B. A. Mason brings out the Imelda in me
Written: Apr 04 '04
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Just a little before Christmas I received a catalog from B. A. Mason. At the time I had been hoping to find some comfortable slippers for my husband. Every couple of months his old trusty corduroy brands would wear out and he'd be left with gaping holes in the bottoms. What he really needed and wanted was a good pair of soft leather moccasin style slippers that would last. I found a pair that were absolutely perfect in the catalog, but somehow in the hustling and bustling of the season, they never got ordered.
Come Christmas morning and the slippers didn't make an appearance. I could tell that my husband was disappointed. He's much too polite to say anything out loud, but when he began sticking his feet into Hefty bags that were filled with cotton balls, I knew I needed to take drastic action. I remembered my B. A. Mason catalog.
If by some chance you're not familiar with the B. A. Mason company, let me give you just a little background. They are a manufacturer of shoes and boots dating back to the turn of the century. Their base of operations is in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and they are famous for their quality and fine workmanship.
Time was of the essence, though, so instead of relying on mail-order, I logged into my computer and checked out the B. A. Mason website. It's an attractive site. Not terribly flashy or colorful, but very easy to navigate. You can check out the site without logging in as a customer, which is a feature I really appreciate. Sometimes you feel a bit obligated to purchase once you've filled out your information.
If you do choose to log in and make a purchase, you simply click on the "Shopper Login" bar near the top of the screen. All you have to do is include your email address and a password of your choice. However, if you've just been on the site as a visitor and simply browsing, and then decide to make a purchase you don't have to go back to a log-in screen. It will let you go through the entire selection process and then let you join at the end of the transaction.
When you first begin shopping, you will see that there on the sidebar to the left of the screen is a complete listing of the different types of footwear offered for both men and women. They are:
Men's Athletic
Men's Casual
Men's Dress
Men's Outdoor
Men's Slipper
Men's Western
Men's Work
Women's Athletic
Women's Casual
Women's Dress
Women's Dress Casual
Women's Outdoor
Women's Slipper
Shoecare & Accessories
As you can see, one of the options is for Mens Slippers. As with all of the others, this selection contains various styles, most of them in leather.
I chose the Suede Leather Slippers for $44.88. I clicked on the picture and it took me to a drop-down bar, listing the colors. I clicked on the tan suede leather, and then it took me to a sizing chart. This chart shows both the size and widths that are available. You simply click on the size you want and it takes you straight to the checkout.
At this point you can continue shopping or complete your order. It took me about 5 minutes in all, from beginning to end. The Slippers were delivered 4 days later, and that was using regular shipping. I was given the option of shipping priority or express, which would have meant a few extra dollars. So I was glad I stuck with my money when I chose the standard delivery. They accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.
After my first experience with B. A. Mason, I thought I might just do a little shopping for myself. Now I don't like to waste my time looking at styles that may not be available for these ol' feet of mine. So let's just say you want to see all of the selections available in your size. There is a nifty little bar to the upper right of the screen that says Search By Your Size. This can save a lot of time and disappointment by showing you only the items that are available in your size.
For instance, when I entered my size (and if you think I'm telling you what it is, forget it), I found a wonderful selection of everything from some darling looking Granny Boots which are regularly $89.88 on sale for $39.99 to some sweet-looking sandals that were $36.88, marked down to $19.99. Needless to say, my shopping cart got full rather quickly.
This is a wonderful site to find dependable, quality, attractive footwear at reasonable prices. And if, by the way, you are one of those folks that likes to hear a human voice, rather that rely on a keyboard, you can contact B. A. Mason with your order or with any questions toll-free 1-800-893-8508 from 6 a.m. to midnight (that's central time), 7 days a week. They are closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, at 5 pm on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
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Good ol' CaptainD wants us to expand our horizons and write in a category that we've never explored before. Well, Dave, here you go. This was my first adventure into the wide world of Internet Services. If you'd like to read some of the entries in Dave's Challenge Yourself Write/Off, just click on one of those little ol blue letters.
8-)
~~Nedi~~
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Mens Slippers
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Epinions.com ID:
nedipooh
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Member: Nedi
Location: Sittin' in front of the 'puter.
Reviews written: 117
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