# Your experiences with cheapie shoe stores like Payless Shoe Source **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 8, 2002, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042 "2002-08-08T22:28:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/21 "2002-08-09T06:33:12Z")
I only buy sandals because I only wear sandals. I get them there for about 12 or 13 dollars. They last a year or two. That’s fine by me. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/22 "2002-08-09T07:29:01Z")
Payless is pretty good if your careful about the shoe you buy …sometimes they have this type of shoe thats held together bt a over flap of the sole over the front once that falls apart the whole shoe will go but payless shoes ive bought have lasted longer than the pair of la gear and reebok and nikies ive had so one wonders … ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/23 "2002-08-09T07:51:40Z")
Every pair of cheap shoes that I’ve bought, I’ve hated. I know I am pretty hard on shoes- it’s not too uncommon for me to end up walking four miles a day. I keep buying cheap shoes because they look cute, but every pair I buy either has some wierd flaw (smells bad, bites into my ankle, pinches some wierd part or another) or else it falls apart after a few weeks. I, personally, would reccomend investing in a decent pair of shoes (I tend towards the dressier doc martens). They will always be comfortable, and they can be repaired instead of thrown out when something goes wrong. If you are using this pair for multiple purposes (work, hiking, everyday) you are really going to regret it if you get a pair that sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/24 "2002-08-09T12:35:14Z")
I checked out Payless once, and all the men’s shoes seemed to be made from stiff plastic that doesn’t “breathe.” Looked like a sure route to athlete’s foot, so I passed. ---
**Author:** ![Pammipoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/87869e/32.png) [@Pammipoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pammipoo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/25 "2002-08-09T13:03:31Z")
When I want athletic shoes, I go to Foot Locker. Anything else gets Payless. I bought a pair of black boots a few years back for work, because McD’s was horrible on shoes and I didnt fel like spending tons of cash for work. I paid $20 for a pair of men’s work boots. They lasted me through the summer, and well into the next year. But for $20, they were well worth it. ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/26 "2002-08-09T15:11:20Z")
I have bought an assortment of shoes from Payless. Sneakers tend to be of decent quality and last. I wouldn’t ever buy dress shoes from them again though. The ones that look like leather (they are invariably vinyl) are always uncomfortable and get torn up within a few weeks of owning them. Casual shoes are the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![dublos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f08c70/32.png) [@dublos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dublos)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/27 "2002-08-09T15:37:10Z")
I found my all time favorite dance shoes at Payless. They were Jazz Ozfords, thin leather sole, highly flexible, nice rubber/something sole so I had just enough slide, but not too much. They lasts me all the way through my college years, with lots of dancing, beer spilled on them, walking through snow, slush, unidentifiable substances. Of course I haven’t been able to find the same thing again. But I loved those shoes. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/28 "2002-08-09T16:30:50Z")
Thanks, all. My co-worker told me of a discount outlet which is actually on the way home from work. The pro of these outlets is that you can get more brand names; the con is that there’s more chance a store like Payless will have my size (9 1/2, I think). Part of the reason I destroy non-leather shoes is because I have rather wide feet. Even my Docs have a visible lump over where my baby toe is. I just want some knock-off Sketchers or something I can wear to work. I’ll be buying them in two weeks when I’m paid again. Fun, cuz I’ll get to drag **lno** (staying with me for Doperéal) with me to the local mall. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/29 "2002-08-09T16:34:18Z")
Well, let’s see…I’ve walked _by_ a Payless before. OK, OK a real answer. I hate cheap shoes. I can almost always tell when someone’s wearing a pair of shoes from Payless, Pic n Pay, Target, WalMart, etc. I say find a shoe warehouse that sells quality shoes from last season. You may not be the height of fashion, but your shoes won’t be cheap, either. Your shoes speak volumes about you, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/30 "2002-08-10T00:49:51Z")
Scott, buy extra wide shoes. They will set you free. for sneakers, New Balance is the only brand I know with an extra wide size. There are several shoe brands that have extra wide. Your shoe size may be different than you think; you may be buying too-large shoes to fit your width. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/31 "2002-08-10T04:54:11Z")
Buy several pair and rotate them and Payless Shoes are fine. My son, 12, would much prefer 3 pairs of payless shoes to any one pair of expensive tennis shoes from Foot Locker. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/32 "2002-08-10T13:42:32Z")
I have always regretted buying cheap shoes-they look like crap and wear out quickly. I have always found that buying the most expensive shoes you can afford is a much better investment. For example-14 years ago I bought a pair of Florsheim’s dress shoes. I wore these through two resole jobs , and they still looked great! I paid $96.00 for them ,and the resolings cost $36.00 each, so total cost for 14 years was $168.00. I figure that I would have spent easily $280.00 for a cheap pair ($40.00) every two years. Also, avoid shoes that are made in China-they don’t fit well, and can cause you major foot problems. If you do buy the lower priced shoes, try to get shoes made in Brazil or Italy-the leather quality is much better, and they will last much longer. ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/33 "2002-08-10T16:26:39Z")
I am horrible with my shoes… I expect to be able to wear them to school, work, the occaisional horseback ride, light hiking, and excersising… I’ve only gotten one pair of bad shoes from there, all the rest have been great. I’ve been going there since I was little, and I’ve never had a more expensive pair of shoes last longer than Payless shoes do. Also, I have really small feet (5 1/2 women’s) and I can’t ever find anything smaller than a 6 in most stores, which really bites. For my size, they usually keep a pretty good selection, and they also make pretty good knock-offs of popular brands and styles for so much less! ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042/34 "2002-08-10T16:44:58Z")
I have had some good shoes from Payless, and even _gasp_ Wal-Mart. I bought a pair of 8$ sandals at Wal-mart, and they are holding up pretty well. I don’t know that they’ll last YEARS, but even if they are only good for a summer or so, they were worth the price. Shoes form a store like this will most likely last you at least until you get some financial things figured out, unless what you mentionned is more long-term than I read it to be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-experiences-with-cheapie-shoe-stores-like-payless-shoe-source/123042.md?page=1)