Payless ShoeSource

There are plenty of shoe stores in downtown Seattle, but sometimes you just need emergency shoes, right? You’re wearing flip-​flops and it starts pouring rain, or your heels are killing you and you need flats, but you don’t want to spend a ton of cash. Actually, now that the downtown Target has started carrying women’s shoes, that’s probably your best bet… but if they don’t have what you want, Payless is another option.
The store is on a kinda sketchy corner, but inside, it’s clean enough and usually pretty well organized. In women’s, they have a decent selection of wide sizes as well as regular-​width styles, and they’re all mixed together, so make sure the shoe matches the box. Overall, though, I’ve found the signage to be pretty accurate here.
The prices are cheap, but you get what you pay for. I got a pair of American Eagle slippers with hard soles that have held up surprisingly well, and a pair of basic nude heels that were comfortable and worked fine for the special occasion I needed them for. They have lots of colorful and cute flats for under $ 20, although the materials sometimes feel cheap or the construction is flimsy. Quality seems to be better on the national brands vs. their private-​label generic brands.
In addition to shoes, they have a small selection of costume jewelry and accessories (socks, shoe liners, laces, etc.). So if you’re having an accessory emergency while downtown, Payless might be able to help you out with that too.
Service isn’t great, but again, that’s not really what you’re paying for here. It is a little weird/​abrupt when they whip the shoebox away behind the counter without asking — I guess you don’t get the box unless you ask for it? — but since I usually toss the box anyway, it’s not a big deal. It’s never very busy when I go, so you can be in and out of there in five minutes if you know exactly what you want and aren’t picky.
If you want designer brands, fine leather, and top-​notch service, there are plenty of department shoes and boutiques within just a few blocks! But if you just need something inexpensive to get you through the day, Payless is fast and cheap.

I’m a sucker for a good deal and so places like Payless Shoes sratches that frugal itch of mine. You get what you pay for, so I don’t expect the staff to help me out (they never do). I just go into the place, see what shoes are in the size 8 section, try a couple of pairs on (if something actually catches my eye), pay for the shoes and call it a frugal day! Okay, so I realize I should prehaps place a little bit for stylish effort when selecting shoes, but I can’t seem to justify buying similar shoes at Nordstroms for A LOT more money.

Everyone writing reviews on this payless needs to calmmmmm down. its a payless. dont expect Sak’s service people.
It was open on a major snowday! We needed temporary snowboots and didnt want to spend $ 150 each on some freaking Sorel’s we’d wear for 1 more day. YAY payless saved the day. $ 90 bux later, bf and i had some snow boots to wear for trekking around in since it snowed… thats a savings of over $ 200. DId i payless? yes! thanks to bogo promo!
Also, the lady at the register/​employees seemed nice enough to me. they helped me cut off the strings/​tags so i could wear them out. yay

Alright… this is the only place in Seattle where I was upset at the service. It wasn’t even the ladies in the register it was the Manager… She kept yelling at everything with a sarcastic tone of friendliness… Totally ruined my experience here.

The shoes are relatively inexpensive (especially if you happen to come in during a sale) and there always seem to be several employees to help you if you need it. These are good things, but I found myself annoyed (on more than one occasion) at this location because the staff will not leave you alone. A greeting when I enter is sufficient – and I personally don’t love it when my cashier looks up and barks «welcometopaylessletmeknowificanhelpyoufindanythin­g» through me to the person walking through the door, but you have to do what you have to do, I guess. On a recent trip to payless, I was greeted at the door, then as I walked into the women’s shoe section, then as I rounded the corner, then again by a woman walking through the aisle, then again when that woman walked back through a minute and a half later. This time, she wanted to know if I needed help finding anything, and if I had heard about the sale, not stopping as I smiled and said «yes, thank you» and instead launched into an explanation of the sale (which I HAD already heard, AND I was standing right next to a sign explaining the sale) without stopping to breathe. Now, I don’t really come to payless to luxuriate in my shopping experience by any means, but I do want to be mainly left alone when I am shopping – a cursory «hello, can I help you find anything» is pretty sufficient. What I don’t want is to be hounded every 45 seconds as I am quietly contemplating the benefits of one pair of inexpensive flats vs. urban moccasins. I understand they are just doing their job… to the extreme!

Although my cheapness brings me back, I still hate this place. And just for the record, I almost missed my bus because after talking to her co-​worker instead of ringing me up for about 2 minutes (an hour in customer time), lady would not stop telling me about her stupid ~latest specials~ in that same ol’ robotic tone. I’m not normally one to suggest self checkouts because they cut down on jobs but…
…
please?

I like the shoes here, the pumps and all that other stuff. The people at the front do greet me every time I walk in. But I think that the shoes are too over priced, seriously, I think that I can get something name brand from Ross for half the price. I hate it when people take the lids for shoes that dont’ have any! I didn’t even get a lid for mine :(

Okay… so I don’t know what it is, but EVERY single time I have gone to this particular Payless Shoesource, all of the employees are incredibly nice and helpful. From the second you walk in the door, they greet you, no matter what they may be doing at that time. I swear I’ve seen at least 15 different employees here over the past 3 years and every single one is genuinely nice and seems to enjoy their job, which I never would have expected, nor have I encountered, at any «bargain» store! It’s always a pleasure to fulfill my shoe addiction, interact with nice people, and get such great deals from this store.

Super small Men’s selection.