to think a pair of Clarks shoes should last longer than 2 weeks!!??

[llynnnn]

My dd is in reception class and we bought her brand new Clarks shoes in September when she started school, well before half term they were very very scuffed and around the fronts they were worn down to the white material (?) underneath the leather!

Over half term we bought her some new ones from Clarks but already, only 1.5 weeks into the term they are very scuffed and worn down to the white around the toes!!

dd spends most of the playtime climbing on the climbing frames and walls etc (she is very much a tomboy!) Does anyone else have this problem? Are there better more hardwearing shoes than these rubbish clarks!!

The school aren't ever so strict about shoes, wondering if she could get away with black trainers?? but not sure they would be so good for her feet wearing them all day?

I know one thing for sure we cant afford brand new £28 Clarks every fortnight!! :)

[xstitchsparkler]

YANBU, return them.

[mistlethrush]

Reception we managed to get shoes to last a term, but no longer. 2 weeks is ridiculous though. I have found for DS that Ricosta shoes cost a little more but appear to have tougher or thicker leather on the toes and he doesn't appear to go through them as quickly.

[GrimmaTheNome]

Kids shoes get scuffed. That's why you actually do need shoemagic or whatever its called that they always try to flog you.

[Dracschick]

Get them took back!!

Clarks are great imo for returns.

[Sarsaparilllla]

I'd take them back, that's ridiculous

[FindingMyMojo]

is she using them instead of a break on scooter or bike? If so YABU. If not then take them back. It does seem like a heck of a lot of damage from just normal playground wear though.

[mrswoodentop]

Do you polish them at least once a week,leatehr does scuff if not looked after.FWIW I've always found Clarks pretty rubbish

[lilyliz]

clarks are expensive but not what they used to be,you may have a problem trying for a refund or replacement because of the scuffing(not saying it is but sounds like not using brakes on a cycle and using her feet instead) still worth a try though go for it

[nymphadora]

Sounds like dd2 , she regularly wrecked Clarks in 2 weeks. I started buying DMs for her but they don't do kids shoes any more :(

Kickers aren't too bad though

[anonymousbird]

In Reception, my DS's Start Rites lasted ALL YEAR. They were a bit of a state, but fully in tact.not worn through etc.

This year, his Hush Puppies were wrecked after 3 weeks - sole coming off etc etc. I glued them back together, but still pretty disappointed in them to be honest!

Have never had Clarks shoes.

[llynnnn]

Euphemia - you hit the nail on the head, its the carpets. After some gentle questioning dd revealed that she plays 'dogs' a lot at school which involves crawling around the carpets, floors and even the bloody playground! Not impressed! But what can I do? I can't ban her from playing!

So, if anyone can recommend some very very hard wearing shoes, preferably with rubber bumpers up round the toes (sure she had some like this when she was younger?) I would be very grateful!

[CoinOperatedGirl]

Marks and spencers school shoes are very good and much cheaper at £18. Dd had clarks last year and they looked rubbish by half term, the m&s ones still look great.

Actually scratch that, I have just looked at them and the sole is buggered. On the upside the uppers haven't got a scratch, grrrrr.

[nancy75]

I find start rite to be better than clarks dd has these she had the plain leather last year which were good, this year she has patent which seem to last better.

[dearprudence]

Are you polising them regularly? If they're plain leather they can take a lot of punishment but they do need regular polish.

I've found clark's very good for refunds/exhanges - if stitching has come loose, or velcro lifting, etc. Not sure they'd exchange for scuffing alone though.

Shoes with rubber bumpers sound like the thing for your DD.

[KT1324]

DS has had clarks shoes every year and a pair normally lasts him the whole year. DD on the other hand wrecked first pair of clarks in 2 months and 2nd pair in about 6 months.. she noe in startrite... much better

[RobynLou]

if they're leather then they shouldn't do this unless they're not being polished? leather really needs to be polished!

[NestaFiesta]

When my DS1's M and S "scuffproof" shoes lasted only four weeks I sent them to Head Office. I said school shoes, especially scuff proof ones, should last more than 4 weeks. They looked into it and found the shoes were at fault and were going to raise it with their supplier. I got a voucher back for the price of the shoes despite not providing receipts.

Maybe Clarks will do something similar? School shoes need to be sturdy and if they are not, people will just buy elsewhere. Its in their interests to do something.

[ForMashGetSmash]

Do you not polish them? You have to do it almost nightly to protect them...

[colditz]

I KNEW these would be girl's shoes. They always look shit.

get boy's shoes. Or good quality leather trainers (are perfect for feet, actually)

[llynnnn]

thanks for your replies, we do polish them, usually twice a week. must make more of an effot to do it everyday I think. Will have a look at the start rites in our local independant shop.

[granted]

I've often heard Clarks' quality is rubbish.

We usually try to go for Startrite - better quality. But pricey. My mum tends to get them as 'useful' birthday etc presents - not fun, but a hell of lot more useful than another toy.

Never had a problem yet with Start-rite in combined total of c 15 years of school-shoe wearing.