UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                             CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
                          TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                 October 7, 2004
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

                            PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

         1-14770                                           43-1813160
(Commission File Number)                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                           3231 Southeast Sixth Avenue
                            Topeka, Kansas 66607-2207
               (Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)

                                 (785) 233-5171
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[_] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
    (17 CFR 230.425)

[_] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a12 under the Exchange Act
    (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure and
Item 8.01 Other Events

      On October 7, 2004, Payless ShoeSource, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
issued a press release announcing its sales for the fiscal month of September,
which ended October 2, 2004. The full text of the press release and the
transcript of the monthly sales message are attached hereto as Exhibits 99.1 and
99.2 respectively, and incorporated by reference herein.

Exhibits:

     99.1 Press Release, dated October 7,  2004.
     99.2 Transcript of September monthly sales message.



                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC.

Date: October 7, 2004                           By:  /s/ Ullirch E. Porzig
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     Ullrich E. Porzig
                                                     Senior Vice President,
                                                     Chief Financial Officer and
                                                     Treasurer



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

       Exhibit No.         Exhibit
       -----------         -------

          99.1             Press Release, dated October 7, 2004.
          99.2             Transcript of September monthly sales message.