Clarks shoe fiasco

I stopped using Clarks shops over a decade ago when they went from people who could measure kids feet to inexperienced staff who couldn't and didn't see an issue ramming young feet into incorrect shoes.

Then went to independent shoe shop that sold Clarks styles and one year girls insisted on what I though were flimsy Clark shoes - we got them.

They didn't last half term went back to independent to get new shoes - we walk a lot and while it wasn't great assume it would be ware and tear. Independent shop insisted on full refund and said they'd get their money off Clarks that it wasn't acceptable and they would be sent back and it must be a fault in both pairs of same style shoes.

Don't think we've bothered with Clarks since.

Like many companies who survive on their name the quality is not what it was. I was appalled to see Christie towels on sale with the Union Jack on the label, they haven't been made in England for many years, sadly, yes the country of manufacture is on the label in small letters but the large flag is very deceptive.

This pair seem to be OK so far, but I'm just waiting for it to happen.

I’ve had this with shoe shops before. I cut them short by saying ‘are you going to refund my money or not?’ They did, but I think the aim is to ensure you won’t go back there. I didn’t!

She said the shoes coming apart was normal wear and tear? That is a straightforward admittance that they are not fit for purpose.

Completely agree with @Panda368 👍🏻 I also work in footwear - I manage an independent store stocking many brands and deal directly with our suppliers.

The shoes are faulty, no question about it. The adhesive has clearly failed. FWIW, they look like terrible quality anyway.
From a managers point of view, you do get people taking the piss quite a lot. Like the man who ripped the sole off the fashion boots I sold him because he was wearing them on his motorbike 🙄 Or the lady who wore suede boots out in the snow and grit and then brought them back to complain of staining and salt marks 🙄 But it’s very easy to see a genuine product failure and they should have procedure in place to deal with this!

They look like they have had much more than 6/7 weeks wear! I wonder if they had been a return when you bought them?

Came on here to say similar!

Not as bad as you daughter's shoes but I complained to Clarks after my DS's new shoes were showing excessive wear in the heels after only 3 days' wear. Like your DD he is at high school, walks 20 minutes there and back and otherwise isn't running around or doing anything to trash them. Clarks couldn't have been less interested, their online customer service took weeks to even respond to me by which time they wanted new photos and then said it was standard wear and tear. His shoes are adorable worn now, after half a term, as last year's pair were after a full year's wear! The soles are very soft and crumbly this year, really disappointed with them and won't be buying anything from Clarks again. I left a negative review on the website, unfortunately as an online purchase that seemed all I could do. DS's school don't allow any trainer-type shoes so I'll probably have to look at Hush Puppies or similar for when he needs the next pair

I had exactly the same thing happen to a pair I'd bought ds

I was a skint single mum,but invested in shoes for the kids

I bought a pair for him in the sale and he'd worn them 3 times over 4 days (just trips to the corner shop,a walk to his grandparents about 1/2 a mile away and a trip into city centre)

He was stood next to me,wearing them while in the city centre and we went to walk away when the whole sole fell off

We where round the corner to the shop I'd bought them from,(coppergate branch in york-i moved away 8 years ago so dont know if its still there) so took him in (with the receipt that was still in my purse) and the same sales assistant that had sold me them,yelled at me 'what do you expect?they are SALE shoes!'

Busy Saturday afternoon-everyone who was in the shop heard her and ds burst into tears thinking it was his fault

She refused to swop them for another pair or a refund (she just kept screaming about them being sale shoes) and I got nowhere with head office-they just brushed me away

£30 is a lot of money when you've saved so hard in the first place

I'd never go back to them-i found next where ace for boys shoes and asda for girls (but it's been a while since I've bought children's shoes)

My friend had this. She spent quite a bit of money on boots on the high street and the sole started peeling off after 3 days. When she brought them back to the shop she was told they were not for every day wear! 😂

Absolutely complain. Shocking service. Clark’s would want to know about this.

I bought my son's shoes instore in August, couldn't be bothered travelling to the shop when the front starting falling off one of the shoes. I went onto their web chat, ignored the bot saying to go into the shop and then chatted to a person straight away. They sent me a refund as soon as I sent photos.

I stopped buying Clarks shoes after my son went through three pairs in 4 months. They exchanged them sharpish, calling it a 'sole bond error'. They knew there was a problem - bloody expensive, crap shoes.

Was in Clarks in Andover by any chance?

No, they shouldn't fall apart that quickly. That is not normal wear and tear.

As they are less than 6 months old, it would be up to the shop to prove the issue was due to you failing to look after them rather than the shoes being faulty when purchased if they refused to replace or repair them. I see you have been given a new pair, but I would still complain to Clarks about the poor service you have received.

I work in footwear (manufacture not shoe shops) 100% she is in the wrong and I would make a formal complaint to head office about her. Thats a product failure and really really bad customer service which Clarks should know about.

It's still in the first school term she should be able to offer at least an exchange or credit note as you are outside of the 30 days.

Most likely it was badly glued when it was made.

It would be protocol to send faulty items to head office as they will keep a log of "faulty" returns so if its a bad batch they can make a claim against the factory.

Like pp I've moved from Clarkes to geox as the quality has gone down hill.

Clarks are normally pretty good with their customer service. But there's always the odd person with a chip on their shoulder.

It's obviously a poor quality shoe and the replacements not coming out of her pocket! A refund would have been better.

In case you're interested for next time, I do always buy similar shoes from Sports direct (Kangol/Lee cooper Isabella) for my DD, they last the whole year and are a fraction of the cost.

This is what I had to say to a manager in Clarks after we had exactly the same thing happen.

We got a replacement pair, but I couldn’t believe they were even hesitating to sort it out just a few weeks into term.

Definitely not made to last like they used to be, such a shame.

Definitely write to head office and in detail tell them about this awful manager. Not only was she in the wrong, she was rude and belittled you. Disgusting behaviour and a horrible experience for you.

I agree with the other posters, Clarks has been crap for years now - but for kids there’s not much choice I agree!

I've had those shoes for one of mine before. I agree with you, that's not long enough wear.