Payless ShoeSource

I needed some non-​slip shoes for work and a coworker recommended payless. I was greeted immediately upon entering the store and offered assistance. They had a good selection of non-​slip shoes and I was able to find a semi-​stylish pair for an amazing price. The cashier was helpful with checking for different sizes and telling me about their upcoming sales/​promotion. If I need anymore non-​slip shoes I’d probably shop here again.
The security tag was in the size of the shoes which made it uncomfortable to try on and really gauge if they were a good fit. Also, the shoes that I ended up purchasing was in the wrong box and they didn’t have the right box. I was sent on my way with boxless shoes, not cool.

The security tags are put into the middle of the shoes, not in the seam, which results in a hole in the side of all of the shoes. This is especially visible on patent leather shoes where there’s a hole smack dab in the side of the shoes because no one who works here seems to think they should put the giant security tags in an inconspicuous place, such as the seam or somewhere else less visible. They don’t have security tags in shoes at any of the Payless locations I have previously shopped at in Connecticut, but I guess theft of $ 10 shoes seems to be a problem in DC so much so that they destroy the shoes in the store by putting these huge security tags on them!
Also, one pair of shoes looked like it had been worn outside when I first took it out of the box because the bottom of the shoes were black. However, after trying on another pair of shoes, I think the first pair was just dirty from walking around the extremely dirty floor inside the store.
The only reason why this Payless location is getting two stars is because of the nice associate who was helping us and checked in the back to see whether there were any shoes that hadn’t already been security tagged and went through not only the shoes in the back, but also climbed on the ladder multiple times to get other pairs down that were stacked above the shelves to see if the holes in any of those pairs might be smaller and less noticeable.

Each time I walk into Payless, I am greeted immediately and asked if I need help finding anything. Excellent customer service!
The shoes selection is nice, however sometimes this store can be a hit or miss.
I HIGHLY recommend checking out the Comfort Plus shoes. I have 3 pairs of these flats (nude, blue, black). They are the most comfortable flats in the entire universe. Try them on and you’ll know what I mean.

The staff is super duper friendly and helpful, so that’s a plus. One employee played «personal shopper» to an older woman shopping for the perfect gold shoe to match her cocktail dress. He was so patient with her, which I found commendable.
Probably one of the smaller locations, but a decent selection nonetheless — especially during BOGO.

«That’s What She Said» series: «Why is it so small?» edition.
I think DSW has spoiled me. Their clearance section is basically my new Payless. I’m used to there not being a huge selection of cute shoes on the cheap at these PSS outlets, but I typically still find one pair that entices my wallet. Two short half-​aisles and no such luck, it was like ugly city. Maybe Payless shoes only try to be cute in warmer months.

when you look up at 2:00pm on a wednesday afternoon and remember that you have something after work, but forgot to pack appropriate attire, you need a plan. i had no plan. home’s too far to zip to and back in time, and i was wearing a dress and heels when after work i’d need durable shoes and clothes. what to do?
i started from the bottom up, and went on a hunt for some cheap shoes. what says cheap shoes better than payless shoe source? i used to buy dress shoes for the kid @ PLSS when he was small b/​c as any parent knows, buying dress attire for little ones is a huge waste of $$$ b/​c they grow out of it faster than they can wear it out. a quick search on Unilocal and voilà! — here’s the PLSS closest to my office.
i walk in and am greeted right away. i also notice right away that this store is spotless, AND one of the employees is cleaning. there’s accessories (purses, jewelry, etc) in the front too. hhmmm… PL must be stepping their game up! the rest of the layout is the same as i remember of all PLSS stores — aisles and aisles of shoeracks by size, sex and age, and all help-​yourself. i needed black sneakers and there were only 2 kinds of those, so that made my shopping considerably easy. i grabbed both boxes and, 2 try-​ons and $ 21 later, and i was out of the store with a pair of shoes that were not only functional but actually kind of cute.
the staff was very nice, double-​checking to see that both shoes were the same size before bagging them, and asking if i needed any socks or anything else. i’m not really a fan of PLSS, but i gotta give them credit where credit’s due. reliable, cheap, good service, and good in a pinch. i’ll go back if i need to, and i think i know where i’m getting my goddaughter’s 1^st communion shoes (or rainboots for the winter)!

After a hideous experience at the Macy’s nearby, I stopped in here. I know Payless shoes aren’t necessarily the best quality, but like someone I knew said, «It doesn’t matter if they’re Prada or Payless — they’ll both get worn down on these DC sidewalks either way.» And yes, I’ve bought expensive shoes that look worse for wear after walking down these rough sidewalks.
Anyway, I head in here this past Saturday, and grab four pairs of shoes. One of the saleswomen complimented me in the red patent leather pumps. When I was ready to ring up, the same saleswoman saw I was carrying a lot, so she took some pairs from me and helped me get them to the register.
My only qualm is that she got too familiar with me because we’re both Black and she assumed because of such that I’d be «down» (she referred to me in terms like «Baby Girl,» «Boo,» «Boo-​Boo,» and other things that made me go «Hmm…»), not realizing I’m so not «down» it’s ridiculous. I kept my mouth shut on this because I didn’t want to come off as rude. (Salespeople, when in doubt, refer to your female customers as «Miss» or «Ma’am.» Save the «homegirl» talk for your friends.)
That aside, this woman was very helpful and even caught that one of my pairs of shoes was two different sizes — one was regular and one was wide. How did I not catch that when I tried them on? She made sure I had both shoes in regular before I left that store.
Compared to the Macy’s nearby, which is supposed to be «higher-​end» (HA!), I’ll take Payless any day.