to find a pair before my trip on the 18th. Througout the process they have assured me by phone and by email that the shoe will ship on time.

I don't know if they lie or if they're incompetent. But, as a true advocate of online shopping, I DO know enough to warn others not to bother with them.

Let me amend that:

It was almost THREE weeks before they informed me the shoe was unavailable.

Bad. Bad. Bad.

i've had great luck with zappos.com

I whole-heartedly recommend zappos.com as well. The service is amazing.

I need some new extra white tennis shoes. Do they carry size 15EE?

You betcha.... here you go, Degas:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1113869.../s/21/w/3.html

Catbert - thanks a bunch. Very striking. Those might work if they have a cute little blinking red light on the back.

I've bought from a couple online shoestores with no problems, as others mentioned -- zappos and something else general eshoestore or something, I don't recall. I really liked zappos. It is risky when you are trying to buy something just shortly before a trip when you know it is in short supply and perhaps not made anymore. It could be just a couple guys with a computer and a garage, you know a lot of these online businesses do not have storage rooms, but get the merchandise from suppliers after orders are placed.

Now, they may be bad (and I have no temptation to use them), but sometimes that kind of behavior is because they were trying to find the shoes for you from various suppliers, and finally have found out they cannot. They aren't making the shoes, so any online website cannot be accurate to the minute as to what is available, I know that from experience.

Sierra Trading Post carries good shoes.

I agree about zappo's. Have also had excellent experience with Nordstrom and ShoeBuy. And a big hat-tip to Ebags.com as well, tho I haven't ordered shoes from them.

This was the first time I've had such a problem...and it wasn't that they were out of stock. My complaint is that it took them 3 wks to admit it. Frankly, I should have cancelled the order after the first week, when the shipping date kept changing.

Lesson: If you need the product by a certain time, hold the seller to their shipping promise. If they let the date slip, cancel and order elsewhere.

Only shop at Zappos.com. They are fabulous.

Zappos is amazing in every way! Because I live near the warehouse, mine always arrive the next day.

They are really great with the 110% price guarantee. (Just follow the directions if you find your style, size and color, in stock on line elsewhere for less.)

Zappos certainly sounds good, but it appears that they don't carry Merrells of any sort.

I too am a Merrell wearer, and I would rather wear them to walk while traveling than any other shoe.

I am looking at the Merrell Spire and think I might get a pair for March in Italy.

Good luck, JeanneB

I bought a pair of Merrells for a recent trip to Boston and was really happy with them. They were comfortable all day; and I have some knee problems. Tried to order another pair online from Zappo's (my fav web site other than Fodor's) and was disappointed they don't carry any Merrells. The other shoes I travel with are Keens and they are also very comfortable and available from Zappo's. Mine arrived in 24 hours...and with FREE shipping!! Good luck!

Update:
I found out what's causing the problem. I called Nordstrom today, desperate to find some black boots or shoes for my trip. She informed me they also place their orders with the Merrell warehouse upon receiving the order....and they've been experiencing broken shipping date promises. I'm sure Merrell "thinks" the shoes will come in when they make these promises, but everyone in the system is getting tarred by it.

Anyway, the sweetie at Nordstrom found a pair for me at the retail store in Escondido and they shipped them to me today!!!

Mystery solved. Shoes on the way. Now I can start packing!

My first online shoe purchase from zappos.com was a disaster unfortunately. The person filling my order must have read the shoe size upside down. It was for a size 6 but I got a 9. The customer service was great regarding the return, but it was inconvenient and cost me something to return the shoes by UPS.

Why did you have to pay for returns to Zappos, francophile? they have free shipping and free returns, which is why I like them so much (risk free, otherwise I wouldn't buy shoes online unless I knew the style and brand fit me). I've returned things to them and it never cost me anything.