CRUEL SHOES: No help on web site

It's not easy being barefoot at work.
In desperation over a wounded foot and lack of shoes to wear to work (where I can’t hide my feet) I thought I’d try a web site that is supposedly for foot doctors. I found their name on an old inside heel lift cushion.

No luck. I found a lot of grade-school looking flats with big straps for some reason, and, as I mention in the e-mails, NO TOE ROOM.

I’ll let you know if I get any help from them.

Thursday, August 25, 2011 12:10 PM


To: sales@surefitlab.com

I have ruined a big toe nail from wearing shoes too round and with toe box too flat. I need a tiny adhesive device that used to be available in drug stores to protect that toe.

I see no shoes on your site with enough toe room.

Can you help?
MLF

To:
sales@surefitlab.com

Thursday, August 25, 2011 
Also, I have to see the top and bottom views on line to see if there IS enough toe room before I buy anything.

MLF

MACY'S ASKS ABOUT CRUEL SHOES

Macy's sent me an e-mail asking for comments on my casual shoes purchases yesterday.  (Wisely, the Glendale store didn't ask for my comments on their shoe department!)

Luckily, clerk Alex in Burbank was a great help, but by the time I got back to her, I was frazzled.  She brought out a brand new pair of the sandals style I had just tried on, and I was too tired to try the new pair on.  Big mistake. 

All in all, the quality of the sandals (Clarks) doesn't compare with my old Clarks (neither does the fit--less secure) and Macy's did not have the colors like pewter and bronze that go on to fall in SoCal.  

I answered the survey, and later I will give a few well-chosen words to the manager.
(Wouldn't it be lovely to buy something that was even BETTER than your last purchase from that particular brand?)  PS  I did get a compliment on them, which makes me wish they fit well enough to wear all the time.

Happy feet to you.

CRUEL SHOES

Woman who have never met before are approaching each other in parking lots, talking urgently, and exchanging phone numbers and e-mail addresses. No, this is not espionage. They are not swapping names of Botox docs in exotic countries. It is part of a frantic search for shoes! Shoes that actually fit and shoes that might be kind to feet already damaged by shoes that didn’t fit.

One of my best friends reported a month ago that she had walked into and out of some of her formerly favorite stores thinking: Where are my shoes? Those of us with atypical feet have been wearing the wrong shoes for years and now have a set of damaged little toes and damaged big toes.

I've worn the dumb shoes, partly due to budget concerns, partly because I couldn't find any that fit, and I have the damage to prove it. I can’t have pedicures now, partly because of fear of more damage, and partly because a pedicure won't glamourize what’s left.

Face it, many working women cannot afford over $200 for the shoes designed by a podiatrist. And, remember, one shouldn’t wear the same shoes every day, so we’re talking maybe $500 for TWO pairs right off the bat.

Barefoot at my particular job is pushing it.  Well, actually, it's out of the question . . .so what do I do? What do YOU do?

Psychic SHOPPING AT SEARS

Two small gift certificates and a big, big sale.  Got a great top, still had money left on certificates.  Got a skirt, to checkstand.  Turned around, found another one of the skirt I really wanted.  That one fit.  Back to checkstand, skirt was on big sale, also.  A great outfit and only $11 out of pocket.  I've also had bargains there in the past on leather belts and leather watch band, and a leather bag!!

BELTS, SOCKS, MY SECRET BARGAIN PLACE

Belts are one place where I don't need a lot of whimsy. I need a lot of bargains. Three times now, Sears has been my secret source for basic leather belts with no chimes, no medallions, no clanking during meetings. And, en route to their belt rack, I also found my black leather watch band (an unusual size) for my favorite price - cheap!

Oh, and now that I think about it, I also got my slippers there and some good black socks that don't collapse and don't feel like a tourniquet.

PS My daughter swears (as did my father) that you can't beat Sears automotive for whatever auto stuff is doing you wrong and needs a good fix.

BRAS - IT HURTS WHEN I LAUGH

Who ever dreamed that a bra would arrive by mail that looks like it is made to fit the ends of grocery store sandwich bread instead of an actual bust? And yet, there it was. And another drive to the USPS to return it.

Then, in desperation, I fell for the old "bra fitting" racket yet again! The phone call for appointment made me suspicious. But desperate people do desperate things. Drove to Glendale. The "fitter" imposter tossed a tape measure over my tee shirt near the waist, asked me what size I usually wear. I replied, "The wrong size. That's why I'm here."

She returned with three bras, two I'd already tried on twice at Macy's.
I showed her how the forth bra was smashing my unhappy bust. She told me to put on my tee shirt and see how good I looked! Back on the street in 12 minutes, with $1.25 left on the new parking gizmo.

Off to another store, saw one bra in the wrong size that looked as if my size might actually fit. They, of course, didn't have my size. And then to another town for Macy's. But Macy's doesn't carry that division of Playtex.

So I'm back to ordering on line again. This time I ordered two sizes in hopes one size will fit. I'm thinking of getting my own space at the USPS for my regular bra-returning trips.

As I may have mentioned, when I returned the "bread wrapper" style bra, I gave them a very complete inventory of the parts of me that it didn't fit. I used my inside writing voice, and did not call the manufacturer any names.

When the postman rings, if this one fits, I may share the style number. . .