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AIBU?

to be looking at clarks website for school shoes and be completely taken aback at the amount of choice....

31 replies

glittercheeks · 16/07/2011 19:44

I am looking at the boys section, (new to this game as DS starts reception this Sept) and can't believe I have 3 pages to plough on through...I know he needs velcro and I realise some are duplicates for infant and junior but is there some secrets I need to be let in on when purchasing this kind of shoe? as there seems so much choice from just one shop!

Should I even be looking at Clarks when I could go to M&S and get a pair cheaper?!?!? Confused

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coccyx · 16/07/2011 19:46

i am watching as i have a ds starting reception!

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LIZS · 16/07/2011 19:48

In store they won't have the same range in your ds' size , nor will every style suit his foot shape. Avoid any gimmicky ones with removable toys and logos.

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Itsjustafleshwound · 16/07/2011 19:49

Clarks do a good line in convincing the parent/mum that the shoes are good quality and the feet are well measured.

Personally, I have had my issues with Clarks - My DS's feet were not measured correctly, I think the shoes are overpriced and there are cheaper and better quality shoes available.

Try an independent store or one of the bigger dept stores - the shoes may be cheaper and better quality.

Clarks also have the wheeze of trying to sell you toys in the heels - shabby shoes and cheap, plastic toy - really bad ...

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coccyx · 16/07/2011 19:51

just looked on website, ????no home delivery have to buy and collect from store. Does anywhere sell them without all that messing about

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MumToTheBoy · 16/07/2011 20:07

You can buy Clarke shoes in brantanos. They measure the kids feet as accurately as clarks would and they have an 80% off sale at the moment, well they do in the one near us (bletchley)

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janek · 16/07/2011 20:07

i think john lewis might, but you may have to pay delivery, although possibly not if you spend more than £30.

not sure about much, am i?!?

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Ismeyes · 16/07/2011 20:11

Having DD just finished 2 terms of receptions (Jan starter) and having gone through 3 pairs of Clarks (i.e. through the toe), I wouldn't bother with them.

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Funtimewincies · 16/07/2011 20:17

Independent shops? Where Shock?

No choice here, it's Clarkes or Brantano and ds1 is an 11E (aged 4 and a half Confused) so online is no easier as it's impossible to tell how wide they'll turn out to be Sad. The department shops (such as they are) are too small to stock children's shoes. £32 today to get a pair of trainers (just for playing in, nothing special) that actually fit him!

Can you tell I'm already fed up with shoes?

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deemented · 16/07/2011 20:19

I wouldn't bother with Clarks either.

I bought a pair of shoes for DS2 last year in preperation for him to wear going into year 1. They lasted him seventeen days of wear before a large - about three inches - hole appeared along the little toe of the right foot.

I brought them back to where i'd bought them and was told that it was simple wear and tear - which i contested completely. Convieniently they were lost in the post when being sent to head office Hmm

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molepom · 16/07/2011 20:20

As far as school shoes go, you are better off getting them from ASDA. School shoes, you will go through at least 3 pairs during the school year, it's really not worth spending more than about £20 at a time as they just wont last.

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giyadas · 16/07/2011 20:20

I'd recommend brantanos too. Like MumToTheBoy says, they measure as accurately as clarks but have a much wider range. The brantanos near us is bigger than any clarks in the area.

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PaperBank · 16/07/2011 20:26

Have a look on the Start Rite website. They sell the measuring guages and unlike Clarks you can order children's shoes online. There are also videos to show you how to tell if the shoes are a good fit.

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ungratefulbiped · 16/07/2011 20:35

Yes, I think the choice for boys shoes at Clarks is appaulling actually! They are all much the same and not very stylish, imo. I did buy them for first few shoes, though. I think you can't beat Next for style. Maybe for school shoes it doesn't matter as much?

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aquafunf · 16/07/2011 21:17

dont bother.

guarantee when you go to clarks in the last 2 weeks of august, you will be lucky to have 1 pair of shoes in black in the right size. do not let your ds spend the hour long wait choosing what he would like. do not let him want shoes with toys in the heels, deny they exist.

if you are unlucky they will have none in your sons perfectly normal size "because its a busy time of year" they will offer to order some for you in return for full payment. a week later they will arrive and will not fit"because they come up wide". they will not have in stock the next width down because "its a busy time of year." they will offer to order them for you. you will demand a refund which will be given with bad grace.

the following august, you will log onto marks and spencers, order 2 pairs in the right size in different widths, they will arrive, your child will walk around in the house long enough for you make sure that they do not rub. you will take the other pair back to local marks and get a refund in september.


i have 3 children- i wish i had learned this in the first year of school

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glittercheeks · 16/07/2011 21:20

Aqua - you sold it, M&S it is!

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ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 16/07/2011 21:24

I hate Clarks, they're shite and shop staff are very pushy.

Try Brantano which also sell hush puppies and a range of cheaper shoes which will be fitted well. For trainers you want the NIKE skater type ones, cost around £14. Just keep looking round and use common sense, i've just bought my size 6, 10 year old ds an Adidas pair (just plain black leather with white stripes ) for £11. He's broadfooted too, being an H/I fit

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HarrietJones · 16/07/2011 21:27

Clarks are crap. Dd2 can wreck them in a fortnight. Hush puppies better

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suzikettles · 16/07/2011 21:30

My experience of Clarks is that you look at the shoes on display and make a note of the ones you like.

And then the assistant measures your ds and brings back the one pair of shoes in the shop that are available in their size so you buy them. Or not.

I now get him measured first and ask them to bring out the shoes in his size rather than bothering with "choosing". But I also don't go to Clarks. There's a great Independent near my mums so we buy shoes from there.

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muffinflop · 16/07/2011 21:54

When DS needs school shoes there's only ever 2 styles to choose from in the Clarkes store. DD starts this year and there's no way I'm going to pay their prices for two pairs of shoes!

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pinkthechaffinch · 16/07/2011 21:58

I've never had any problems with Clarks, and Ds' (9) shoes look smart for around 9 months plus (his feet grow slowly) I've never needed to replace for wear and tear.

and their trainers I find fit much better and are cheaper than nike, adidas equivalents

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bonkers20 · 16/07/2011 22:04

Hate Clarks. The number of times I've gone in for a pair of trainers for DS (aged 12 and now to big for boys sizes anyway) and they just never have his size and they suggest ordering them in or that I could go to Bumblefuck to go and buy some. Ummm, no thanks. I never got his school shoes from there, but got Ricosta which are not cheap but so well made and lastest him ages. Also, I've been sold shoes which didn't fit him. Rubbish.

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LeonieDeSaintVire · 16/07/2011 22:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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thefirstMrsDeVere · 16/07/2011 22:10

Luckily DS is allowed to wear trainer type shoes. So I go to sports.com and get him a nice pair of leather trainers with velcro straps for a tenner.

Bloody hate clarkes. They bought Ravel. Ravel was my spiritual home. Now its full of fugly shoes in natural colours. Bleugh.

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thefirstMrsDeVere · 16/07/2011 22:12

Dr Martens! Oh my lovely DD had her first pair when she was 2. Little black DMs that went so beautifully with her little dresses.

Sob.

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Oneandnomore · 16/07/2011 22:15

I second Start Rite. The leather is far better quality than Clarks.

Dd's have lasted her the full school year up to two weeks ago when she said they felt a bit tight.

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