Children's shoe shops, AIBU?

[Salukigirl]

Just wondering whether anyone knows if it is usual practice to put back packing into children's shoes once they have been fitted and have been bought?

I bought a pair of shoes from the Children's Shoe Company in Marlow just before Easter. Two weeks later I found a one inch piece of packing in the toe of one shoe.
This would have made the shoe very uncomfortable for my son to wear but he is too young to be able to tell us. The shop manager/owner claims it is common practice to replace the packing in the shoe to "retain the form of the shoe" and it is my fault I didn't take it out. I didn't know it was there, I wasn't warned that they would do this and it was pushed right into the end of the shoe that it was only by chance I saw it when getting sand out of them. It was in only one shoe. I actually believe that they hadn't taken the packing out for the fitting and that this is just an excuse as I remember her saying that the end of the shoe was hard and she couldn't quite feel his toe.

I obviously feel so guilty that my son wore these shoes with this packing in for two weeks, but I am also really angry that the shop has put me int his position so I was just wondering what others opinions were? Does anyone work in a shoe shop selling children's shoes and know if it is common practice or do you agree that it is not right?

[Shesparkles]

I've bought children's shoes like that before-it saves the shop having to dispose of it, which costs them.
Definitely not unusual in my experience...and I've never not noticed it either

[6LittleOnes]

Packing is normal, you should have checked. Sorry

[PercyGherkin]

I agree it's not great if they fitted his shoes without realising there was tissue at the end of one of them, but you are making a mountain out of molehill out of your failure to remove packing.

[Salukigirl]

I know it is usual to have it in there but I would have thought that once you have decided to buy the shoes they wouldn't put just one piece back in?

[InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream]

Sounds like the shop forgot to take it out. I would email them so it doesn't happen again. But it's not the end of the world, is it? Not quite sure why you 'feel so guilty'

[kewtogetin]

Normal practice in shoe shops here, it's second nature to me to check for the tissue in new shoes before putting them on. Maybe you're actually angry at yourself?

[Salukigirl]

I have emailed them, they said it had been put back in. I feel guilty for not noticing and him having to wear one very uncomfortable shoe for two weeks. I wondered why he was refusing to walk more often than normal and wanting to be carried. I also worry about potential damage to his growing feet as he's only two.

[MissDuke]

If it hurt your lo, they would refuse to put them on so try and not worry. I do think you are right that they never removed it in the first place, so don't feel guilty - it will have been so squashed up you wouldn't have seen it. Just one of those things really.

[queentroutoftrouts]

I think you are over reacting, sorry. Is it your pfb by any chance?

[Salukigirl]

I didn't know I needed to check as it has never happened before, and he's my first child so I didn't know that such a stupid thing could happen. It seems pointless to me to put a piece of rubbish in the toe of one shoe!

[Shesparkles]

Don't beat yourself up-you won't make the same mistake again

[Heels99]

I always check.

[Stinkersmum]

Sorry OP, YABU. What do you want them to go about it now? Learn a lesson, check shoes for packing in future and move on.

[cailindana]

I find it worrying that you are so upset about such a non-issue. Do you suffer from anxiety problems?

[SavoyCabbage]

I would expect it to be put back in. However I don't think it can have been bothering him as he would have not wanted to put them on or there would be marks on his foot which you would have noticed.

[hiccupgirl]

I'm sorry but you should have checked if there was still packaging in the shoes. It literally takes 2 seconds to stick your hand in and check before you put the shoes on your child.

Mountain out of a molehill....and I very much doubt any lasting damage has been done to his feet for the sake of a bit of packaging being in the end of the shoe. If he's 2 he would be able to make it clear if his foot was really hurting unlike a baby in their first shoes.

[GahBuggerit]

your child would have told you. yabu, totally normal, always happens when i buy them.

what outcome are you after?

[balletgirlmum]

Yes normal y put packing back in.

In fact I stuff ds's trainers & football boots with newspaper after each wearing & cleaning to retain their shape.

[TenerifeSea]

YABU to even think this is an issue. It was one of those things. The shop could not do anything more, except maybe mention it next time. It really won't damage his feet.

[Whenwillwe3meetagain]

Complete non-issue!
If he was refusing to walk as much as normal why didn't you check his shoe then and there as he could have had a stone or something in it. No point in getting angry with a shoe shop...

[Becca83]

But it's not a stupid thing for them to do! It's perfectly normal. Yabvu. You should have checked, like I'm sure you do when you buy shoes for yourself. You are massively over reacting over a complete non issue. Sorry to be blunt!

[PotteringAlong]

I thought shoes normally came with the packing in them...!