Shopping...
I hate shopping to begin with.
I especially hate shopping for clothes.
I really don't care much for malls at all.
Needless to say, having to go out and get a new pair of shoes today was not on my "Want to do" list at all. Unfortunately, it was on my "Need to do if I want to have dry feet" list.
And so, I hit the mall.
To shop for shoes.
During the holiday season.
*twitch*
Never. Again.
From here on out, shoes are only being purchased from DSW or somewhere online.
My tastes in footwear aren't all that extravagant. I just want solid all-purpose shoes. For many years, I defaulted to Sketchers. Last time I tried out some Timberlands. None of them last as long as they once did. Maybe it's because I'm doing a whole lot more walking these days, but I'm pretty sure they're using softer rubber in the outer soles of the shoes.
I haven't had a pair of shoes last a year--without getting holes, cracks or serious deformations (because my feet aren't really straight anyway)--since I moved down here. It is very frustrating.
Without fail, every time I seek to replace the shoes, something goes wrong. The one style that doesn't make me cringe isn't available--or, even worse, isn't available in my size. The service is horrid. The crowds oppressive.
Today, I hit the trifecta.
Not what I wanted in my size. Horrid crowds. And bad service.
After hitting every shoe place in the mall, the only store that had anything even close to what I wanted was JC Penny. They had Sketchers in a style similar to what I used to get. Since I needed new shoes in a hurry, I figure why not just go with what I know works... I'll be replacing them soon enough anyway.
No. Such. Luck.
The disinterested, distracted sales guy brings out the shoes I asked for, I go to put them on and I notice two things. First, they're covered in dust. I saw him dusting them off before he brought them out to me. Apparently Sketchers aren't as popular as they once were. No big deal. Second thing I notice is the big sticker on the box that says "EXTRA WIDE!" That leads to the question "Say, do you have these in a regular width?" which brings the answer "Those are wide? Oh, no, I guess we don't."
*sigh*
Two pairs of shoes later, both similarly thwarted by lack of correct size, I give up and go with a pair of Dockers that are sitting on the shelf in front of me. Not what I want brand-wise or style-wise, but they are shoes with complete soles that are in my size.
The coup-de-grace came when Mr. Disinterested, after I said "Sure, I guess I'll take these", took the box up to the register and began to ring them up... much to the chagrin and dirty looks of the people already in line. It was... unpleasant... to have to cut in front of them to sign the little credit card screen thing.
But, it was over quickly and I have new shoes that the water won't get into from the bottom.
I will be breaking them in tonight at Spellbound.
I don't expect to be able to walk comfortably for a few days after that. Based on my last experience with breaking in a new pair of Dockers with excessive usage. Not the way I'd like to do it.
But, I guess I'll be ordering another pair of something sometime soon anyway. Probably from an online source. (I've used ShoeBuy in the past without any problem.)
Bottom line is, I hate shopping.
I especially hate shopping for clothes.
I really don't care much for malls at all.
Needless to say, having to go out and get a new pair of shoes today was not on my "Want to do" list at all. Unfortunately, it was on my "Need to do if I want to have dry feet" list.
And so, I hit the mall.
To shop for shoes.
During the holiday season.
*twitch*
Never. Again.
From here on out, shoes are only being purchased from DSW or somewhere online.
My tastes in footwear aren't all that extravagant. I just want solid all-purpose shoes. For many years, I defaulted to Sketchers. Last time I tried out some Timberlands. None of them last as long as they once did. Maybe it's because I'm doing a whole lot more walking these days, but I'm pretty sure they're using softer rubber in the outer soles of the shoes.
I haven't had a pair of shoes last a year--without getting holes, cracks or serious deformations (because my feet aren't really straight anyway)--since I moved down here. It is very frustrating.
Without fail, every time I seek to replace the shoes, something goes wrong. The one style that doesn't make me cringe isn't available--or, even worse, isn't available in my size. The service is horrid. The crowds oppressive.
Today, I hit the trifecta.
Not what I wanted in my size. Horrid crowds. And bad service.
After hitting every shoe place in the mall, the only store that had anything even close to what I wanted was JC Penny. They had Sketchers in a style similar to what I used to get. Since I needed new shoes in a hurry, I figure why not just go with what I know works... I'll be replacing them soon enough anyway.
No. Such. Luck.
The disinterested, distracted sales guy brings out the shoes I asked for, I go to put them on and I notice two things. First, they're covered in dust. I saw him dusting them off before he brought them out to me. Apparently Sketchers aren't as popular as they once were. No big deal. Second thing I notice is the big sticker on the box that says "EXTRA WIDE!" That leads to the question "Say, do you have these in a regular width?" which brings the answer "Those are wide? Oh, no, I guess we don't."
*sigh*
Two pairs of shoes later, both similarly thwarted by lack of correct size, I give up and go with a pair of Dockers that are sitting on the shelf in front of me. Not what I want brand-wise or style-wise, but they are shoes with complete soles that are in my size.
The coup-de-grace came when Mr. Disinterested, after I said "Sure, I guess I'll take these", took the box up to the register and began to ring them up... much to the chagrin and dirty looks of the people already in line. It was... unpleasant... to have to cut in front of them to sign the little credit card screen thing.
But, it was over quickly and I have new shoes that the water won't get into from the bottom.
I will be breaking them in tonight at Spellbound.
I don't expect to be able to walk comfortably for a few days after that. Based on my last experience with breaking in a new pair of Dockers with excessive usage. Not the way I'd like to do it.
But, I guess I'll be ordering another pair of something sometime soon anyway. Probably from an online source. (I've used ShoeBuy in the past without any problem.)
Bottom line is, I hate shopping.