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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel irritated every time I get DD (7) feet measured at Clarks.

42 replies

joric · 10/07/2011 17:12

DD measures H fitting on Clarks foot machine thing.

Past experience has proved that DD has v high instep and that even though she measures H sometimes she doesn't actually need an H for width.
The salespeople always either go up half a size or insist on H fitting making the shoe too long or too wide.

The last pair of trainers she was fitted with were so big on her they looked like canoes and we took them back even though they had been worn out of the shop.

I'm probably being a bit mean to Clarks as this also happens when I have tried independents shops too but my question is....

AIBU to ignore the fitter and request the size I want? I did this in an independent shop recently with a pair if pumps and after a bit of pursing of lips the sales assistant actually agreed that my choice if size was a better fit.

OP posts:
Mandy2003 · 10/07/2011 18:15

I think generally you can tell if your DC has grown half a size...this month was the first time in 5 years that the Clark's fitter said a bigger size than the one DS has just grown out of!

For several years we got a better estimate of size by using the slidey machine in Shoe Zone than anything Clarks could come up with.

Original poster
joric · 10/07/2011 18:21

:) @ Mandy
Shoes don't last long here!
I am going to buy on- line I think from now on! Just been looking.
Startrite delivers to home but Clarks only to the shop.

OP posts:
yearningforthesun · 10/07/2011 18:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coccyx · 10/07/2011 18:23

didn't you notice trainers were too big when child tried them on in shop

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 10/07/2011 18:25

I dont remember all this trouble when we were little, and theres nothing wrong with my feet Grin

TheOriginalFAB · 10/07/2011 18:27

If you live near Maidstone I can recommend a very good shop. My dd has very slim fitting feet and high instep. Clarks were shite the one time we had to go there with 2 of my kids, yep, crap with both.

proudfoot · 10/07/2011 18:27

Hmm why would you buy the trainers and let you DD wear them out of the shop if they don't fit her and the problem is so obvious that they are like massive clown shoes...

Sirzy · 10/07/2011 18:31

I got DS some new shoes from Clarks last week. I stupidly believed the woman when she said DS had gone from a 4 to a 5.5, when I questioned them being to big she said it was needed to grow. Not happy after 24 hours so went back to a different clarks who said they were right even though they fell off every time he wore them. Thankfully they only cost £7.

Went to next, picked a pair off the shelf and fitted them myself - no problems and that is what I will be doing in future!

swash · 10/07/2011 18:31

In clarks I insist on a manual measurement if the machine measures my dds anything other than a G. I ask for the fit to be checked with a particular staff member who is old-school Clarks as well - bit embarrassing but I don't care. From now on I will make an appointment specifically with her. I have taken back month-old shoes when I realised they were too big by clarks own criterion.

Clarks are great - the shoes are well made and they do take things back. But fitting shoes is a skill and they don't have staff who stay for years like they used to. So you have to pay attention and work out who knows what they are talking about - usually the older women.

Zippylovesgeorge · 10/07/2011 18:32

As much as it probably annoyed the assistants - I always checked the shoes myself when my children were small and wore Clarks. The reason because back in the 60's my Mum was a fully trained Clarks fitter and she taught me what to look for. Many a time I've requested different sizes/widths and we've found out I was right ;)

Original poster
joric · 10/07/2011 18:45

Coccyx and proudfoot- they were fitted by the shop. I questioned it at the time as I thought they looked big. The saleswoman was adement and said she needed growing room. They looked ridiculous and DD tripped up!!! I took them back a week or so after buying and a manager confirmed that they were too long and I got a refund.

I feel pressured to go with the 'expert' fitting in shoe shops but now go against what they say and ask for different sizes to be brought so that I can see for myself as some of you have said you do.
I like the shoes so I suppose I will just have to put up with the pursed lips when I question the sizes brought out!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
joric · 10/07/2011 18:50

Zippy, it all depends on the style. Some shoes will never fit DD because if instep- going up in length to get the width just doesn't work in DD case! I found I was right too- didnt make me popular!!

OP posts:
Original poster
joric · 10/07/2011 18:51

Sirzy :( go again and get money back

OP posts:
kbaby · 10/07/2011 18:54

In our Clarkes they are really good and take she's fitting dc shoes. They both have skinny feet so its a pain. They normally get them to walk round the store and try and tug them off too to make sure they fit.

TheSmallClanger · 10/07/2011 18:54

Go with what fits to her foot.
Fitted shoes are a con anyway, and Clarks is crap.

SmethwickBelle · 10/07/2011 19:04

I was buying sandals for DS2 at the start of summer (he's 20 months so growing fast) and wanted to buy a half size bigger that measured so he'd get a full summer out of them.

The look I got from the start rite lady you'd think I'd asked her to give me the old boxes to strap on his feet instead of shoes. I had to negotiate my way to the till and she very nearly didn't sell them too me. I wouldn't have been that bothered but they were very cute doodles and I am a sucker.

But this is why the rest of his shoes are from the supermarket.

SmethwickBelle · 10/07/2011 19:05

THAN measured, even.

toomuchmonthatendofthemoney · 10/07/2011 19:16

DS (now 5) has inherited my narrow feet/high instep issue too, i remember nightmares trying to get shoes to fit me when i was growing up (a C would fall off me)

Now we use an independent shop who have always been great at fitting, he usually ends up with Geox, sometimes Ecco. Clarks were no good for him, either fit or attitude of staff i must say!

pigletmania · 10/07/2011 19:21

I found John Lewis very good at fitting, the staff both professional, helpful. They have better sales on then Clarks, I always find something for dd in the sale. They stock other brands like Start Rite, Clarks, JL own brand. For example I got dd some shoes and they were reduced from £30 to 13 in the sale which was good.

youarekidding · 10/07/2011 19:23

I use clarks and have never had a problem - except for DS strange shaped feet. Grin

He always measures a F or G, he has a high instep, flat where toes are, wears a split for toe probelems but has very thin ankles and achilles.

He goes up width in trainers usually as his instep in high and once was even put down 1/2 size and up a width in trainers. His trainers however always last at least 9 months and usually a year. (and bought in the sale!)

He gets through the school year with 1 pair of school shoes too.

Only gripe I have is with his feet the way they are theres usually only 1 pair in the shop siutable - the most expensive ones. [hgrin]

FessaEst · 10/07/2011 19:29

I have not found Clarks knowledgeable or helpful, so searched around until I found a really decent secialist independent children's shoe shop. Even though it's a bit of a drive, the service and peace of mind is worth it. I would keep trying other shops until you find one where you are happy with the service/shoes they provide.

I think Clarks only stocking their own brand could be a problem if your DC have a particular type of fit. We have found Ecco the best with DD's feet and although we always try the full offering of styles/brands, we nearly always end up back with an Ecco pair. By trying differnet stockists, you may find a brand that fits your DC's feet better.

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 10/07/2011 19:55

Op - so go somewhere else .... Why complain about bad visits to Clarksville yet you continue to be loyal to them? I hate Clarks and refuse to buy them as I think the fitters are useless, the shoes are porridge quality and I absolutely hate the stupid toys in the shoes!

MuddlingMackem · 10/07/2011 20:14

Both of mine have high insteps. DS has narrower feet now than he had when he was younger so can usually get away with G width; DD still usually needs an H even though she sometimes now measures a G or even an F because the measure is taken before her high instep.

I've just found that we're really restricted in styles, and we always need ones which have a wide opening. I will only buy them each one pair of shoes from there at a time, which have to be their black school shoes, trainers are not allowed. Consequently we have a choice from a maximum of two boys styles, and they suit both kids. The one style of girls school shoe to fit dd have so little covering on the top of the foot that I wouldn't waste money on them, her feet would be soaked on a rainy day walk to school, so I'm sticking with the boys styles for her too.

Service varies between shops. Of the three branches we've used I've found two really good and one I wouldn't bother going back to.

Original poster
joric · 10/07/2011 20:23

Cook - just been looking at other brands on line- I did say that I was perhaps being unfair to just label Clarks but it was the trainer incident I thought of first. We have encountered rubbish fitting elsewhere too not just there.
Piglet, Will try John Lewis

OP posts:
Original poster
joric · 10/07/2011 20:25

Fessa - need to look at ecco too - didn't know they did children's shoes.

OP posts:
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