Gap

Full review
An online compliment to its brick and mortar stores, Gap.Com is an excellent example of a retailer using its online shopping store as an extension and expansion of its retailing, instead of just a new place to sell the same things.

Like Gap stores across the country, Gap.Com offers many of the same clothes and products. However, what sets Gap.Com apart from its brick and mortar sibling is the fact that it offers sizes and other colors you would not find in the normal Gap store and offers online only sales and special discounts for shoppers using Gap.Com.

I’ve always liked the clothes at the Gap, however I have often found that it is hard to find the clothes in sizes that fit me well. Not that I am huge, but with a 36 waist and generally extra-large shirts, it seems that everything in the brick and mortar Gap stores are x-small. My partner picks up these clothes and I look at them and think “would this even fit on my arm?” He of course, fits perfectly into these miniature clothes, but I on the other hand must search and search the racks and the displays to find sizes of my liking.

That’s what is great about Gap.Com – you are able to order Gap products in just about any size imaginable (well within reason). I can find clothes I like at the brick and mortar location and then go home and go online and order those clothes in exactly the sizes I want. Plus when I am online, I discover items that are only on sale online, and I might have a special coupon for shopping on Gap.Com. All in all, it’s a better deal than the real stores sometimes. Though I’m never quite comfortable ordering clothes I have never seen or been able to touch online. That’s why I generally check out the real store before I go shopping online.

The Details

Shopping at Gap.Com is simple. The site is broken down into logical divisions. First by men and women’s clothing and then by the type of clothing (underwear, outerwear, jeans, shirts, etc.) that is available. You can also review sale items and search for items by name or code number.

As you are browsing through the site, it is easy to add items to your cart (called a shopping bag on Gap.Com). Just review an item, choose your quantity, color and size, and click on the “add to the bag” button and voila, it’s in your shopping bag.

When you have completed your shopping, you review your bag and then proceed through the checkout. Checkout is a fairly painless process. For existing members, most information is already completed (such as name, address, billing info, etc). New shoppers will have to complete this information in order to process their orders. Once you have entered it once, Gap.Com provides a user ID that you can use for future shopping and you won’t have to re-enter all that information.

Gap.Com accepts all major credit cards and also accepts the Gap Card.

Shipping and handling is based on different types of delivery. Standard delivery, express, and overnight delivery are available and are priced accordingly. Gap.Com provides an email confirmation of your order and tracking information to track your order as it is put together and then sent to you. The shipping tracking number is sent to you once it is available.

My Experiences

I’ve ordered quite a few items from Gap.Com, most recently some Christmas presents for my partner. The browsing and searching process has always been easy and checking out is about as pain-free as can be online. I’ve always shopped with the Gap card and have never had a problem with out-of-stock items or delayed shipments. I have always chosen the standard shipping and packages generally take about a week to be delivered.

So…

If you like the Gap, Gap.Com is an excellent extension of this store into the online world. You will find additional sizes and colors that you wouldn’t find in the store and you are privy to online only sales and discounts. Gap.Com is definitely worth your time should you be in the market for some new clothes.