An Excellent Source for the Inner Cowboy and Cowgirl in Us All
Shepler’s
I am about as country as… well, any New Yorker can be but there are times when I just can’t resist wearing my cowgirl boots and my cowgirl hat and acting like I have seen a cow up close somewhere other than at a petting zoo at the state fair.
I really like the look of some of the newer cowgirl boots and I fell in love with cowgirl (cowboy, whatever) hats a couple years ago. When I decided I could no longer keep the country out of the city girl, I found two great websites, Sheplers and Langston’s, and I spend a lot of time (and money) there.
What Sheplers Sells
If it’s western, they sell it. They have men’s and women’s apparel, hats, boots (Oh! The boots!), accessories, and home and garden items. They have a wide selection of brand names from the inexpensive to the classiest.
Variety
There’s loads of variety from inexpensive to painfully expensive (for city folk like me who are just playing and don’t need the very best in western boots or hats). Most items are reasonably priced and the sales are awesome. This site is for real cowboys and cowgirls and for us "faux cowpeople" who just like the look of western styles. They do, however, carry jeans and boots that cater more to the biker crowd as well, which I also have in me, so you can imagine my personalities fighting over whether to buy cowgirl boots or biker boots. It’s a struggle, I tell ya, a struggle.
Navigation
Simple! The site is quite simple but has all you need. Along the top are links to categories for both men and women. You can opt to perform a search for what you are looking for, for faster results. There is also a sale link which you always should check out because when they have a sale, they really have a sale!
Once you find what you want, you just click to add it to the cart, making sure you pick the size and/or color you want. Do pay attention to the size chart that is on every item because some items, like Rockies Jeans, run differently than what you may normally wear.
You go to the checkout where you fill in the usual info and give a major credit card number and expiry.
Shipping is calculated after you input your address (but not your credit card info). Often they have free shipping specials but when they don’t, shipping varies depending on price. Shipping costs range from $4.95 to $18.95 (for orders up top $500. Over $500, shipping is determined by weight.) There is a shipping chart on the site that tells you what the shipping charges will be by price for both US Mail and UPS Ground.
Once you pay, you get a confirmation number online and in email.
When the order is mailed, another email arrives telling you it was shipped and giving you a tracking number.
The cheapest shipping method — US mail — takes seven to 10 days to arrive depending on your location and the post offices’ whims. I usually get my orders in within that time frame.
Some orders take longer as they are special ordered from the manufacturer but that will be clearly noted before you click to buy the item.
Orders arrive boxed in most cases, sometimes in sturdy bags if it is apparel.
And you’re all set to ride em, cowboy! Or…cowgirl as the case may be.
My Experience
I have ordered many times from Sheplers. I got my first Shady Brady cowgirl hat from them and my first pair of Rockies and Cruel Girl jeans there. I got my first (and best) pair of cowgirl boots there. We go way back.
I did have a problem with sizing with my boots and had to return them for a half size up. They shipped me the correct size and all was fine. Their customer service department is very friendly and easy going and willing to go out of their way to satisfy their customers.
This is a reliable and reasonably priced site which I go back to every time I happen to catch Urban Cowboy on late night TV.
Shipping and Returns
As I mentioned, shipping costs vary according to the amount of your order. It’s reasonable and they often have free of $4.95 shipping specials. They charge no sales tax, which I adore.
Returns are very simple. You can return anything within 30 days for any reason without prior authorization. Just send it back with a notation as to why you are returning it and you can get a refund or an exchange. They call it their "handshake return policy" and they mean it. I have exchanged two items and it’s been painless (I paid for return shipping but they paid to ship the exchanged items back to me).
They accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and JCB. I have no idea what JCB is but maybe it’s a southern thing we northerners aren’t privy to.
Contact Info
Customer Service, for orders or question, is 1-888-835-4004.
Email: service@sheplers.com
Conclusion
True westerners who want the finest in cowboy hats and boots probably love this site. People like me, who have ridden a horse a handful of times and never saw a hayloft, will love the styles and variety on this site. The boots are made very well and are all names that are well known and the apparel is fun to wear and reasonable. The hats range from low priced to prices I would never pay for a hat even if it was studded with diamonds.
Service is good, shipping is reasonable (and often times free with specials), and even the expensive stuff is less so than at most other websites I have been to.
I really enjoy shopping at Sheplers and letting my inner cowgirl shine through. I give it 5 shiny stars for making me look ready to ride a mechanical bull when the mood strikes. Now, if I could just find a place around here that HAS a mechanical bull….
Recommended:
Yes
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