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You recently just came across this cool footwear website and you are wondering “Is Famous Footwear Legit?” or just hit and miss wannabe stores like Footlocker, Champs Sports and the likes. Am glad you are here, you are about to get as much information you can on Famous Footwear
By the time you are done reading, i am very sure you know if you would like to buy your next shoes at Famous Footwear or not
Let’s Dive In!!!
Famous Footwear Overview – How it all Started
A large U.S. retail chain called Famous Footwear sells name-brand shoes typically at prices lower than the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices.
In 2010, the chain, a division of the Caleres company with headquarters in St. Louis, had more than 1,125 locations.
In Madison, Wisconsin, a single shoe store named Neil’s Factory Shoe Outlet (originally known as “Neil’s Shoes”) opened in 1960, marking the beginning of Famous Footwear.
Neil Moldenhauer, 29, opened the shop, which was funded by a $10,000 loan.
College student Brian Cook was hired as a stock boy by Neil’s Factory Shoe Outlet in 1963. Cook later worked his way up the corporate ladder to become president of Famous Footwear in 1979.
About 50 years later, Cook recalled:
“One of the original factory outlets in the Midwest was us.
The shop sold mostly women’s clothing and only bought closeouts. Nothing like that had ever been seen in the market.
Shoppers tended to frequent mom-and-pop establishments because department stores were not as affordable as they are now.
The market was ripe for large, open formats that offered discounted goods.
As a result, we launched a program for quick store expansion. In the end, we forced many small businesses out of business.
(Famous Footwear – Wikipedia, 2021)
Who owns the Famous Footwear Company?
Famous Footwear is a part of Caleres Inc., which is a group of different shoe brands from around the world that want to help everyone find the right pair of shoes. Caleres has a history of over 130 years of craftsmanship and a passion for fit, and their goal is still to make people feel good… feet first.
What used to be the name of Famous Footwear?
In 1960, Neil’s Factory Shoe Outlet (at first called “Neil’s Shoes”) opened in Madison, Wisconsin. This was the first store for Famous Footwear. Neil Moldenhauer, who was 29 at the time, opened the store with a $10,000 loan.
Is Famous Footwear Going out of Business?
Brown Shoe Co. says that over the next year, it will close 145 Famous Footwear stores.
No one knew if any of the 26 Famous Footwear stores in the Twin Cities area would have to close because of the closings. Brown said that it was speeding up the review of its properties and leases.
Brown, which has more than 1,100 stores across the country, told the St. Louis Business Journal that the closures are part of a plan to get rid of “under performing or poorly aligned assets.”
Last week, Brown said that a Famous Footwear distribution center in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, would close next year, putting 144 people out of work.
Are all of Famous Footwear Shoes Real & Legit?
Yes, they are all real and legal, just like any other shoe store chain. So you shouldn’t worry about it.
If any fakes make it onto the shelves, that’s a mistake. Famous Footwear is a real business just like Footlocker. Champs, DSW, etc..
On the contrary
Well, to be honest, not all shoes from well-known brands are likely to be real.
There could be a lot of reasons, but I can tell you from my own experience. I am a shopaholic who is also crazy about shoes.
Now, I’m not just talking about shoes for women. I’m also talking about shoes for men, since I always pick shoes for my brothers from the list.
And I’ve seen brands like Mochi, which claim to be the original leather men’s loafers and cost us $2,800, wear out in less than a year after only three uses, and that’s not even with regular use.
Even red tape hasn’t always been that strong (the formal mens collection).
The first copy could have been sold as the original, or a defect copy could have already been given.
Also, quality that was rejected for export could be sold at a 10% discount.
While for women, the Catwalk brand sells out its stock at the cheapest prices, but the shoes don’t last as long as they cost less.
Even the brand from streetstylestore doesn’t help.
How is Famous footwear different from other brands?
Famous Footwear runs a chain of shoe stores in the US and Canada that sell athletic and casual shoes for men, women, and children. The company has a wide range of styles for women, men, and children from well-known brands like Nike, Converse, Vans, Sperry, Madden Girl, Skechers, ASICS, and others.
Famous Footwear has been able to stay in business through many ups and downs in the consumer market by keeping its focus on families and offering must-have styles at low prices. “Brand name shoes for less” is still the company’s slogan, which was made up by founder Neil Moldenhaur in 1960.
Mike Edwards, who was named president of the St. Louis-based chain on Nov. 11 after 12 years with parent company Caleres, said, “At their core, Famous Footwear hasn’t really changed. They’re still a shoe store that sells great national brands at a great price.” Edwards took over for Molly Adams, who left to try something else.
Is Famous Footwear a site you can depend on?
From 153 customer reviews, Famous Footwear has gotten a rating of 2.59 stars, which means that most customers aren’t happy with their purchases. Customers who have problems with Famous Footwear most often mention problems with customer service, credit cards, and business days. Famous Footwear is the 71st best site for shoes.
What Shipping Company Does Famous Footwear Use?
Your order’s shipping company will depend on where you live, where your order is coming from, and whether or not you chose fast shipping. Please use the information below to find out about possible delivery services. Please click here if you have questions about delivery times and prices.
Standard orders:
FedEx or FedEx SmartPost is used to ship most standard orders. Please be aware that for SmartPost deliveries, USPS and FedEx work together. So, a FedEx link will be given to you so you can track your order, but your items will be sent by USPS.
Please note that when you place your order, we can’t tell you whether it will be sent via FedEx or FedEx SmartPost. We also can’t ask for a certain service to deliver your order.
Urgent orders:
FedEx will deliver all orders for the 2nd Business Day and the Next Business Day. Please note that delivery days do not include weekends or holidays.
How long does it take for Famous footwear to be delivered?
We work hard to get your order out as soon as possible, so most orders will leave our distribution center within 48 (business) hours after you place them. However, in some cases, it may take up to 4 business days for your order to leave our distribution center.
For Home Delivery orders, please give 4–7 business days for delivery (excluding weekends and holidays).
Famous Footwear is known for its fast in-store or curbside pick-up.
Most orders are ready within an hour. Most places offer curbside pickup as well as in-store pickup. Pickup in store is possible during all business hours.
When Does Famous Footwear Close?
Typically most of the Famous Footwear stores close by 6pm with the exception of some which close by 5pm, by using the link provided for the what time does famous footwear open below, you would be able to know when each stores close
What Time Does Famous Footwear Open?
Famous Footwear has lots of stores across the USA and will be very hard to give a general time they open because of the different time zones and location of each store, but i have provided a Google Search Result page which you can use to check the different store opening time
How to Find Famous Footwear Near Me
You can find a famous footwear near you by using their Find a Store Page on their website which allows you to search by Zip or City
Click Here to Find a Famous Footwear Near You Now
Does Famous Footwear ship to countries other than the US?
From FamousFootwear.com, we only ship to addresses in the 50 United States. From FamousFootwear.ca, we only ship to addresses in Canada. We do not ship to countries other than the U.S. and Canada, or to U.S. territories or commonwealths.
Where Can i Find Famous Footwear Discounts?
Use the code SAVEONCOZY to get 20% off BEARPAW online.
Use the app to get 20% off BEARPAW online and in stores until December 3, 2022. This coupon can only be used once on BEARPAW shoes and accessories at famous.com, the Famous Footwear app, or in Famous Footwear or Famous Footwear Outlet stores.
Not good for cash or anything that can be exchanged for cash, gift cards, or items that have already been bought. There may be other restrictions, so ask a store employee for more information.
You can’t use this offer with any other coupons (other than Reward Cash). Items bought with gift certificates, coupons, or other special offers will have their refund or exchange amount changed.
No more than 21 items. One transaction per person. To redeem online, enter the promo code SAVEONCOZY in the box for promo codes when you check out.
What are the rules for a discount?
Not valid on Birkenstock, Bogs, Brooks, Chaco, Converse, Crocs, Dansko, Dr. Martens, HEYDUDE, Hunter, Koolaburra by UGG, Native, Nike, OOFOS, Under Armour, Vionic, certain ASICS, Columbia, New Balance, Reef, Steve Madden, Teva, Timberland, and Timberland Pro styles.
Not good for cash or cash equivalents, gift cards, or items that have already been bought.
You can’t use one offer with another coupon (other than Reward Cash).
Items bought with Reward Cash, coupons, or other special offers will have their refund or exchange amount changed.
Not valid with deals that are only available in stores that are closing.
No more than 21 items.
Each offer can only be used once per person.
There may be other exceptions; ask a store employee for more information.
Buy One, Get One Half Off (When Applicable)
MIX AND MATCH SHOES AND BAGS: Buy one item and get a second item of equal or lower value for half price. Excludes socks, insoles, shoe care, Bates, Birkenstock, Bogs, Brooks, Bzees, Caterpillar, Chaco, Converse, Crocs, Dr. Martens, Dr. Scholl’s Orig Collection, Harley Davidson, HEYDUDE, Hunter, Koolaburra by UGG, Native, Nike, OOFOS, Under Armour, Vionic, select ASICS, select Columbia, select New Balance, select Reef, select So
SOCKS: Buy one pair or pack of socks and get a second pair or pack of equal or lower value for half price in-store only.
BOGO 1ST PAIR ONLY: During the BOGO 1/2 Off sale, items marked “BOGO 1ST PAIR ONLY” cannot be discounted. The first pair can be bought at full price, and the second pair can be bought at a 50% discount.
Rewards Extra Buy One, Get One Half Off: Extra Buy One, Get One Half Off can be used with your Reward Cash, sales, and bonus point offers. No other coupons can be used with this one.
Clearance Sale: Buy One, Get One for Half Price (When Applicable)
If you buy one item on sale, you can get a second item on sale of the same or less value for half price. Excludes socks, insoles, shoe care, Bates, Birkenstock, Bogs, Brooks, Bzees, Caterpillar, Chaco, Converse, Crocs, Dr. Martens, Dr. Scholl’s Orig Collection, Harley Davidson, HEYDUDE, Hunter, Koolaburra by UGG, Native, OOFOS, Under Armour, Vionic, select ASICS, select Columbia, select New Balance, select Nike, select Reef, select
Standard shipping is free (When Applicable)
Standard shipping is free only in the 48 contiguous states of the United States.
Members of FAMOUSLY YOU REWARDS® get free standard shipping every day, no matter how much they buy. When members check out, they must be signed in.
At this time, we can’t ship online orders outside of the United States or to U.S. territories.
FAMOUSLY YOU REWARDS YOU WITH $10 BONUS CASH IF YOU PICK UP FASTLY
FAMOUSLY YOU REWARDS® members can get $10 Bonus Reward Cash for Famously Fast Pickup orders until 12/24/22. For this offer to work, you must be a FAMOUSLY YOU REWARDS member and logged in. The day after the reward is picked up, the cash will be given out.
The most Bonus Reward Cash you can get in a day is $10, and the most you can get over the earning period is $100. To qualify, you must pick up by 12/31/22. With Famously Fast Pickup, you can choose to pick it up in-store or at the curb.
All open locations offer in-store pickup (which is usually ready within an hour), and many also offer curbside pickup.
All Terms and Conditions for FAMOUSLY YOU REWARDS Reward Cash apply.
FAMOUSLY YOU REWARDS Bonus Point Multipliers (When Applicable)
- 5X Points means that STAR and SUPERSTAR members get 5 points for every $1 they spend.
- 4X Points means that STAR and SUPERSTAR members get 4 points for every $1 they spend.
- 3X Points means that STAR and SUPERSTAR members get 3 points for every $1 they spend.
- 2X Points means that STAR and SUPERSTAR members get two points for every dollar they spend.
To use a point multiplier, a member must be signed in when they check out. No coupon code required. In a single transaction, you can only use ONE point multiplier coupon.
Before you can turn your points into Reward Cash, they will show up in your account after 48 hours. During a bonus point promotion, you can earn up to 1,500 points.
Famous Footwear Return Policy – What You Need to Know
If you don’t like the style or fit, or if you just change your mind, you can come back to any store or send the item back to us by mail. As part of our Famously Easy Return and Exchange Policy, we want to help everyone get that great feeling that comes from wearing the right pair of shoes.
Two Simple Ways To Get Back
In Store (for free!)
Everyone knows how easy it is to return something to any store.
No box? No receipt? No problem! We’re happy to look up your receipt using the credit/debit card you used to make the original purchase or your FAMOUSLY YOU REWARDS® account.
If we can’t find your original receipt, we’ll give you store credit at the price the item is selling for now. When you return or exchange something, there is no stocking fee.
We reserve the right to limit or refuse returns or exchanges, no matter when you send the package back to us.
*Note: We may collect information from you to help manage our return/exchange process, to help protect against malicious, deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity, and to help manage our relationship with you.
By Mail
What should I know?
For mail-in returns, Famous Footwear charges a flat rate of $7.95 for shipping. You can print this pre-paid return shipping label and send it back to us. When we get it back, we’ll charge you a $7.95 return processing fee.
Follow these steps if you want to send a return by mail:
You can get your return label and packing slip by through on the website.
Put your order back together and put the packing slip inside the box.
Attach the label for returning the package to the outside of the box.
When we get your return, we’ll take a $7.95 return processing fee out of the money we give you back for your return order.
Please remember:
At FamousFootwear.com, we only accept returns for purchases made on the site or shipped to your home. (You can return items bought in-store to any Famous Footwear store, but you can’t get a refund by mail.) You can only make exchanges in stores.
10 dangers of buying from the famous footwear website
According to Consumer Affairs, Famous Footwear uses had these to say about the dangers of buying from Famous Footwear website
1. No one was in the store, so the manager and a clerk stood behind the register. I asked for help 17 days ago to get the shoes I bought there and asked to be sent to my house. Manager helped me follow up. She found wrong information about tracking. She wouldn’t help me get a refund or contact FF customer service on my behalf. I’m a member and go there often. Now, no longer.
2. This is one of the worst businesses in America! Customers aren’t happy at all, and managers don’t care about fixing problems with quality, shipping, returns, credit, or refunds. Don’t buy anything from Famous Footwear!
3. They sent the wrong shoes. The shipping label said that if you weren’t happy with your order, you could send the shoes back and they would pay for the shipping costs again. A week later, I got an email saying that they had received my return, but that they had only refunded part of the price of the shoes and that there would be no shipping charges for either getting or sending them back.
When I called customer service, they told me they would refund the shipping costs. When I checked my account a few days later, there was less than a dollar back. I sent them an email, and they told me that was the tax on the order, but they didn’t pay for shipping. They gave me a 20% discount on my next order, but I will never order from this company again and I wouldn’t tell anyone else to do so either.
4. I’m getting 3 pairs of shoes. One person went to a different place. Can’t cancel order to rebuy the shoes so they go to the right place. If you don’t pick up your shoes within 7 days, the system will refund your order.
5. I’ve bought shoes from Famous Footwear before, and the first time went well. The second time, they sent the package to the wrong place. In fact, a completely different state. Who would do that? I called and emailed them, but they said there was nothing they could do and that I would have to wait two weeks for a refund and that they would not send me the item. I have to reorder. What kind of business is this, anyway? One customer went elsewhere. Definitely.
6. I bought two pairs of shoes online. Usually, I would have them sent to a store, but one pair was only sold online, so I chose to have them sent to my house. I have trouble reading and switched the first two numbers of my street address for shipping. I didn’t realize what I had done wrong until I saw the confirmation of my order.
Before I got a shipping confirmation number, I called their customer service to see if this could be changed or if I could cancel and reorder with the right address. I talked to a woman who wouldn’t even look up my order number and told me they couldn’t help. If your order is sent to the wrong address, it seems you just have to hope that the other person refuses it or that it gets sent back so you can get a refund or send it again.
7. First of all, I’d give this company less than 1 star if I could. I have been a customer of Famous Footwear for a long time. I usually buy shoes for my whole family from them, but I will never use them again. My order was placed on March 5, and FedEx said it was delivered on March 11, but I never got it. I was told I had to wait until March 25 to file a claim for a lost package (Famous Footwear). FedEx told me I couldn’t even talk to a real person because all claims have to go through the sender.
8. So I put in an order for shoes that were supposed to come on the 18th. Even though it’s only the 20th, the shoes haven’t even been sent out yet. When I called customer service, they told me to “wait a while.” They also said that the shipping fee would be free, which hasn’t happened yet. From all the reviews I wish I had read first, it looks like I won’t be getting them for a while. I won’t buy anything online from this company ever again.
9. They charge you twice for something you didn’t get!!! Then they don’t answer and cancel reward accounts for no reason…. Terrible place. I’ve emailed and called, but you won’t answer. I want to get my money back.
10. Because of a bad return experience at the store, my wife and I closed our Famous Footwear account. We called Famous Footwear to close the account and pay off the bill. The representative told us that the account was paid in full and that we didn’t have to deal with them anymore. They then closed the account.
In Conclusion
They charged us a late fee the following month. When we called them on 11/5/2021 to dispute the charge, they were VERY rude, especially the manager, Misty. I will never again do business with Famous Footwear or Comentity Bank. Worst service ever!
Famous Footwear like any other brand has been through its up and down, but for it to still be in business from 60 years ago up until now speaks volume. You can trust that famous footwear will sell only the best shoes. Many people like to wear well-known shoes, so give it a try.
