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How important is free shipping and return shipping to you?

We are thinking of changing our shipping policies to allow for both free shipping and free returns. Our ultimate goal, if we do this, is to become a site where parents can try on shoes in their own homes and then simply return the ones that don't work for them. Paying for shipping both ways will be expensive for us, so we need to increase our sales substantially if we're going to do this. Would you, as a parent, want to shop at our website if made this change? the site is www.gumshoe.com. thanks for your input.

Public Comments

1. Yes, I would appreciate that as a parent. No, I do not think you should be advertising on this site. The website address is not needed to ask your question.
2. I wouldn't order shoes for my child online without at least free return shipping. Why spend $30 on shoes, $8 on shipping only to have them not fit and spend another $8 on return shipping and you spent $16 on shoes you don't even own! Free shipping both ways would definitely be something I would be looking for.
3. I would definitely consider buying shoes online IF I could return/exchange without additional shipping charges.
4. This is the same model as Zappos and it works for them. They are an $845 Million dollar company. However, you have to be very customer driven and expect to lose money for some time before you are profitable. Good luck. You also could sell your shoes internationally with no risk by using a company like http://www.BongoUS.com I see that you aren't selling to that market yet and it would be a good idea to get into.