I have two problems when it comes to shopping. One is related to the product and one is related to the means of purchase.
When I’m out and about and find something I want to purchase, no problem. I whip out the plastic, make my purchase, and worry about it 30 days later when the bill comes.
I do like to do a lot of online shopping, though, for a couple of key reasons:
1. I don’t have to get off the couch to do it. I don’t even have to take a shower. Or brush my teeth (although I do).
2. I can always find a better deal online than I do in person, and usually with free shipping, no tax, and sometimes even a coupon code.
3. I can almost always find the exact size, color, brand, etc. I want.
The downside to online shopping? Let me paint a picture.
I’m usually upstairs in my bedroom late at night cuddling up with my laptop. I start by reading this and clicking on that and before you know it, I’m on a shopping site. And I find EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for, even if I’ve only been looking for it that night. I find the best price, free shipping, and extra 20% off and I’m ready to make the purchase and…
My wallet is downstairs. Yes, I know. I could walk down and get it and bring it upstairs and punch in the credit card number. But by that point, I’ll have pre-buyer’s remorse and my husband will suspect something is up and I’ll just forget the whole thing.
And I know I’m not alone in this conundrum. I know because I tweeted about it and most of you responded, “That’s why I memorized my credit card number!”
Maybe your brain still functions fine after having a child but I can’t even remember my own phone number anymore (thank you, era of cell phones).
Which is why I was more than pleased to give V.me by Visa a try. It’s probably a familiar concept to you: sign up for an account, store your credit card information, go shopping. And the only thing I have to remember is my email address and V.me password. I can usually handle that.
But I can’t just endorse a service without putting it to the test. So I did. With some boot shopping.
Here’s where the insanity kicks in.
I was checking out SHOEbuy.com because they are a V.me vendor and they have boots. And I found a coupon code.
I was pretty sure I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted brown leather boots, with a high heel, but not too high. Something that could be worn with skinny jeans or with a dress. Something that would cling to my calves (I have skinny legs). And something that was real, honest-to-goodness leather.
That last part is pretty hard to find these days. More and more shoe makers are using some sort of synthetic that kind of looks and feels like leather (it’s polyurethane) or suede (it’s fabric) because people can’t tell the difference. I CAN.
And not that I want more cows to die so that my feet can be properly adorned. But if I’m buying non-leather boots, I expect to pay non-leather prices, and that just doesn’t seem to be the case these days.
So off I went to find what was available in size 7 wide (for comfort, of course).
I found one I loved (upper right) but it only came in gray. So I thought of going to another site. Finding that boot. And I did. And the description read: “Faux leather upper.” Scratch that. Then the others were eliminated by materials, size, reviews, and it came down to one boot. The big one in the picture up above.
Aerosoles Gather Round in Brown Suede, size 7W
Suede is leather so I was good with that. They were brown. Aerosoles tend to be comfortable. But they were casual. Could I wear them with dresses? So I did what any wannabe fashionista would do.
I googled “wedge boots with dress” just to see if I would be starting a trend, following a trend, or bucking a trend.
I discovered that:
short wedge boots + dress = totally in fashionÂ
tall wedge boots + dress = can be pulled off if I get skinny and wear designer dresses
tall suede wedge boots = dress = oh, who am I kidding. I live in Maryland. Like anyone really cares what I wear.
So I clicked that V.me button to double check the terms.
Clicked the Process Order button. And just like that, my $79.99 boots with 20% off and no tax and free shipping were on their way to me for only $63.99.
So how’d I do? Let me know your shoe shopping insanity because I’m sure you have some too.
This post is brought to you by V.me by Visa. Online payment. Simple and secure.
7 comments
I couldn’t begin to calculate the dollars I’ve saved due to geographically undesirable credit cards and laziness. Good to know I am not alone.
I know, right? This V.me service is both good AND bad (and I think you know what I mean by that!)
Love! Send me a picture for shoe Friday!
What? You have shoe Friday? I have a shoe review and giveaway coming up too!
Oh! Totally! I’m not getting up to get my card. It’s my savings plan!
That’s a good way of looking at it 🙂
lol you make me laugh. I also get irritated when I start buying something online and then realize oh my gosh I’m going to have to GET UP to get my wallet and my card! GAH!! 🙂