Have you ever managed to buy the ‘correct’ shoe size for dc in store?

[Cryingbutstilltrying]

Reflecting on this at the weekend as my dm is involved with a charity that needs to source school uniforms for 50 refugee children this week.
She went to a number of high street stores with a list of the shoe sizes required and they had nothing at all in the styles that were ok for the school.
I know it’s maybe not the peak season for school shoe shopping but mine have always needed a new size in the spring term rather than August.

It got me thinking that over the years, I’ve always had to buy shoes online for my dc, as if I had them measured in Clarks/Startrite/Clinkards/Next etc, they never had the correct size in stock and often would try and convince me to to buy something a size up but narrower, or a different style that didn’t suit dd’s high arch.
Then yesterday I went out with ds to get trainers, we went to a number of places and he had a few styles he liked, but again nowhere had his size! He’s got really easy feet to fit into shoes and needs an EU40/Uk6.5, completely normal. I found the ones he liked easily online, cheaper and will arrive tomorrow so he’s happy.

Have you ever managed to buy shoes for your dc in an actual shop in the right size?

No, I find it almost impossible. I order online now and try and find something similar to what they already have so they have a chance of fitting.

I have too large feet and since online shopping became a thing, no shoe shops ever have anything in my size.

Not recently. I can get them trainers by going to Sports Direct, a shop I loathe but that usually has a decent stock, but school shoes are hopeless. We literally don’t have a Clarks shop, Start-rite stockist or in fact any proper “shoe shop” at all within thirty minutes journey time and I live in a city! Next or supermarket shoes don’t fit my child unfortunately. I buy online - it’s a monumental pain because of all the returns needed and it’s one of the few things I’d much rather buy from a real shop.

Of course if schools took a less ridiculous view on appropriate footwear (t-bars and Mary janes look cute but black trainers much more practical) that would help…

No. I find non standard sizes fly off the shelves and sadly my children are non standard sizes. I remember contacting Clarke's a few years ago asking why D fit width shoes were no longer stocked and they said they stopped making them. Helpful.

I bought a measuring device off Amazon and buy shoes online now

I've found size 6 for my ds1 hard to find but never had a problem with school shoes in Clarks.