I must preface this guide by stating that I am a hard-core Shoeapediac.  Shoeapedia is my very own newly-coined phrase that refers to the absolute obsession I have with all things footwear.  It is closely followed by Garmentapedia, another term I coined to describe my equally addictive habit of clothes shopping.  My husband can attest to the truthfullness of my neurosis; he had to turn an entire spare room into a walk-in closet for me.  The shoes in the picture are barely half of what I have.  Many have had to be boxed up.  *Note window with horse turnout directly outside?  This is where my horse AvieMare likes to stalk me from when I am "in the closet."  She can see me and runs around yelling until I walk out the door!  *Um...ok...I'll stay on topic here.  I promise.  Back to shoes...

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So....now that I have at least adequatly demonstrated my qualifications in the shoe arena, I would like to share with you some of the opinions I have developed over the years regarding my favorite brands, buying and selling.   From expensive to WalMart and KMart brands, I have tried them all.           

My all-time favorite brand of shoes is Ariat.  Although they were orignially developed for equestrians, everybody is wearing them now.  They are cutting edge when it comes to comfort, quality, price and fun & funky styles that go with everything from jeans to skirts and even shorts if you are feeling like EllieMay from the Beverly Hillbillies.  Many other brands have tried to imitate them, especially their wildly popular FatBaby line, but they just can't measure up.

Ariat boots come in roper styles, lacers, colorful chunky FatBaby styles and lots of other types, including blinged-out GemBabies, a flashier version of FatBaby and lots of English field boot and paddock boot styles.   Although the older FatBaby boots had chunky lug soles that were not stirrup-friendly, many of the newer ones are.  This probably stemmed from girls and women trying to ride in competitions with the lug sole...a no-no at any place where strict rules regarding footwear apply.  So Ariat stepped up the the plate as usual and fixed that problem.  We now have style AND servicability!  Also of great note are their All-Terrain hiker/walker/rider boots.  It does not get much more versatile than those.  Price ranges can be from about $60 to several hundred for field boots, but the average price for a nice pair is well under $150 and worth every single dime.  Please google Ariat's homepage and read all about the fantastic technology that goes into the soles of these boots.  My first pair of Ariats were plain old brown lacers.  The leather has long since rotted and stiffened but when cleaned, the soles still look brand new! 

The company is staffed with outrageously cool people and I have written several letters thanking them for their excellent product; a product that has kept me riding despite grave injuries to my ankles and lower legs.  They will answer any questions you may have.

Ariat lacers kept my torn ankle tendon together for over a year as I rode and hiked, ignoring a serious longitudal tear in the left ankle tendon.  Finally, in October of 06 I had surgery to fix it but developed life-threatening complications afterwards including a bloodclot in my leg that broke off and went into my lung.  Needless to say I almost croaked from that.  I was sick on blood thinners and anemic for all of 2007 but the few rides I did get in were always with my Ariat boots.  I was finally getting better in July of 08, but shortly around my birthday in July a gopher tunnel collapsed at my barn and the same left foot with the tendon injury rolled down into the hole.  The snap was so loud that my husband's horse actually startled; an amazing thing since a bomb could go off and he would probably not notice!  Nice birthday present that old gopher gave me.

After 5 hours of surgery the doctor came in to tell me that all the permanent sutures from the last surgery were torn out and on top of that I had blown a chunk of the tendon out.  It was nowhere to be found!  He had to take a piece from a nearby tendon and graft and patch the injury up.  So now I had two chopped up tendons.  I was flat on my back for 8 long and miserable weeks, and when I did get permission to put weight on the foot again, my right foot and ankle had become ruined from all the hopping on it and work it had to do.  I developed excruciating shin splints and some sort of arthritis-like condition in both feet and at this point I am permanently partially handicapped.  Some days I can walk, and others I can't set foot on the ground.  Onward to my next phase of shoes:  THE ORTHOTIC  BRANDS (dramatic music playing)

My mom got me some Earth gladiator-styles shoes when I was visiting in May after my dear Daddy passed away from Diabetes. (Get those glucose meters out, people!)  I found them very comfortable and have ordered several pairs from Ebay at greatly reduced prices.  The new ones come with Kalso Negative Heel Technology, which basically means your forefoot is a few degrees higher than your heel.  Some yoga instructor developed this and it does seem to align the back and posture.  You also burn more calories because you are literally going "up hill' and this helps to tone and tighten your legs and calves.  They feel odd at first but you get used to them.  Most come with removable orthotic footbeds so you can insert your own.  They don't help my foot pain much; nothing does...but my Chiropractor gave them his approval which says a lot because he believes that humans were intended to go barefoot and that shoes have ruined us.  He is probably correct.

They also have quite a few Vegan styles, including the Lazer.  These shoes are SUPER light (7oz each), crush flat to travel and pack, and spring back up again.  They are certified with the Vegan Society.  I'm not against leather by any means but they sure are light on the foot.  The Lazer might not be so good for people who's feet swell badly or people with very high arches as there is limited adjustability.  On my bad days they seem tight around the tops and although they have ties, they are pretty much non-functional.  Another style I like is the Midway, another Vegan shoe that has a zipper on top.  Again, it is only marginally functional at best, but they are still good shoes and do stretch somewhat.  I have to take a water pill when my feet are super swollen so I usually don't have too much trouble.  I also think they are very cool looking.  Odd...kinda like me. :) 

Also a favorite with me are SoftSpots in the Camilla style, which is an awesome thong style that has velcro tabs on the side; great for getting pedicures and putting right back on to continue shopping instead of those stupid flat foam "slippers" they give you.  They have a soft footbed and a form-fitting sole that is very comfortable to wear.  If you have swollen feet that vary in size from day to day order wide and you can tighten them up on your "skinny" days.  Footsmart is a website that is dedicated to helping people with bad feet or people who just want comfort and I was amazed at the awesome selection of genuinely CUTE shoes.  Just google it, find some shoes you like then go to Ebay and search for them.  Usually you will find them MUCH cheaper.

One of my most comfortable shoes is Dr. Scholl's sport sandal.  Hideous?  Yes.  But not to the point of stopping me from wearing them.  I tricked them out with gel heel and ball-of-foot pads and I would have to say they are probably one of the more comfortable shoes I own.  I would love to see them in more sporty styles that are closed.  If your feet hurt, after a while you don't care so much if your shoes are pink and glitzy and snazzy.  Pain reduction ROCKS.  Got them at WalMart for around $25 and worth every cent.  I have even convinced myself they are "sporty" looking.  :P

So, there are a few of my top brands.  Most of my Ariat boots that lace still work for me, but sadly I have had to sell some of my beloved FatBabies because I just can't pull them on anymore; my foot gets THAT swollen.  But I still rate them Number One for my all-time favorite brand.

Now, on to how to buy shoes on Ebay:  Here are some general rules I try to follow:

BUYING

*When you find a style you like, go to a brand-name website to check the price.  Don't forget to add up shipping, handling and tax, and turn-around time.  Then go back to Ebay and READ the auction rules carefully, all the way to the bottom.  A lot of unhappiness can  be saved on both sides if they buyer understands the auction rules.  If you have questions, ASK ASK ASK before bidding.

*Ask the seller if they combine shipping; many do and state so on the auction.

*Pay close attention to the shipping fees.  They should be very close in line with actual shipping prices.  Sellers that charge absurd "handling" fees should be avoided.  If seller ships via USPS Priority Mail, avoid them like the plague if they rack up the costs.  They can get ALL their boxes free, and the post office will even come to the place of business or home to pick the boxes up if you schedule it online.  There is NO excuse for over-charging people for shipping, especially in this economy.  People have wound up getting change back from me in tiny bags with their item because of a calculation goof.  I am that passionate about reasonable shipping rates.

*Pay very close attention to the condition of the shoe.  NEW IN BOX should mean exactly that.  A pair of new shoes with absolutely no signs of wear at all.  If someone tried the shoe on in a store, there still should be no sign of wear.  Some sellers will list as shoe as new if it "looks" reasonably new.  NOT!  If you bid on a new pair, you should get a brand new pair.  No scuffs, marks or ANY signs of use at all and tags still attached.

*NEW WITHOUT BOX/TAGS:  These can be great deals.  Many sellers, including myself, have purchased shoes, ripped the tags and tossed the boxes, and then let them languish in the closet for months or even years unworn.  These shoes can be a real bargain.  I got a BRAND NEW WITH TAGS pair of Earth Athena gladiator shoes ($90+ value last year) for $18 bucks.  Any questions, ask the seller. 

*Slighty Used:  These can be a great deal as well.  Worn once or twice, these may or may not have toe marks but if they do, be careful.  They might have been only worn once or twice but for long periods of time in rough terrain.  If no picture of the bottom is shown, email the seller and ASK for one.  If they don't have one or make an excuse, pass on the deal.  These shoes should have minimal scuffing and show only the slightest evidence of  wear.  They should look almost new.

*Gently used but many miles to go:  There are lots of shoes that fit into this category.  Most of these show obvious signs of wear but not abuse.  Soles may have a bit of wear, there may be toe marks, especially on sandals, and scrapes or a few gouges on the upper.  They should NOT have run-down heels.  If they do, walk away. You don't want a shoe that has molded itself to someone else's bad posture problems.  Stitching should be intact, with perhaps a minor thread loose that can be snipped.

*Worn:  Pass on these.  They belong in a 10cent yard sale bin for a child's dress-up trunk.

*When you find your perfect pair, as soon as you get them home, wipe them with an antibacterial wipe and spray them with shoe disinfectant even if they are NIB and especially if you know others have tried them on or worn them.  This is simply good common sense.

*If you don't have the money in your account or don't anticipate it within the terms of the auction, DO NOT BID.  Better to ask the seller first if they can bend a bit on times than risk your reputation.  After all, if a girl don't have her good reputation, what does she have? :P

If you ask lots of questions, do some research and be thrifty, you will find hundreds of great shoe bargains on Ebay.

SELLING YOUR SHOES ON EBAY:

Pretty much the same rules apply. 

*Always, ALWAYS clean and scrub soles, wipe down footbeds with antibacterial wipes/spray and polish up the upper as much as possible.  A few minutes of cleaning on your part can get you a much higher bid than if the shoe is dirty.  All the buyer will do is get the shoe, wipe it off, and say: "HEY!  I got this for a buck and it was just a bit dirty!"  Thats great for them but not so great for you if you need money, which we all do these days.  If the shoe is suede, test on an inconspicuous area first before wiping with the cloths.  Most sanitizing sprays can probably be sprayed on the shoe, but do read the label.

*To take a picture of your shoes, place a shoe box covered with a pretty piece of fabric on a flat table with a plain colored wall behind it, place one cleaned shoe face up and the other face down with the bottom showing.  Take several pics and choose the best one.  That way you will have shown both sides but not paid extra for more images.  Tell your bidders that you will be happy to email extra pictures if they want to see the shoe from different angles.  Email is free.

EXAMPLES:

New without Box or Tags.  These were genuine Bandolino shoes that I sold for pennies on the dollar.  They retailed for over $60 bucks at some point and I got about 4.99 for them.  Never been worn and just taking up space on my shoe rack.  I got them before all the mess with my ankles.

*Describe your shoes honestly.  If they are not new, don't say they are.  Use terms like "Near New" which is still fine and will still get you bids in most cases.  People are willing to settle for a nearly new shoe and save $$ but they won't be happy if you misrepresent your items.

This is a pair of gently worn shoes I had for sale.  They did not sell.  I cleaned them up and the sole was still solid and intact with no run-down but for some reason the footbed had some discoloration.  I wore them about 5 times for brief periods and was actually surprised they had any discoloration at all.  They are really cute and I will send them to my nieces.  But there is no way they could have been described as "near new" due to the footbed discoloration.

*Do NOT rack up shipping charges.  This is one of the fastest ways to get your auction ignored.  I will never even open an auction with an inflated shipping charge, especially for shoes since they can be costly anyways to ship.

*You can now print your labels online from PayPal.  You can also go to the USPS site and schedule a delivery of free Priority Mail boxes or a pickup from your porch on whichever day you like.  There is no excuse for sellers to sit on your package for a week when you have paid already.

*Although there are many sellers who would disagree with me, I always leave feedback when the item is paid, regardless of whether it's been shipped or recieved.  I feel that if somone does their part, it has nothing to do with me doing mine.  Any problems later can be worked out.  I value my feedback very much but even more than that, I want my trading partners to be HAPPY.  Happy people laugh more and when people laugh, their cares don't weigh on them so heavily and their blood pressure goes down.  Why do I care about strangers?  I don't know.  I just seem to.  Maybe because my sign is Cancer?

*Ok, this may sound horrible but I'm a'gonna say it anyway:  If you do not have pretty feet, do NOT take pictures of you wearing the shoes.  There is nothing worse then ugly feet to detract from the shoe itself, and lets face it...for most of us (me included) the only time our feet were ever cute is when we were babies.  I have looked at auctions that had ugly feet modeling shoes and was so distracted by the feet that I seldom saw the shoes.  Plus, I could not even think of wearing shoes with feet like that in them!  Sounds mean but most of us feel the same way:  we would rather NOT know who wore them. haha

Well, there you have another babbling guide from me.  If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to email me.  I will help anyone I can.  Be kind to each other.  We are all WE have.

Peace & Happy Trails,

Scherry & AvieMare