Shoe Fitting Fee?

[Luv Bunnies]

DH and I went to a dance/costume/theatrical store yesterday to look at tap shoes. He started taking lessons about a year ago and initially used DS25's old pair, which now need to be replaced. The store has a variety of dance and stage shoes, but not a huge selection of each type. They have signs all over the shoe area saying there is a $15 shoe fitting fee. I asked the sales clerk what that means and she said, "If you try on shoes but don't buy any, we charge $15. It's so people don't come in here and try on our shoes and take up our time and then go buy them online or somewhere else." I said, "If he doesn't find a pair that fits right, does he still have to pay the fee?" She said, "Yes, if he tries on any shoes and doesn't buy, he would pay the fee."

I've never heard of anything like this before. If clothing stores did this, would it mean you'd have to pay to try on clothes? What if you didn't find any that fit right, or any that you liked? Heck, I test drove a car last month. The saleman came with us and then we spent time at his desk looking at the dealership's inventory and what cars they had coming. They didn't have the interior color I wanted and weren't scheduled to get one anytime soon. I ended up buying from another dealership about 150 miles away because the color combination I wanted is apparently rare. The first dealership didn't charge me for driving their car and talking to their salesman.

Isn't helping customers and showing them your items just part of the cost of doing business? I wonder how many people see the shoe fitting fee sign and turn around and leave. There are other places to buy dance shoes in our area that don't charge that kind of fee. DH ended up buying his shoes there only because he knew exactly which brand he wanted. They came highly recommended by a lot of people in his tap class and he was pretty sure they would work for him. His theater company also gets a 10% discount at the store, so buying there would save us a little money. Still, the fee gave us pause. If DH or DS need dance shoes in the future, I'm not sure if we'll be going there. Anyone seen this kind of fee before?

 

[dreamer17555]

Dance shoes are very special. Pointe shoe fittings in particular can take quite a long time. To me this makes sense in a dance store. Too many ppl use them to try on shoes and then try to find a better deal online.

 

[sam_gordon]

DH and I went to a dance/costume/theatrical store yesterday to look at tap shoes. He started taking lessons about a year ago and initially used DS25's old pair, which now need to be replaced. The store has a variety of dance and stage shoes, but not a huge selection of each type. They have signs all over the shoe area saying there is a $15 shoe fitting fee. I asked the sales clerk what that means and she said, "If you try on shoes but don't buy any, we charge $15. It's so people don't come in here and try on our shoes and take up our time and then go buy them online or somewhere else." I said, "If he doesn't find a pair that fits right, does he still have to pay the fee?" She said, "Yes, if he tries on any shoes and doesn't buy, he would pay the fee."

I've never heard of anything like this before. If clothing stores did this, would it mean you'd have to pay to try on clothes? What if you didn't find any that fit right, or any that you liked? Heck, I test drove a car last month. The saleman came with us and then we spent time at his desk looking at the dealership's inventory and what cars they had coming. They didn't have the interior color I wanted and weren't scheduled to get one anytime soon. I ended up buying from another dealership about 150 miles away because the color combination I wanted is apparently rare. The first dealership didn't charge me for driving their car and talking to their salesman.

Isn't helping customers and showing them your items just part of the cost of doing business? I wonder how many people see the shoe fitting fee sign and turn around and leave. There are other places to buy dance shoes in our area that don't charge that kind of fee. DH ended up buying his shoes there only because he knew exactly which brand he wanted. They came highly recommended by a lot of people in his tap class and he was pretty sure they would work for him. His theater company also gets a 10% discount at the store, so buying there would save us a little money. Still, the fee gave us pause. If DH or DS need dance shoes in the future, I'm not sure if we'll be going there. Anyone seen this kind of fee before?

They can run their business however they see fit. If they lose sales because of the fee, so be it. They've decided the time/effort to help someone who doesn't buy the shoes has a cost.

If they lose enough sales, they'll do away with the fees.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

This happens in dance and figure skating stores. There is a fitting fee for professional fitting of boots for figure skating, and in many dance stores as well. The expertise needed to do these things and get the right specific fit is worth the fee.

 

[_19disnA]

I agree any store can run their business however they please. If whatever they sell requires a lot of time to 'custom fit' then I can see why they would charge. If you can take those specs and order elsewhere, I can see how they are concerned about losing business. However, in the real world, there are a LOT of online places to buy virtually anything, so I would suspect this store will eventually realize they have a variety of competitors to deal with, not just other physical stores that happen to be in your area.

I was recently looking to have some landscaping done and one company wanted to charge for an estimate while all of the others were free. I choose a company who did free estimates. Either they don't want to bothered with smaller jobs or have a lot of regular customers. Either way the customer has the ability to choose to work with the company best suited for their needs.

 

[Marrila]

I totally understand the policy. There are customers who will get help to find the perfect fit and then walk out. Their next step is to hop online to order.

 

[Brian Noble]

For a specialty store like this, I understand it. If this were Joe's Generic Shoe Store, I'd be a lot less understanding.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

This happens in dance and figure skating stores. There is a fitting fee for professional fitting of boots for figure skating, and in many dance stores as well. The expertise needed to do these things and get the right specific fit is worth the fee.

I would understand the fee it is was a skating boot or pointe shoe that needs to be fitted by a specialist. I would expect that those fittings might even require an appointment in addition to a fee. What stuck me about DH's tap shoes is that all the clerk did was go in the back and get his size. She handed him the box and stood there saying nothing. He had to lace them up before he could put them on. Many clerks in shoe stores will do that and hand you a shoe that's ready to try on. He asked if there was a tap board so he could try them out. She said no, the shoes have to stay on the carpet. She didn't ask him any questions about the fit, or feel the sides or the toe box to make sure they fit property. She barely said anything at all, yet we would have had to pay $15 if we didn't buy the shoes. I've taken my DS there many times in the past when they didn't charge the fee to buy jazz shoes, tap shoes and ballroom shoes for his various classes and performances. We've been pretty much left on our own, expect for the clerk bringing the shoes from the back. If they're going to charge a $15 fee, they should at least up their level of service and provide some kind of expertise that makes it worth the price.

 

[Marrila]

I would understand the fee it is was a skating boot or pointe shoe that needs to be fitted by a specialist. I would expect that those fittings might even require an appointment in addition to a fee. What stuck me about DH's tap shoes is that all the clerk did was go in the back and get his size. She handed him the box and stood there saying nothing. He had to lace them up before he could put them on. Many clerks in shoe stores will do that and hand you a shoe that's ready to try on. He asked if there was a tap board so he could try them out. She said no, the shoes have to stay on the carpet. She didn't ask him any questions about the fit, or feel the sides or the toe box to make sure they fit property. She barely said anything at all, yet we would have had to pay $15 if we didn't buy the shoes. I've taken my DS there many times in the past when they didn't charge the fee to buy jazz shoes, tap shoes and ballroom shoes for his various classes and performances. We've been pretty much left on our own, expect for the clerk bringing the shoes from the back. If they're going to charge a $15 fee, they should at least up their level of service and provide some kind of expertise that makes it worth the price.

It sounds like you might be happier online or at a different store.
Nothing wrong with that, not every business is a good fit for everyone.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

I would understand the fee it is was a skating boot or pointe shoe that needs to be fitted by a specialist. I would expect that those fittings might even require an appointment in addition to a fee. What stuck me about DH's tap shoes is that all the clerk did was go in the back and get his size. She handed him the box and stood there saying nothing. He had to lace them up before he could put them on. Many clerks in shoe stores will do that and hand you a shoe that's ready to try on. He asked if there was a tap board so he could try them out. She said no, the shoes have to stay on the carpet. She didn't ask him any questions about the fit, or feel the sides or the toe box to make sure they fit property. She barely said anything at all, yet we would have had to pay $15 if we didn't buy the shoes. I've taken my DS there many times in the past when they didn't charge the fee to buy jazz shoes, tap shoes and ballroom shoes for his various classes and performances. We've been pretty much left on our own, expect for the clerk bringing the shoes from the back. If they're going to charge a $15 fee, they should at least up their level of service and provide some kind of expertise that makes it worth the price.

I see where you are coming from, but all I can say is I guess blame those that came before and wasted the stores time with try ons so they can order elsewhere?!

 

[HopperFan]

I think we will see more and more of this in specialty type of places. Too many people use their expertise, use the stores to try for sizes, functionality etc ... then walk out the store and order online. This is why is some big ticket stores they change all the tagging or remove it. They don't want you leaving with the information to buy elsewhere. Like we went to a smaller furniture store and looked at sofas but we knew we could order them online for less. No tags. We ended up buying from them because we could customize the fabric and they would deliver for a small fee. I try to shop local owner operated if I can.

I know some running specialty stores will "charge a fitting fee" that goes towards your purchase so it's not like they are treating customers different. One uses the credit the other might leave. Some bridal stores charge for appointments, again can go to purchase. Specialty stores already have a high overhead with brick and mortar shops then add all the inventory they have to carry.

My DD started doing some side work with a TA agency. She was a beginner but she planned several big trips for people, gave many hours and in the end they didn't book ~ and she found out they took her plan and booked on her own. When she discussed with the overhead agency she was under they said many travel "planners" are now charging by the hour so that people can walk away with the plan, not leaving the TA with nothing. She decided it wasn't worth her time even if folks paid her fee.

I would expect to see more and more of this as so many are shopping online for less.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I haven't seen a sign like that, but it doesn't surprise me. All 4 of my kids danced to some degree-3 of them, age 3-18, varying dance styles, so different shoes.

For most dance stuff, including tap shoes, I just ordered from Discount Dance Supply. The exception was pointe shoes, which must be fitted--a typical appointment, especially if you're new to pointe, is 45 minutes or so. For DD20, her dance teacher even volunteered to come with us for the fitting, to make sure DD got the right shoes--which, by the way, is only the start--you need to buy (and sew on) ribbons and elastics, and you also need thingies to go inside the shoes.

I imagine if this was a dance shoe store, they did a lot of pointe shoes, and the sign is mostly about them, but they apply it to all shoes.

My oldest also ran cross-country in middle and high school. Good running shoes are also pricey, and her coach sent her to the fancy sports place in town, versus Dick's or similar. When in Dick's, they'd fit her and ask a few questions, but nothing like the "fancy" place--they spent a good half hour with her, checking her gait, asking about her running style, and a whole bunch of questions I never would have thought of. The real irony is that, given her choice, she'd run barefoot! Luckily, she'd only need a new pair of running shoes once a year or so--they were even more expensive than her pointe shoes, if memory serves.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would understand the fee it is was a skating boot or pointe shoe that needs to be fitted by a specialist. I would expect that those fittings might even require an appointment in addition to a fee. What stuck me about DH's tap shoes is that all the clerk did was go in the back and get his size. She handed him the box and stood there saying nothing. He had to lace them up before he could put them on. Many clerks in shoe stores will do that and hand you a shoe that's ready to try on. He asked if there was a tap board so he could try them out. She said no, the shoes have to stay on the carpet. She didn't ask him any questions about the fit, or feel the sides or the toe box to make sure they fit property. She barely said anything at all, yet we would have had to pay $15 if we didn't buy the shoes. I've taken my DS there many times in the past when they didn't charge the fee to buy jazz shoes, tap shoes and ballroom shoes for his various classes and performances. We've been pretty much left on our own, expect for the clerk bringing the shoes from the back. If they're going to charge a $15 fee, they should at least up their level of service and provide some kind of expertise that makes it worth the price.

I wouldn't go back there unless they change their policy.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Only thing I can imagine is if the fittings are very valuable on their own and people make it a point to get sized by them then order online once they know the precise info needed. Wondering if it is something like with vision stores where special equipment gives precise pupillary distance.

 

[mom2rtk]

I understand the reason why they would want to do this. I just don't think it will work.

 

[livih99]

I danced for over 18 years and never had any fees like this. For pointe shoe fittings, especially your first pair, you needed to have an appointment, but if they didn't have any shoes that would work for your feet you weren't charged anything. Granted the main dance store in my area was rather large and had pretty much anything you could ask for, so maybe this is because it's a smaller shop?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I can understand their policy but wouldn't shop there for specialty shoes because it's too rigid of a policy covering too broad of situations. TBH it probably would make me more inclined to shop online as opposed to in store even though that's the direct opposite of their goal.

 

[slo]

I’m not loving the idea of this, but would tolerate it if they waived the fee when you bought the shoes from them.

 

[hertamaniac]

I dated this woman years ago who was a ballroom dancer. She convinced me to go to lessons and I used my typical dress shoes. They were rigid and the rubber-like sole just didn't allow for some of the maneuvers I had seen from other males in the class. So I bought a pair from the studio with no fitting fee as they were purchased from the owner just using my shoe size number.

I didn't like the way they felt and changed my mind about dancing. I gave the shoes back to the owner who huffed and puffed about no returns. But there wasn't a written policy anywhere. She took the dancing shoes back, gave me a refund and a week later I stopped dating the woman.

I think the idea of fitting fee is fine provided it is lumped with a/the credit applied if purchased through that brick-and-mortar retailer.

 

[mousefan73]

It’s been decades since I bought ballet shoes, and I do know there was a great deal of work that went into getting fitted, as another PP stated.

I totally agree with stores doing this, because there will be simply people that take advantage of them for their professional service and will go online to buy something cheaper. My SIL did this with her grandchildren she took them to a specialty store to get them fitted for school backpacks (yes it’s a thing here in Germany to get fitted for school. Backpacks.) and they left and bought online to save a bit of money. I thought that was pretty douche of them to do that.