Sheplers

Full review
Several months back, I searched for a particular type of shirt as a gift for my father. He wanted a flannel shirt with a quilted lining but with snaps down the front instead of traditional buttons. Not easy to locate! I finally found the shirt at Sheplers.com.


Description

The website URL is: www.sheplers.com.

This website specializes in western wear. They offer western items for men, women and children. The opening page is very basic. However, once one delves into the store … the variety of products is great. I found they not only sell clothing but also selected items for the home with western themes.

Along the Top

A set of navigation buttons along the top display these headings: MEN’S: boots, jeans, apparel, workwear … and WOMEN’S: boots, jeans, apparel, kids, hats, gifts & home, Sale.

Click on any one of the above headings and a submenu appears with lots of navigation choices. For instance, click on Men’s Boots and the menu features: Major Boot Brands, Cowboy Boots, Casual Shoes & Boots, Work Boots. Beneath these headings are more choices. For example, beneath Cowboy Boots are the navigation choices of: Exotic skin cowboy boots, Handcrafted cowboy boots, Roper boots, Lace up western boots, Cowboy boots under $100, Cowboy boots $100 - $200, Zipper boots, Harness boots, Trucker boots.

Other navigation links in this top area include: Savings, Free Catalog, Cart, Wish List and a Search feature.

In the Middle

This area offers a display of sale items and special promotions. There are also links for: Outlet, Sign up for Savings, Free Catalog, Retail Store Locations, About Us, Site Map, Brands, Links, and even a convenient link to add the website to your “favorites” list as a bookmark. There is also a toll-free phone number.

At the Bottom

This area contains a brief mention that Shepler’s has been in business for over 55 years (their logo says they are celebrating their 61st year in business). They also list an array of brands that they sell, including: Levi’s, Wrangler, Ariat, Justin, Tony Lama, Lucchese, Stetson. There is also a link to investigate how to participate in Group Sales.


Let’s Go Shopping!

Of course I had to go “window” shopping before I found what I really wanted to buy. Sheplers has boots, belts and buckles, western hats, jeans, shirts, slacks, skirts and dresses, coats, handbags and wallets, some jewelry and watches, and even some toys for children. They also offer cell phone cases with a unique western flare. They even sell what they call “hat cans”, a molded plastic case with a comfort grip handle to safely store or transport a hat.

I also tried out the Search feature. Typing in the word “shirt” yielded 542 results. The word “purse” yielded 22 results. “Stetson” showed 26 hat choices. “Chaps” returned 8 choices, including two for children.

Each product page displays a large image of the product on the left side of the screen. Sometimes there is more than one image, such as an overall image and a “detailed” view. The price is displayed in large print above the image photo. To the right of the image are drop-down menus to select size and color as well as type in the quantity. There is also a brief bulleted list that offers a description of the item.

It is simple to add an item to the shopping cart, too. Each product page shows whether the item is in stock and when it is expected to ship (nice!). Then just click the “Add to Cart” button. If the item is in stock, but the color is not available, a message displays showing when the exact item you want will be in stock.

Unlike other websites I’ve visited. The screen changes to show not just a shopping cart but also an area to fill out checkout information. You can click “Continue to Shop” to exit the screen, or click “Recalculate Order” if adjusting quantities or removing items from the cart.

Sheplers offers a variety of sizes, too, including men’s Big & Tall as well as women’s Plus sizes. Prices are reasonable, too, depending upon what you are looking for. Levi’s 550 boot-cut jeans for women sell for $36.00 a pair (at my local store I can buy them for $30.) Leather belts vary in price from $20 to $70. Adult leather chaps sell for around $100. Novelty t-shirts with a variety of sayings and designs sell between $15 - $20.


Checking Out & Payment

Sheplers had the long-sleeve shirt I was looking for. It was perfect, exactly what my father wanted. It sold for $29.99, too, which I considered a bargain. I added it to my cart and was ready to checkout.

Like other online shopping sites, you are required to supply your name, address and contact information. Shepler’s usually ships via UPS Ground. However, if using a P.O. Box, then they will ship via U.S. Mail. The other shipping options are 3-4 Day air and 2-Day Air.

Sheplers accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover and JCB credit cards. There is also an area to type in a customer number (if you have one) and a catalog code (if ordering from a specific Sheplers’ catalog). If you have a coupon code, you can also enter it.


Shipping Charges & Returns

Here are the shipping charges for orders shipped within the Continental U.S.A. (note that the same shipping costs are charged whether shipping via UPS Ground or U.S. Mail):

$0 - $15.00 -- $5.95
$15.01 - $30.00 -- $7.50
$30.01 - $50.00 -- $8.95
$50.01 - $65.00 -- $9.95
$65.01 – 75.00 -- $10.95
$75.01 - $100.00 -- $11.95
$101.01 - $125.00 -- $13.95
$125.01 - $150.00 -- $14.95
$151.01 - $200.00 -- $16.95
$200.01 -- $300.00 -- $17.95
$301.01 - $500.00 -- $18.95
over $500.00 – shipping charges determined by weight

Shepler’s has an excellent return policy. If you are unhappy with your purchase, return it for a refund or exchange. Allow 2 – 3 weeks for the return/exchange to be processed.


Receiving the Order

I placed my order on a Saturday and received an email order confirmation the same day. The confirmation recapped the order but did not include an order number. On Tuesday, I received a second email with Shipping Confirmation. This time the email included the order number as well as how the order shipped and a link to track the order. My order shipped via UPS Ground. A nice addition to the email was a toll-free phone number is case I needed to call them.

The package arrived on time and in excellent condition. My father and I were extremely impressed with the quality of clothing. The shirt was exactly what he wanted. It’s been washed many times with minimal shrinkage, too.


Summary

I would definitely shop at Sheplers.com again. I enjoyed searching through the variety of merchandise. Ordering was easy, too. A great shopping experience.

I hope you found this review useful.

Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com


Please read my other reviews:

Coach.com Online Store

Kohl's Online Store

Linen 'n Things Online Store

BestBuy Online Store

Buy.com Online Store

Staples.com Online Store

Harry and David Online and at the Mall

The Republic of Tea Online Store

Cooking.com Online Store

BJ's Warehouse Club

Keepsake Quilting Online Store

Dutch Gardens Online Store


Copyright 2007 Dawn L. Stewart