Clarke's incorrectly measured my dc feet.

[alicequartz]

Went to Clarke's yesterday to get my dc feet measured. Came out as size 1f and 9e. I was short on time so went back today to buy the shoes. Found a 1f but dc was saying it hurt. Staff came to check and said they were too small. Remeasured and came out as 2f! Other child remeasured as a 10f!

I asked the first person to write it down and still had the paper with it on so I wasn't mistaken.

I'm surprised they got it wrong with both children's sizes. They both had similar thickness socks on but not sure socks could add a whole size anyway.

Just thought I'd post this so people can double check their sizes if like me they measured then purchased shoes later.

When we got my DS1 feet measured last year in Clarke's, he measured 11 1/2 they gave him size 12 shoes, they fit him ok we wanted to get him measured again but they actually refused and said their machine they used to measure was very accurate, what did they use to measure your kids feet? They used this touch screen thing that DS1 had to stand on

Yes - used to happen to me often. Have two clarks shops relatively close and could almost guarantee they would measure differently (especially with the fancy ipad thingy). Actually had one assistant measure the feet and then bring out shoes in a range of sizes because "the measure is just a guide and this is what we have in stock".

Found a nice independent shoe shop after that. No more expensive because I ended up buying fewer shoes.

Surely the foot measurement is only a guide and it's the fitting of the shoe that is more important.

Measuring is only a guide, though it's usually pretty accurate. Checking what size shoe a child needs has 2 steps, measuring and checking, thats why the salesperson feels them when on the child's foot and watches them walk around.

Clark’s have always measured my kids completely wrongly - each time their suggested sizes have been significantly too big. I don’t use them anymore.

What happened to the x day machines where you could wriggle your toes and test for fit??

Measuring is just a guide. DS has always needed bigger because of the shoes being pointier than his feet. His feet measure narrow but they are wide across the toes so the 'right' size squashes his little toe.

Yep, went there when DS started to walk. They measured him as a 5G

Went back a few weeks later when they were getting tight.

Measured him as 4.5 F

I walked out.

Bought a home measure and have since fitted all his shoes at home. Much better

The difference between full sizes of shoes is approx 8.5mm so you can see why measurements can sometimes be a little bit out at times. The width is a matter of mm too.

www.startriteshoes.com/size-calculator

Use the measurements as a guide for where to start with the shoes and then try on. When in feel around the shoe and ask your child to walk normally as you watch them to see if the fit seems right or if it needs adjusting up or down.

I don't understand why the default for children's shoes always seems to be Clarke's. I've always used our local independent shoe shop where the owner probably has 30+ years experience under his belt. He always had something to suit my child with ultra narrow feet and something for my more standard child. Never had a problem with sizing, he, or one of his staff, would use the old fashioned tool to measure length and width. Infinitely patient with my children, and other children including those with SEN, occasionally would hear him talk knowledgeably with parents about over pronation etc, and would recommend a specialist physiotherapist for custom orthotics.

Clarke’s has always been a bit of a joke in our house with their mysterious scientific measuring machines.

In reality it’s always “she’s a 3f, but we’ve only got 4es shall we try them? Oh they fit.”

Then two weeks later the £68 shoes you bought are scuffed and peeling anyway.

Get yourself to Shoe Zone that’s what I say.

The only reason Clark's get away with the prices they charge for thier rubbish shoes is because they are pretty much the only high street store to fit shoes, they don't even do a good job of that! During my final attempt at shopping there the woman was making a big fuss in front of DS that his feet are a very unusual size and width combination and it would be very difficult to find any shoes in stock that would fit him. DS came out worried that there was something wrong with his feet. I measure my kids feet myself now and buy shoes elsewhere.

I’ve never had a problem with Clark’s measuring. I tried the only other shop in town that measure and they told me my dc was a narrow fit, which was plainly ridiculous as his feet were virtually square they were so wide.

I generally find they measure the feet say they're a 5g or whatever but then when they don't have any shoes that size they suddenly say "oh but a 10f with an insole will be fine"

They're notoriously crap at measuring feet, your small local independent will do a better job!

I have had issues with Clarkes measuring before but I don’t think they have done anything wrong here.

The size they measure it as is only ever a guide as different shoes will fit slightly differently - hence them also checking the fit

@SageRosemary, me too. Always use the family run independent store where the second generation have been serving there for over 40 years. My son has narrow feet and they know which makes come up small or how they fit and we’ve always come away with well fitting shoes.

Clark’s measured my daughter at a size 12 1/2 two years ago. The school shoes we bought her today are 11 1/2 - she was And is never remotely a 12 1/2. Similar with my son, foot measurements significantly different to Clark’s. I bought a scale and measure them myself now, and their shoes fit.

They are famous for being shit.

John Lewis get my custom.

I don't understand why the default for children's shoes always seems to be Clarke's. I've always used our local independent shoe shop

Probably because for most people, the only shoe shop in their town is the Clarks. You can't easily go to an independent if there isn't one.

Clarks make up the rules to suit them; if they haven't got the measured size in stock they'll try to flog you a pair in another size, just to make a sale. Plus I find it really patronising being lectured about my kids feet by a 16 year old weekend assistant who's been on a half day shoe fitting course!

Clarks “measurements” are to fit whichever sizes needs shifting in store. Our record was 1.5 sizes smaller than current shoes because the ran out of narrow fit, and the heel would only fit in the smaller size. the shoe was smaller than my son’s foot, but according to the “fitter” was was ok.
This happened twice to us (different store!). avoid clarks for kuds!

I gave up on Clarkes when DS1 was in yR and the shoes fell apart again. He has slow growing feet, and the shoes fell apart in 3 months, long, long before he was due to upsize. He's not a rough and tumble sporty type either.

If you can find an independent, they are worth it. It actually costs me less as while the shoes are about £6 more per pair, the shoe shop has a loyalty scheme where the 6th pair is half price and 12th is free, which having two DCs stacks up well.
And I've never had an issue with the shoes or their fit.

Afaik Clark's fitters only go o a one-day training course to learn how. We've had the wrong size shoes from them loads of times, especially since they switched to the new digital machines which seem to be very inaccurate.

Clark’s are still riding on a reputation they no longer deserve. I havn’t used them since since dd was about 3, hit various reasons, but their measuring is inconsistent, they’re quality is not worth the money and they’re massively gendered styling annoys me. The final straw was when they refused to sell me some shoes from the boy’s range for dd because “boys and girls feet are different shapes”. I did investigate this further, and there are subtle differences in adults, but not 3 year olds.( And no differences So significant, that I’ve suffered from wearing men’s shoes on my size 9 feet all my adult life.).

Independent shoe shops are the way to go if you can find one, or Happy Little Soles online.