So fucking cross - £45 Clarks shoes not even fucking leather???????

[inlovewithhubby]

As above. Two pairs bought today for 4 and 6 year old. Bought patent for first time ever as my last child starts school and I caved. Just took the stickers out and discovered to my horror they aren't even leather?? How on earth can they justify that cost for man made fibre shoes? I am going to kick off massively, I got them in John Lewis so I'm starting there, but does anyone know how they manage it?

Man made fibre makes feet sweat. Leather also 'gives' in a way man made fibre doesn't. It's also cheap and I could have got a pair of plastic shoes off the shelf for about £7 from any supermarket. I thought I was paying for quality but I'm clearly not.

Interestingly there is a confusing sign on the labels if both pairs which resembles the leather sign, but they then clearly state that they are man made fibre. Im initially going after misrepresentation but i didn't even look at the signs - I just presumed that a 40 plus quid pair of Clarks shoes would be leather. AI really being U for having that expectation?

[MumOnTheRunCatchingUp]

The leather sign? Is it patented to just leather then? I doubt they are 'misrepresenting' anything

However I've always found Clare's a bit on the rubbish side anyway

[ilovesooty]

If you didn't ask and no one told you they were leather I don't see that you have any grounds for kicking off.

[Helenluvsrob]

Link to the style ?

[OwlinaTree]

Take them back and swop for leather? If they are unworn it should be OK I would think.

[ParanoidGynodroid]

£45 fo4 plastic shoes? No thanks, I'll head to Shoe Zone instead and get 5 pairs for that
Do you have a pic of the misleading symbol?

[Floggingmolly]

Their leather shoes aren't leather either... They kept pushing the ones which had been toughened last time I was in; I didn't like the look of them as they looked as if they'd been coated with a thin veneer of plastic instead of real leather you could polish.
Turns out they're actually a sort of toughened cardboard substance, coated in plastic; and sold as leather...
Total shite.

[Wannabe2015]

Not leather? Good.

Most cheap leather is produced in developing countries, India especially. The conditions both animals and tannery workers endure is an absolute disgrace.

Cancer rates among leather workers is high due to the lack of protective clothing and the highly toxic chemicals that are used.

Animals reared for their skin live miserable lives of suffering before being skinned, some still alive.

There is WAY too much cheap leather available.

One day people will look back at our generation and think we were utterly barbarous.

So rather than be enraged, I would be chuffed to find out they were man made.

YABU

[Treetopchallenger]

I've just bought my daughter patent leather shoes from Clarkes. Are you sure they are not leather? What's the name of the shoe?

[LaContessaDiPlump]

What Wannabe said, although I can see why you'd be annoyed at that price tag anyway!!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I wear non leather and my feet don't sweat thanks.

I pay as much for my pleather shoes as you would for your leather ones.

I would say though that 'patent' = leather.

You can ask them to exchange but if you need to have a particular material then the information is there on the label so I don't think you can argue that point.
Which shoes are they?

[AStreetcarNamedBob]

For those who don't use clarks what is the alternative (except startrite) for a G width?

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Watching with interest.

I thought all shoes came with a sticker inside showing what each part of the shoe was made of?

[Fairylea]

Are you sure it isn't a man made lining especially as you say there is a leather looking sign too?

I would check on their website.

When you pay for Clarks you aren't just paying for the product, you're paying for the service and fitting. My son aged 4 has special needs and they are always wonderful with us. They let us ring and book appointments at the end or before the shop opens so it's empty and spend ages with us, never had any issues. To us it's well worth paying the extra. I can understand it's not for everyone however.

[BabyGanoush]

Most patent is fake leather now.

Is the "misleading" sign a horizontal diamond? Or different?

[Tulipblank]

My kids are H fitting. I found some brands in independent shops much better than Clarke's (angulus, hush puppies etc) for wide feet. Unfortunately our local independent shop closed down so it was back to Clarke's this year....

[HoneyDragon]

For those who don't use clarks what is the alternative (except startrite) for a G width?

Try on different style shoes until one is comfortable. The width thing really isn't necessary.

[Lorelei76]

I don't think there's any false advertising there
but if they haven't been worn outside and you take them back tomorrow, I guess you will get a refund.

[deste]

Are you sure the inside is not leather.

[e1y1]

Here here wannabe

[inlovewithhubby]

Same here, I use clarks as mine have wide feet. Very few others actually accommodate a wider foot and we've tried so many others.

This isn't a leather debate. I want leather shoes and have no issue with using the byproduct of the meat industry which I enjoy. I just don't expect to be sold plastic material for a leather price tag. Leather comes at a cost, and I'm happy to pay it. I'm just not going to pay £40 plus quid for a cheap imitation.

They are two different styles, both described as patent, but then the label says 'man made upper'. I think you're right, I just need to take them back but it makes me so bloody cross!!

[CalleighDoodle]

Ive not had a pair of children's clarks shoes in 4 years i have not had to return due to poor quality.

[BusStopBetty]

They're coated leather, aren't they?

[GeneralBobbit]

I wonder how much an environmentally friendly, fair trade pair of leather shoes cost?

Because I think £45 should get fairly
close to covering it for a pair of children's shoes

[inlovewithhubby]

Honey dragon, I have one with an E width foot and another with a G/H. The widths of their feet are visually and measurably different even though their length sizes are similar. They have never been able to wear the same shoes because of the different width fittings. Of course it makes a difference, if the shoe is to be fitted properly and not crush or squash or otherwise damage their developing feet.

[Shakirasma]

The symbol for coated leather is the outline of the regular leather symbol, with a diamond inside it, could it be that?