Shoe shopping?

Why mouse beats mall

If the shoe fits, wear it. If it doesn't, return it. Chances are you'll be happy either way if you shop online, according to a new rating of Internet sellers by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

Overall, 90 percent of the 11,000-plus readers who answered our survey were very or completely satisfied with footwear purchases at 23 Web sites between January 2007 and June 2008. The dot-com sellers are as varied as New Balance, with a single brand of athletic shoes, and Onlineshoes.com, a virtual warehouse of more than 200 brands and 33,000 models.

Readers were pleased, on average, even with the lowest-rated sellers. Still, there were differences. For instance, respondents said the value at L.L.Bean was excellent for 68 percent of purchases. Only 44 percent felt the same way about purchases at FootSmart.

Excessive shipping costs bothered only 3 percent of those surveyed. Other complaints were dealt with effectively, even for the one in four people who sought a refund or exchange. Ninety-eight percent of those buyers said they were satisfied with the way their return was handled. To help with sizing, REI, Cabela's, and Road Runner Sports offer real-time online chat sessions with company reps, plus advice via e-mail and phone. If the shoe doesn't fit after all, many sellers offer free returns.

Bottom line

Don't be afraid to skip a trip to the mall and order shoes online. The selection is huge, and Web sites tend to stock unusual sizes. Many sites carry discontinued shoes at bargain prices, some promise to meet or beat competitors' prices, and shipping is often free.