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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be really annoyed with Clarks....

46 replies

purplefish · 25/02/2011 20:07

....for putting silly toys in their childrens shoes?
DS2, who is normally very laid back and a pretty good boy got really upset today as I wouldn't buy a pair of trainers for him which had one of those toys in. I object to spending more money on shoes just because they have them in! Shoes are for walking in, not playing with!! I have ALWAYS refused to buy them and explained to him why, but he really wated them. I don't think it was so much even because he liked the trainer, more the toy!!

It's a really annoying marketing ploy and it's made me cross!

OP posts:

nickytwotimes · 25/02/2011 20:23

Aye, most wee towns it is clarks or nothing.

it is ALL a bloody con though.

they don't have this faff in most other countries.

just use common sense and buy whatever fits your kid.

it is not rocket science.

Original poster

purplefish · 25/02/2011 20:25

Really Nicky? The rate my two go through shoes, I would welcome that!
Tanith, I always had startrite as a child as I had narrow feet, DS3 is an E, is that narrow?

OP posts:

nickytwotimes · 25/02/2011 20:26

sorry, that came out huffy!

not meant to.

just, you are best judge of your child's comfort and have most invested in their well being, so will probably spend more time and effort then anyone else.

Original poster

purplefish · 25/02/2011 20:26

nicky, unfortunately it's not a small town, but a stupidly middle class overpriced city, so it's Clarks or silly priced 'posh' shops.

OP posts:

Original poster

purplefish · 25/02/2011 20:27

*small city, just in case you think there should be somewhere else to go

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nickytwotimes · 25/02/2011 20:28

x post - really!]

She says take plenty time and try on plenty of differnt styles/shapes.

flat, flexible and space round the toes. no slipping on the heel.

it was a bit of a to me too!

FourFortyFour · 25/02/2011 20:29

Leave the toy in the shoe until they are grown out of.

nickytwotimes · 25/02/2011 20:29

ds1's 1st pair - 40 quid from fancy arsed shop

ds2's will be 15 quid i imagine!

toeragsnotriches · 25/02/2011 20:29

Yup, Clarks. Just search for the size and type (boy's shoes, 12F or whatever) and quite a few come up. Often with photos of the tops and bottoms of the shoe so you can see the wear. Mind you, my kids are 4 and 2 so I'm not sure how well this works with older ones.

Original poster

purplefish · 25/02/2011 20:32

FourFourty, easier said than done, that!!

OP posts:

Original poster

purplefish · 25/02/2011 20:32

Sorry, Fourforty

OP posts:

Original poster

purplefish · 25/02/2011 20:33

Right, well, I will be buying them in Tesco/Sainsburys from now on!

OP posts:

TankGirlos · 25/02/2011 20:34

Aaarrgghh - just bought a pair of shoes for DS this afternoon. Was given a pack of stickers and thought woo hoo. Wasn't till he took them off that I realised (when the shoes were rattling) that there was a toy inside. Will be taking them back tomorrow thanks to the collapsed heel warning - we do a lot of walking. Am really disappointed because both of us liked the shoes... Thanks for the heads up.

herbietea · 25/02/2011 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Furball · 25/02/2011 20:43

Stead and simpson measure feet - it's just they only do a standard width fitting which I think is an F.

they sell buckle my shoe also

DorisIsAPinkDragon · 25/02/2011 20:47

I usually buy clarks as dd's have pasty wide feet just like me. I tried next's range of wide fit broke within 2 days returned but wrecked within the 1st term. So have gone back to clarks, however dd knows BEFORE we even enter the shop that i am an evil mother sensible person who does NOT BUY TAT! (we have also explained at length the methods used by nasty big business to make us spend money (although at 5 I think it fell on slightly deaf ears )

thejaffacakesareonme · 25/02/2011 21:37

A friend gave me a great tip if you do find that you have to buy shoes with toys - take out the toy and fill the gap with bathroom sealant.

montymum · 25/02/2011 21:46

As a teacher they drive me mad as children will take off their shoes and play with them in assembly, distracting themselves and all the children around them until a teacher notices and takes them away!! I used to be a clarks fitter so my children wear shoes from clarks, asda, sainsbury's etc as I can check the fit. Be careful just getting them measured and then buying shoes in that size as all shoes come up differently. Check that there is about a thumbs width size gap at the front, no slip on the back when they walk or you pull on them and check the width. You shoudn't feel any toes when you run fingers along the edge but also shouldn't be too much extra material across the top or this will bend in and hurt the foot. Generally children that are a f fitting can buy shoes anywhere those in E, D (narrow) or G, H (wider) may have more trouble.

feelingworthless · 25/02/2011 21:49

My MIL works for clarks and apparently them shoes are really shit. DS wanted a pair. Loads of them are returned as the soles are really crap due to having the toy put in them

begonyabampot · 25/02/2011 21:57

had to take a pair of these back as the heel collapsed. They were well worn but don't give a sheet as it's a bad design and the shoes were unwearable even if oldish.

TankGirlos · 25/02/2011 22:00

We are off back to Clarks to get them changed tomorrow. If I'd known about the toy I would never had got them. The first thing when I discovered it this evening was he is going to wear that out in days (we do a lot of walking) and how is that insole going to support his heel and not go through. I am very . Thanks everyone I have ammo now.

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