DSW Reviews: Discounts, Drawbacks, and What to Expect

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If you’re a shoe lover, you’re probably familiar with the Designer Shoe Warehouse—known more familiarly by its acronym, DSW.

But when you’re itching to add to your shoe collection, are there any reasons to choose DSW over other big-box shoe retailers?

Decisions like this usually come down to personal preference and accessibility. But there are probably a few things you don’t know about DSW that would inform your shopping experience.

Are you interested in learning more? Just keep reading!

About the DSW brand

A woman wearing a pair of New Balance sneakers

DSW is owned and operated under the larger umbrella company, Designer Brands. Designer Brands’ products consist mostly of shoes and accessories, and DSW is the company’s largest contingent by far.

Customers can find most mainstream name-brand shoes in DSW stores, including several famous brands like UGG, Nike, Dr. Martens, Timberland, Gucci, and Steve Madden.

DSW is available in 44 states and boasts over 500 stores in the US, according to the Designer Brands website. Various iterations of Designer Brands stores are also available in Canada.

Source: DSW via Instagram

Is DSW a good buy?

So, why shop at DSW instead of any other shoe store? Here are a few reasons why DSW’s business model works for many shoe shoppers.

Style and brand variety

As we mentioned earlier, DSW has quite a wide range of options when it comes to footwear.

You’ll be able to find shoes for work, special occasions, lounging at home, and everything in between.

Instead of popping in and out of a handful of your favorite shoe stores on your next trip to the mall, DSW gives you the option of seeing everything in one place.

Granted, a NewBalance store or outlet would probably have a wider selection of NewBalance shoes in particular. But if you don’t find quite what you want from NewBalance, it’s on to the next store.

DSW is convenient for customers who like a one-stop-shop. They carry every shoe type imaginable, and their sales floor is organized by style rather than the brand name.

So, if you’re looking for a new pair of boots, you’ll generally see all their boots in one place and be able to pick out whichever brand’s style most appeals to you.

Fans of Jennifer Lopez might have their reasons for shopping at DSW. The celebrity artist’s line of shoes and handbags, called “JLO,” is exclusive to DSW.

Source:DSW via Instagram

Accessories and extras

At DSW, there’s more to see than the shoes.

If you’re also in the market for a new bag, scarf, hat, or trendy pair of tights or knee socks, DSW has a generous selection of add-ons from brands you might already know and love.

As with their shoe selection, the bags and purses found at DSW fit a range of budget amounts. You can pick up a $20 clutch or crossbody bag or a luxe leather tote bag.

Rewards, discounts, and promotions

Another reason to shop for shoes at DSW is the opportunity to get name brand footwear for less.

DSW coupons aren’t hard to come by. But this is especially true if you join their rewards program.

DSW VIP members receive regular coupons, a birthday discount, and participate in a points-based rewards system with even more deals.

Additional perks include free ground shipping and an opportunity to donate new or gently-used shoes to DSW through the company’s partnership with Soles4Souls.

Besides the satisfaction of a feel-good donation, DSW rewards customers with additional points each month they donate.

The most dedicated DSW fans might download their app or even open up a DSW Visa credit card for maximum points and perks.

And, of course, whether or not you’re a DSW rewards member, there’s always the clearance section if you’re looking for an excellent deal.

DSW reviews and customer service

Many DSW customers come away happy with the wide variety of name brand shoes and the discounts available. However, for the unlucky ones that run into problems with their purchase, DSW is not known for outstanding customer service.

As with most large retail businesses, in-store customer service quality varies depending on the store location. But some companies can make up for inconsistent in-store service by improving their customer support policies in general.

Unfortunately, DSW store employee support often leaves much to be desired, whether in-store, over the phone, or online.

DSW doesn’t accommodate many customers who experience refund, discount, and shipping issues. Generally, interactions with DSW customer service members end up being more of a hassle than a help—and they’re enough to make some people swear off the retailer entirely in their reviews.

Conclusion

When it comes to DSW, you’ve got to decide what’s most important to you: a great deal or a seamless (and consistent) customer service experience.

For some, it’s the result that makes it all worth it.

If you get your hands on a 25% off coupon that you can use on that glamorous pair of Betsey Johnson heels you’ve been eyeing for months, you just might be in luck at DSW. Especially if there’s no other way you could justify a high price point!

On the other hand, if you’re not willing to risk a potentially lengthy (and frustrating) process if something goes wrong, DSW might not be for you.

After all, for some people, a top-quality customer service experience is worth a higher price tag.

But if you can’t resist a bargain, DSW discounts can be hard to beat!

Source:DSW via Instagram

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