Have Clark's children's shoes recently decreased in quality?

[Silversky70]

I just wanted to see of anyone else had a similar experience recently. My son has been wearing shoes from Clark's all his life. We usually manage about 1 pair per school year. We normally have to buy new ones due to his feet growing or the shoes wearing out on the outside due to daily use. This academic year the shoes are ok on the outside but have 2 holes cut out in the heel inside after only a few months. Somebody else said this had happened to them, so I just wanted to check if this was a wider problem.

I'm going to complain, and will probably stop shopping at Clark's as the quality has obviously changed. Where else can I shop?

I have always gone to independent shops that sell brands such as primigi, ricosta, geox, Noel etc.
I then get whichever fit style I like the best st the time of fitting. Don’t stick to a particular brand.
Maybe I am spoilt but there are two independent shoe shops in my town. I have never even considered clark’s. Tried once and the fitting was terrible.

Thanks everyone. I'm Not sure I can provide proof of purchase for the current pair. I'm definitely not buying any more from Clark's.

Yes! School shoes last year lasted over six months, till outgrown. The next pair lasted less than two months before the trim around the toes came apart on both shoes, the same as Bellatrix has mentioned, and the shoes then quickly developed holes at the front. Have had to buy another pair as I can’t find black school shoes elsewhere for his very wide feet, there’s only this one style in Clarks that fits the shape of his foot.

They've always been shite.

Fwiw i stopped measuring my kids feet when they were about 9. Its a complete con.

I never buy Clark's mainly because every parent I know who does complains they don't last and/or take shoes back for being faulty.

@Fibbke what do you mean by a con?

My sons soles wore through in the heel and ankle area. A white piece of plastic has been exposed.

My dd’s Clarks shoes have the holes inside where her heel goes. We are just going to live with it for the last few weeks of term. My ds’s shoes also did this, but they were not Clarks, but the company sent me a free replacement insole.

The last 2 pairs we bought for DS (7) gave him blisters despite Clarks insisting the fit was correct.

He's had a pair of Dr Marten boots for the last school year (he seems to have stalled at an adult size 1 for now) and they still look great. Not a single blister or rub. I know they'll last until he outgrows them.

Its a con because all the shoes fit differently anyway, you just need a bit of commonsense to look yourself and see how they fit.

Europe don't bother with width fittings.

OP Just this morning I've found the exact same problem with my DD's boots we purchased in November for school use. One hole in each heel. She does walk a lot in them but they are not even children's shoes. They are adult boots size 6. I am really shocked. I came on here to seek advise on redoing the heels but found your thread.

Clark's boots

Yes! We had the exact same problem with my sons shoes at Easter!

I went to an independent place and brought a different brand because I figured it had been a few months so I wasn't likely to get my money back from clarks, but in reality we drive to school so he hadn't even worn them that much. Not good value for money.

At the same time dd2 is wearing a pair of DD1s old clarks shoes and they are fine.