to expect better from Clarks, pics included?

[Conkerharvester]

I took my daughter to get shoes from a Clarks factory outlet store. Had her feet measured but the fitter said the children's shoes she tried didn't fit. She got her an adult pair of shoes, fitted them and said they were good so we bought them.

3 weeks into the new term and noticed that the rubber on the sole of the shoes had worn away and the wooden heels were being worn down. I took them back with receipt in hand. The shop assistant and manager said that this was 'normal wear and tear' (after THREE weeks!) and they couldn't do anything. Apparently adults shoes aren't subject to the same rigorous testing as kids. They refused to replace them so I contacted head office who said:
"From looking the photo's we can't see any fault in either the materials or the construction, and believe the condition reflects the type and amount of wear received. Therefore, stand by the stores decision. Children's shoes are designed to deal with the rough wear and tear school shoes receive. It is therefore our opinion that an adults shoe worn for school would not give the same wear. "

She's 12 - she doesn't do rough play in them!

So mumsnetters, aibu to expect that they shouldn't have recommended adult shoes if they aren't suitable for normal school wear? And aibu to expect even adult shoes to stand up to being worn for 15 days without needing re-heeling?

Not much I can do about it now but I'm really cross that I spent £32 on them!

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

That's quite a lot of wear for three weeks IMO, on the other hand, heels are a bad thing andaybe that's why she is scuffing them?

[wiltingfast]

Hah, I bought CHILDREN'S shoes from Clarks end of Aug and look at the state of them.

That's after a MONTH of wear. I can't go back to the shop (bought them while we were away grr) but emailed Clarks and of course, no reply. Am so cross. That is NOT reasonable wear and tear.

And neither is yours. I'm not in UK but in Ireland if a product is not fit for purpose here, you are entitled to your money back. Does UK have something similar? Check out your consumer rights. I'd be very cross at that attitude.

[ShowMeTheElf]

..at least you can reheel with the adult ones.. The kids shoes seem to have such soft soles that you can't do anything to prolong their life.

[badtasteflump]

I don't buy from Clarks anymore, after DH and I both buying a pair of £60/£70 boots and both having the soles crack right across the bottom after a couple of months. I had also previously bought some Chelsea boots from them and the soles seems to disintegrate and came off in flaky bits.

Basically their quality has gone shit for some reason - Primark shoes last longer IME.

[Onedaftmonkey]

This is the problem with Clarke's now. The shoes are shoddy crap. I have up after 3 pairs in 3 months failed on me. I don't know if the factory is still in England anymore. It was in the 80's as my dad worked in one. But it wouldn't suprise me if it wasn't made in this country anymore.
Even if they were adult shoes I would expect it to last a lot longer.
Twitter your disgust and see if you get a real reply.

[fitzbilly]

This just for further to prove that Clark's does are not the high quality shoes that they will have you believe.

Utter waste of money.

I know in missing the point of the thread, but I'm impressed you got your 12 yr old to go into Clark's and agree to them as school shoes, no way would mind be seen dead in them in secondary! I buy them pain black vans, which last the year.

[ReallyExhaustedLlama]

My daughter went through a pair of clark's shoes in about four weeks this term. The toe and sole had worn away and split apart. These were children's shows. We have had other problems in the past. I have been disappointed with the quality for the price.

[Aeroflotgirl]

I stopped buying Clarks shoes for my kids, years ago. Geox, Kickers all the way, last for ages, none of these problems. Totally bull for rubbish quality shoes. Ds 4, has had his kicker shoes for about a year, totally fine and still going strong. They come up quite big so still fit, but I think he will grow out of them soon.

[Aeroflotgirl]

These are dd 9.5 years school/smart shoes. Best £50 spent, 2 years old. She has very small slow grow freet

[TravelBeginsAtForty]

YABU

You should know that girls don't run, play, climb trees, play football or do anything other than sitting plaiting each other's hair and playing with dolls.

[YouMakeMyDreams]

I hate Clarks shoes, ds2 has a couple of pairs he likes the football trainers that wear well but he has a pair of their dinosaur shoes but they looked wrecked very quickly and the loop the velcro goes through has pulled out of position so it's ruining the strap and it's not because he pulls them tight...he can't he's got wee fat feet.
I only go there if I have exhausted all possibilities because he has wee fat feet he's hard to buy for and we don't have a huge choice where we live.
My mum bought a pair of expensive all singing and dancing gortex boots there last winter, they were hailed as a great boot for winter soles looked good, it's like walking on an ice rink wearing them out in winter they are useless.

[ByeByeLilSebastian]

Yabu, I thought everyone knew Clarks are shit.
I've bought shoes from there 3/4 times and each time they last nearly a month before looking scuffed, sole pulling away.

[WindPowerRanger]

Aeroflotgirl, the red Kickers boots (it was the 80s!) I saved up for when I was 12 lasted me until I was about 30 and finally conceded I had to throw them away! They were my best shoes ever, and I've decided this winter I'm going to ignore DH's teasing and get myself the leopard print pair I've had my eye on. Though tan is nice. As is gold. I can't decide.

[imjessie]

I've always thought clarks shoes are crap! It's about time we all woke up to it !

[Aeroflotgirl]

Wind I have patent kickers teens boots, with a zip side, they are awsome, and really last. I have just ordered dd the next size up from Amazon, t bar shoes, for £30. You can't go far wrong with Kickers, built to last, and look great too

[thanksamillion]

I have never been that keen on Clarkes but really like Startrite. I bought some boots from their factory shop in Norwich (so at very reduced price) and the zip went. I phone them up (I had moved abroad so couldn't go in) and they sent me a new pair! Didn't even ask to see a picture.

[cafenoirbiscuit]

Clarks are so lazy - they just churn out the same styles year after year. Vans or DMs for us at Biscuit Towers

[Aki23]

I am really gobsmacked at the problems people are having with Clarks. I love Clarks and their shoes have always lasted me a year of hard work use. I was planning on using them for my ds when he started walking and I am having second thoughts now

[Twatty]

Yep I also stopped buying them years ago. They are expensive for shoddy quality.

Its sad that clarks is still deemed the place to get quality kids shoes that look after dc feet.

Three weeks wear and they think thats acceptable I've got shoes in my cupboard 20 years old that don't show that much wear.

Some boots I've had to re heal or have new zip put in, but only after a couple of winters wear.

[badtasteflump]

Maybe you've not bought any for a while Aki23?

I used to like them years ago.

[previously1474907171]

Apparently "Apart from lending its name to the shopping centre, Clarks, the biggest shoe brand in the world, has little to do with the success of Clarks Village. Its shoes are in fact now made in China, India, Brazil and Vietnam but not in Britain, after the site and the Village brand was sold."

Pleased I saw this thread as I had just suggested to someone that they buy Clarks, will tell them not to bother now.

[Twatty]

For young dc now I'd go to startrite. Forget clarks.

I think clarks were changing when my dc got there first shoes. After four years I started noticing how crap they were.

[SpeckleDust]

I've had problems with both Clarks and Stratrite shoes for both DD's. Luckily DD1 is older now and has chosen black leather Converse which as more of a 'fashion item' seem to be wearing well.

Why can't Clarks/Startrite make more hard-wearing shoes for girls??

www.change.org/p/clarks-make-school-shoes-for-girls-that-are-sporty-durable-and-suitable-for-active-kids?recruiter=141147400&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

[shovetheholly]

I had a pair of Mary Jane style shoes from Clarks. Within a month, the instep had given way. People were rushing up to me asking me whether there was something wrong with my legs, because it looked like my feet were on the side. Awful.

[Peanutandphoenix]

My mum use to get me clarks shoes when I was kid and they always lasted me we always got the bootleg shoes but they cost a bomb twice a year because I have odd size feet and it was the only place she could take me to to get me shoes that fitted without needing to pay out for 2 pairs of shoes. But back then the shoes where always good quality and always lasted me the whole term but I guess in the 10 years since I left high school clarks shoes have seriously gone down hill.