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AIBU?

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Original poster

Was the shoe shop BU?

80 replies

StartWrong · 31/01/2026 19:54

Bought startrite shoes for DS (7) at start of September. He wears them four days a week.

Two weeks ago the strap snapped. Rest of the shoe totally fine.

Took them to shoe shop today. He's measuring 11.5 H and they were a 12.5. they've moved him to a 13 and gave me 50% off (so £30 instead of £60).

Were they BU to not refund the shoes and/or do a straight swap for a new pair?

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock000 · 31/01/2026 22:03

No, it is a user fault most likely from gripping the strap, it wears away when pulled hard.?

Skybluepinky · 31/01/2026 22:02

They were very generous, shocked you think they aren’t.

IwishIcouldconfess · 31/01/2026 22:02

StartWrong · 31/01/2026 22:01

For a 'couple of quid'.

Yeah. Ok.

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How do you know much or how little it costs, if you've never heard of anyone repairing shoes?

WilliamFaulkner · 31/01/2026 22:01

I’ve got 4 kids, late teens now, and always bought Clarks or startrite, and other than in a random mad growth spurt year, always had a full school year out of their school shoes. Many times they’ve been in good enough condition to pass on to charity or save for emergency use by younger siblings. School shoes at £60+ a pair absolutely should last beyond a term and a half and anyone saying otherwise is facilitating shoddy service by these companies.

Original poster
StartWrong · 31/01/2026 22:01

BIossomtoes · 31/01/2026 21:47

No Timpsons where you live? There are two in this small town.

Show quote history

For a 'couple of quid'.

Yeah. Ok.

OP posts:
Original poster
StartWrong · 31/01/2026 21:59

Shoecamp · 31/01/2026 21:57

My kids used to get through school shoes v quickly. Clarks, startrite, adidas. Nothing lasted longer than about a term. Lots of football at lunchtime, running around etc. the steps they did in the shoes was a lot and they weren’t gentle with them taking them on and off etc
i think you got a really good deal op

I agree, I thought I did too, as I said it was only when I got home and googled that I questioned it.

School shoes dealt with in going back to doing a probate application. X

OP posts:
ThinkingAbout2026 · 31/01/2026 21:58

StartWrong · 31/01/2026 21:52

It's a question?
I've genuinely never heard of anyone repairing kids shoes?!

I use to when I was skint.

Shoecamp · 31/01/2026 21:57

My kids used to get through school shoes v quickly. Clarks, startrite, adidas. Nothing lasted longer than about a term. Lots of football at lunchtime, running around etc. the steps they did in the shoes was a lot and they weren’t gentle with them taking them on and off etc
i think you got a really good deal op

IwishIcouldconfess · 31/01/2026 21:57

StartWrong · 31/01/2026 21:52

It's a question?
I've genuinely never heard of anyone repairing kids shoes?!

Why should they when they be as cheeky as you?

IwishIcouldconfess · 31/01/2026 21:56

StartWrong · 31/01/2026 21:52

It's a question?
I've genuinely never heard of anyone repairing kids shoes?!

Timpsons??

NemesisInferior · 31/01/2026 21:55

You've had 5 months of wear out of a pair of kids shoes before an easily repairable strap broke and then got 50% off a new pair?

Yeah, I don't think you've any reason to complain here.

Original poster
StartWrong · 31/01/2026 21:52

It's a question?
I've genuinely never heard of anyone repairing kids shoes?!

OP posts:
nomas · 31/01/2026 21:51

StartWrong · 31/01/2026 21:22

Why would I pay to try and put back together a velcro strap?

On £60 shoes that have been worn for 4 months?

Why so aggressive?

BIossomtoes · 31/01/2026 21:47

StartWrong · 31/01/2026 21:45

Where is this magical cobbler?

Show quote history

No Timpsons where you live? There are two in this small town.

Original poster
StartWrong · 31/01/2026 21:45

BIossomtoes · 31/01/2026 21:45

Actually it is. You’ve paid £30 for new shoes when it would have cost a couple of quid to re stitch the strap.

Show quote history

Where is this magical cobbler?

OP posts:
BIossomtoes · 31/01/2026 21:45

StartWrong · 31/01/2026 21:39

It really, really isn't.

Actually it is. You’ve paid £30 for new shoes when it would have cost a couple of quid to re stitch the strap.

ThejoyofNC · 31/01/2026 21:42

I can't believe the cheek of you.

Original poster
StartWrong · 31/01/2026 21:39

It really, really isn't.

OP posts:
IwishIcouldconfess · 31/01/2026 21:37

StartWrong · 31/01/2026 21:22

Why would I pay to try and put back together a velcro strap?

On £60 shoes that have been worn for 4 months?

Because its what normal people do!

One strap broken, just fix that strap.

CommentHere · 31/01/2026 21:37

I think that's excellent customer service. I would expect shoes to last a year and for a child to out grow them rather than wear the out so much that the strap breaks, on the other hand I respect the 3 month returns (but other timeframes considered..) policy from the shop.

In your situation I would also go back to the shop but be 50/50 on whether they'd honour a refund, and be feeling a bit cheeky. If they said no refund I'd have accepted that, and felt a bit unlucky that I'd got a dud pair in the first place.

So in all, I think you got a good result and another measure of your child's feet which is always good to have done.

Original poster
StartWrong · 31/01/2026 21:22

Why would I pay to try and put back together a velcro strap?

On £60 shoes that have been worn for 4 months?

OP posts:
IwishIcouldconfess · 31/01/2026 21:17

purser25 · 31/01/2026 20:57

Could you get the strap repaired if you take it into a shoe repairers

The best solution.

BIossomtoes · 31/01/2026 20:59

SteelMaiden · 31/01/2026 20:07

I'd expect shoes to last longer than 5 months though...?

I wouldn’t. The way mine treated them five months was about average.

Original poster
StartWrong · 31/01/2026 20:59

Nope totally in two. Other shoe totally fine!

OP posts:
purser25 · 31/01/2026 20:57

Could you get the strap repaired if you take it into a shoe repairers