La Sportiva

La Sportiva NA INC would benefit by taking a page out of the playbook of Zappos or REI -- who ship merchandise for free, even on returns. The "Priority Shipment" category listed in shipping options is misleading, as shipments do not arrive in 2-3 days, as USPS Priority shipments do. My order took 6 days to arrive in Phoenix from Boulder and cost $14.85.

One also has to pay for shipment for returns! In the case of exchanges, the returned merchandise must first be received & processed before the exchange merchandise will even be shipped -- potentially taking an additional two weeks before the desired merchandise is finally received. I was charged twenty dollars more for the very same shoes as carried by REI (who ships for free AND offers Member Benefit points for spending on a future purchase). When I complained about the shipping information being less than transparent (one way to describe being charged for 2-3 day delivery, but not getting that speedy shipment inferred), I was told that others had likewise made the same comment/complaint, but no changes had been made in response to customers' concerns. NOT very competitive or customer-friendly policy, given the more customer savvy terms on shipments & returns of other, highly successful competitors...