Tap dancing on my brain

In late August, the new school year approaching and me hugely pregnant, I lamented the closing of the local dance-supply store and went online to get Princess new tap shoes.
She's at the transition between children's sizes and women's sizes. The website seemed clear, the sizes laid out in order along the drop-down menu. I ordered a 6, which was next in line after the 5 she was wearing last year.
The shoes arrived Sept. 1, just in time for classes to start. When I opened them, though, I was shocked to see they were a size 6 toddler shoe. Baby tap shoes! Who knew babies needed tap shoes?

I was so angry. The fact that someone out there thought their 18-month-old girl needed $30 tap shoes (plus $9 shipping 'cause those suckers are heavy) made steam come out my ears. I bit the bullet, talked to someone from the company, shipped the shoes back and waited.
The next pair was too small, too! It was a child's size 6, and she had been wearing a women's 5. I had described the product, serial number and all, to the phone rep, so I couldn't believe we got another pair that was too small. When I called again, I had to take deep breaths to prepare. I'll remind you, it costs $9 each way for shipping, dance class was about to start, and I had a baby due any day.
I asked for free shipping for the new shoes coming my way, so that shaved a little bit off, but regardless, I haven't even added up how much those shoes ended up costing me. Next time, I'll drive wherever I need to so she can try on the shoes. I don't care if it's 200 miles away; she's trying on the shoes first.
I should have written it down at the time, but the second phone rep. explained that you have to add something to convert from children's sizes to women's, subtract something because we're buying tap shoes, but then size up because they run small. Or whatever. I was so mad, I couldn't listen. Why can't they just measure how long your foot is and have that be the size? That's how it is in Europe, right? Measure your foot in centimeters, and that's your shoe size! Gah! Why can't that be the way? Why can't that be the way?!