By Ron Gower

They were the most expensive - and worst - house slippers I ever bought.

It started when I needed a new pair. My formers for which I grew an attachment and didn’t want to give up began falling apart, leaving little pieces of the soles all over the carpeting.

Lauren said I should spend the money and get “decent” ones for a change. Actually, I saw nothing wrong with the less expensive ones I would always get at area retail outlets like Boscov’s or Walmart.

She handed me a couple of mail order catalogs and asked me to check some out. I did. I picked an expensive pair (about $60 plus shipping) and ordered my size; the same size I always get in wide width.

When they came, they didn’t fit. They were too tight and weren’t wide enough. Actually, they fit my grandson perfectly, and his feet are a good two sizes smaller than mine. So he inherited a pair of slippers and I still had to buy another pair. Would you believe I found a pair on sale for $5 that fit perfect? So there, expensive retailer! Your shoes aren’t the best.

Those slippers are just a microcosm of the woes I find shopping online. Of course, most major outlets have good return policies, but to me that’s an inconvenience I want to avoid.

Because of the life-changing pandemic, more people than ever will be doing online shopping. I admit I do some online shopping, especially for camera equipment, but I also find it very frustrating.

Like those slippers, any article of clothing has distinctive size variables that causes complications when buying by mail.

For example, when I purchase shirts I prefer doing it in a store.

An extra large sweatshirt isn’t the same size from every outlet or by every brand. Some are longer than others. Some fit more loosely or are more snug. Some have longer sleeves.

In a physical store, I can hold a shirt up to me and determine if it will be OK. Online it’s usually a guessing game.

Blue jeans are never easy to select when shopping, and very difficult online. Although one brand and style has a say 38 waist which fits me perfectly there are styles with the same measurement - the 38 waist - that I can’t even close. Some styles are baggy and others are tight. Though clearly specified, lengths of the same number are longer or shorter than others.

I prefer going to a store and trying the jeans instead of repackaging and returning them.

I don’t understand why there isn’t there a synchronized code of measurement adopted for all brands and styles. It would make all purchasing easier.

Even buying underwear can be a challenge. Different brands and styles fit differently. Some T-shirts are longer than others and they usually don’t have the particulars specified on the packaging. I’ve purchased T-shirts that were perfect in one brand while the same size barely covers my navel in another.

At least for me, shoes definitely must be tried before I buy them. Although the specialized shoe store has become almost extinct, most area department stores and general merchandise stores have shoe departments to check the products without relying on photo-shopped pictures and unscientific sizing.

Then there’s the shipping issue.

First, although I personally haven’t had any problems, some Facebook friends have written about packages being delivered to the wrong address. I don’t know if this is a widespread problem, but it can be a cause for concern.

Second, with deliveries there’s the problem of thefts, especially in a household where people aren’t home during the day. Who hasn’t read about thieves roaming the streets and just grabbing packages off porches?

Finally, there’s the damaged items. Shopping at a store will let you see if a shirt is faded or if a glass on a picture frame is broken. With mail order shopping, you don’t know until you open the package.

I’ve gotten boxes that were ripped, crushed and even partially opened.

I bought a metal, locking file cabinet online, which arrived with the bottom dented so badly that a drawer wouldn’t close. I took two weeks to get it returned. It was replaced, but meanwhile I had a damaged cabinet sitting in my living room for two weeks waiting for pickup.

Certainly I’ll be buying some things online. Mail order shopping has become almost inescapable. There are some items just not available in local stores. Also, by logistics, online marketers generally have a larger selection than stores.

Whenever possible, though, I will shop in person and use safety precautions, including wearing a mask and washing my hands frequently.

Also, I know local retailers employ local people and help the general area economy.

I assure you, though, I never again will spend $70 for a pair of slippers that I can’t try on before I buy them.