Shoe chain Payless files for bankruptcy protection

[ABX]

Shoe chain Payless ShoeSource has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, becoming the latest retailer to succumb to increasing competition from online rivals like Amazon.

The Topeka, Kansas-based retailer said Tuesday that it will be immediately closing nearly 400 stores as part of the reorganization. It has over 4,400 stores in more than 30 countries and was founded in 1956....

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PAYLESS_BANKRUPTCY?SITE=MYPSP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-04-04-17-23-15

[Cripplecreek]

Again, the world has changed.

Plenty of memories of going to pay less as a kid but I can't honestly remember the last time I was in a shoe store.

[ABX]

Again, the world has changed.

Plenty of memories of going to pay less as a kid but I can't honestly remember the last time I was in a shoe store.

That's probably the last time I set foot in a Payless too. Back when I was growing out of shoes faster than the seasons changed.

[Frank Cannon]

So...the other shoe has dropped.

[geronl]

They never had anything in my size. I ended up going to Wal-Mart and finding cheap $15 shoes. For work I ordered $100 workboots from shoesforcrews,com

[Applewood]

Bought a pair of no-name sneakers cheap at Payless.  Lasted me for years.  If I buy Nike or some other big name, expensive brand, the shoes are done the first time I go out in the rain.  Plus, I'm hard to fit.  Cheap Payless shoes fit well.  The better brands cramped my feet.  Go figure.

Sadly, the closest Payless to me closed a few years ago, or I'd still be a customer.

[Polly Ticks]

... becoming the latest retailer to succumb to increasing competition from online rivals like Amazon.

Really?  Amazon is their increasing competition?? I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon, but shoes isn't one of them.  How do you buy a pair of shoes without trying them on to see if they are comfortable?  And who wants the hassle of returning them if they aren't?

I would have thought they were losing more business to Wal-Mart/Target than to Amazon.   

[truth_seeker]

Really?  Amazon is their increasing competition?? I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon, but shoes isn't one of them.  How do you buy a pair of shoes without trying them on to see if they are comfortable?  And who wants the hassle of returning them if they aren't?

I would have thought they were losing more business to Wal-Mart/Target than to Amazon.

For over 30 years I have been an aid runner, and now walker. I go through a lot of shoes.

Find a brand that fits you well. Then shop for bargains online.

[Cripplecreek]

They never had anything in my size. I ended up going to Wal-Mart and finding cheap $15 shoes. For work I ordered $100 workboots from shoesforcrews,com

And that is what happened to Payless.

They were a strictly shoe store in competition with Walmart, Meijer, Target, KMart etc. Its actually surprising they lasted as long as they did. In fact, selling in those stores is a lot of what kept them in business.

[Applewood]

Really?  Amazon is their increasing competition?? I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon, but shoes isn't one of them.  How do you buy a pair of shoes without trying them on to see if they are comfortable?  And who wants the hassle of returning them if they aren't?

I would have thought they were losing more business to Wal-Mart/Target than to Amazon.

Actually, since the Payless closed near ne, I have bought shoes from Amazon and they actually fit. 

Never had a problem returning merchandise to Amazon.  In fact, once when I wanted to return something, but couldn't print a shipping label,  Amazon told me to just keep the product or give it away.   Amazon is really easy to deal with.  It understands the meaning of the term, "customer service."

[Cripplecreek]

Actually, since the Payless closed near ne, I have bought shoes from Amazon and they actually fit. 

Never had a problem returning merchandise to Amazon.  In fact, once when I wanted to return something, but couldn't print a shipping label,  Amazon told me to just keep the product or give it away.   Amazon is really easy to deal with.  It understands the meaning of the term, "customer service."

If I order online I buy a half size larger and they fit well enough to be comfortable.

[geronl]

If I order online I buy a half size larger and they fit well enough to be comfortable.

since I messed my foot up wearing shoes that were too small to work for months, I have to wear them bigger than before. I need 14 Wide (not Medium Wide)

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I remember in malls where there were actually shoe salesman (ala Al Bundy) who would measure your feet on a big metal scale thingie and sell you a pair of shoes. And I'm not that old. :)

[Polly Ticks]

For over 30 years I have been an aid runner, and now walker. I go through a lot of shoes.

Find a brand that fits you well. Then shop for bargains online.

Ok, good point.  I actually do that for the shoes I wear for tennis. 

I never bought those kinds of shoes at Payless, though -- I always just bought the "cute" shoes there.  Shame on me for letting my own bias influence my post!

[Polly Ticks]

Never had a problem returning merchandise to Amazon.  In fact, once when I wanted to return something, but couldn't print a shipping label,  Amazon told me to just keep the product or give it away.   Amazon is really easy to deal with.  It understands the meaning of the term, "customer service."

I agree with you there -- Amazon customer service has always been outstanding.

I just want to be able to try on the 'cute' shoes before I buy them, to make sure the little lace cut-outs or criss-cross straps or whatever don't hurt. 

[Fishrrman]

My last time in a "shoe store" was in 2005, to buy a pair of Redwing steel-toed shoes for the job. They weren't cheap, but fit from the get-go and didn't even require "breaking in".

That was the last pair I needed before retirement.

Since then, I've subsisted on cheap sneakers from Walmart!

[anubias]

I remember in malls where there were actually shoe salesman (ala Al Bundy) who would measure your feet on a big metal scale thingie and sell you a pair of shoes. And I'm not that old. :)

Just had my feet measured in the same manner with the same "big metal scale thingie" aka Bannock device last Saturday in a bicycle shop.

And had my son measured with the same device at Cavender's for a new pair of boots.

They're still in existence.