DSW Shoes is short for Designer Shoe Warehouse, and it's one of the top online destinations for shoe shoppers. It's a great site, with a very wide range of brands that include Nike, Merrell, Dr Martins and loads more. We like that there's a JLO exclusive collection too, which makes for some fascinating browsing. The website itself is clearly laid-out, and has loads of shoe-buying information on there. Sadly, the returns and shipping benefits can't match Zappos Shoes, which is why DSW isn't quite as high up our list of the best online shoe stores right now.
DSW Shoes review: Website and shoes
The company's collection of online shoes range in price from under $20 to over $200. You can find high-end shoes for special occasions or cheap shoes for your next vacation. There is a large selection of shoes for women, men and children. There are numerous styles, including wedges, comfort sandals, boots, pumps and heels. In addition, if you are hunting for a bargain, you can search the clearance section for discounted footwear. DSW has a wide selection of shoes for people of all ages.
One of the advantages of shopping online for shoes at DSW is the selection of top shoe brands, such as Nike, Asics, Ugg, Sorel and Mizuno. Whether you're searching for boots or kids' shoes, you can further refine your search by brand, top-rated items and new arrivals.
Product pages give you a great view of the shoes you're looking at, and we love how you don't have to click through a gallery to see all the angles of your chosen item. They're bright and clearly laid-out, with size and style options on the right, giving you total control over the type of shoe you end up buying.
You see the average score given to each shoe by previous customers, and you get a general snippet of information that says something like 'people find this shoe very comfortable', which is a nice touch. DSW will also give you a price per month, if you're looking to put your purchase on credit - something many of its rivals don't offer.
DSW online shoe store: VIP scheme and support
For further savings, you can become a DSW VIP. With three different levels; VIP Club, VIP Gold, and VIP Elite, each membership allows various levels of rewards. The most basic VIP Club membership is free to join, gives you points for every dollar you spend, you'll get a $5 birthday gift and free shipping and in-store returns as standard.
If there is a problem with your order, there are a few ways you can return your shoes. First, you can return your item to the store for free, next there are online returns that have a shipping fee and, returns must be within 60 days of purchase.
DSW offers free exchanges. The exchange process is easy: You receive a free shipping label with your order. Simply affix the label on the box and send it back to DSW. There is no charge for return shipping or for the shipping on the new order.
This online shoe store has live chat and a toll-free telephone number posted on its website. You can contact the company via email and get a response within 24 hours. There is also a large FAQs section on the company website.
Should you shop at DSW shoes?
We'd recommend DSW highly for anyone looking to have a big choice of shoes. What's more, DSW is great as a pure shoe retailer, as you can just get straight to the shoes and not be distracted by other clothing options. The website is simple to use, well designed, and the whole purchase journey is very comfortable and user-friendly.
You'll need to become a DSW VIP to really get the best experience, as without it you will pay for shipping, returns, and other extras. We like the 60-day returns policy - it's more generous than most - but it doesn't match the 365-day returns offered by Zappos. Prices are good, especially if you dip into the clearance section, and overall we find it a satisfying place to shop.
