to be looking at clarks website for school shoes and be completely taken aback at the amount of choice....

[glittercheeks]

I am looking at the boys section, (new to this game as DS starts reception this Sept) and can't believe I have 3 pages to plough on through...I know he needs velcro and I realise some are duplicates for infant and junior but is there some secrets I need to be let in on when purchasing this kind of shoe? as there seems so much choice from just one shop!

Should I even be looking at Clarks when I could go to M&S and get a pair cheaper?!?!?

[iceandsliceplease]

I'm lucky in that we have the Start-Rite factory shop close by, so all proper kids shoes are bought there. You take a ticket when you go in, sit in a room with a kids dvd playing, they shout for you, measure your kids feet, then bring out what they've got that fits. It's much cheaper than buying instore, and far easier than the hassle of a proper shoe shop.

[alittleconcernednow]

They rarely ever have a choice on lace ups which is what my DC school insists on. Last year they had 1 lace up option.

[Linnet]

What on earth do your children do to their school shoes that they get through three pairs a year?

I'm another one that's never had a problem with clarks. My dd2 has awkward feet in that they are wide at the front and very narrow at the back. But the ladies who work there know us and always do their best to find something that fits there was only one summer where the only shoe that would stay on her foot was a trainer but other than that we've never had a problem. Sometimes dd2 doesn't always get the shoe she wants as the style doesn't fit her foot but she does always get something and they never let us leave unless they are happy that it does fit her properly. I don't find them pushy either as they have never tried to force me into buying shoes just for the sake of it.

If I were you I'd give them a try. I've also ordered shoes online and had them sent to the shop where they then fit them to see that they are the right size etc. I usually do this for my older dd as she has extremely narrow feet and the shops don't carry such narrow sizes so I order them in.

When we were in yesterday the lady was telling me that you can book an appointment for school shoe fitting,I might just do that to save hanging around waiting for my number to come up on the screen.

[lazylula]

I have to say I have never had a problem with Clarks, infact ds1 had a new pair os school shoes in October half term and they have seen him through until now, when they are hurting his toes so he tells me. The soles are well worn but still have some life left in them and they polish up nicely. With regard to ordering instore, I have done this many times and we do not pay until the shoes have come in and been fitted. If there has ever been a minor problem, the staff are helpful. Our store are doing booked appointment for school shoes, I booked mine this week!

[tallulah]

I was looking at the startrite and Clarks websites this week and there is very little choice at all. DD can't wear shoes with no T bar. The winter ranges from both feature loads and loads of shoes with no T bar and about one style each with.

Like suzikettles, we've never bothered even looking at the shoes in store because i can guarantee that if we are lucky there will be one pair in the entire shop that will fit, so it's take it or leave it. (and it's usually in a really foul colour, with buckles instead of velcro).

[mummynoseynora]

we have never had a problem with clarks here either - we have had winter boots (ankle boots fur type trim) that she has worn for nigh on 6 months with all the crappy weather - they went in snow / jumped in puddles / covered in paint etc etc - when she outgrew them they looked good as new apart from the leather being more soft!

Only ever had one fitting problem - where she was measured one size, ordered in (no hurry) they didn't fit - so they put DD on their gadget machine thing which confirmed her correct size (slightly out) and they got the right ones in asap

having looked online at a few places clarks looks like one of the only places I can get shoes to fit DD's shape feet anyway - she has a high foot arch so the shoes with no support across there are useless for her - we need the ziggyzaggy or t-bar as a minimum really

[Oneandnomore]

I second Start Rite. The leather is far better quality than Clarks.

Dd's have lasted her the full school year up to two weeks ago when she said they felt a bit tight.

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

Dr Martens! Oh my lovely DD had her first pair when she was 2. Little black DMs that went so beautifully with her little dresses.

Sob.

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

Luckily DS is allowed to wear trainer type shoes. So I go to sports.com and get him a nice pair of leather trainers with velcro straps for a tenner.

Bloody hate clarkes. They bought Ravel. Ravel was my spiritual home. Now its full of fugly shoes in natural colours. Bleugh.

[bonkers20]

Hate Clarks. The number of times I've gone in for a pair of trainers for DS (aged 12 and now to big for boys sizes anyway) and they just never have his size and they suggest ordering them in or that I could go to Bumblefuck to go and buy some. Ummm, no thanks. I never got his school shoes from there, but got Ricosta which are not cheap but so well made and lastest him ages. Also, I've been sold shoes which didn't fit him. Rubbish.

[pinkthechaffinch]

I've never had any problems with Clarks, and Ds' (9) shoes look smart for around 9 months plus (his feet grow slowly) I've never needed to replace for wear and tear.

and their trainers I find fit much better and are cheaper than nike, adidas equivalents

[muffinflop]

When DS needs school shoes there's only ever 2 styles to choose from in the Clarkes store. DD starts this year and there's no way I'm going to pay their prices for two pairs of shoes!

[suzikettles]

My experience of Clarks is that you look at the shoes on display and make a note of the ones you like.

And then the assistant measures your ds and brings back the one pair of shoes in the shop that are available in their size so you buy them. Or not.

I now get him measured first and ask them to bring out the shoes in his size rather than bothering with "choosing". But I also don't go to Clarks. There's a great Independent near my mums so we buy shoes from there.

[HarrietJones]

Clarks are crap. Dd2 can wreck them in a fortnight. Hush puppies better

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

I hate Clarks, they're shite and shop staff are very pushy.

Try Brantano which also sell hush puppies and a range of cheaper shoes which will be fitted well. For trainers you want the NIKE skater type ones, cost around £14. Just keep looking round and use common sense, i've just bought my size 6, 10 year old ds an Adidas pair (just plain black leather with white stripes ) for £11. He's broadfooted too, being an H/I fit

[glittercheeks]

Aqua - you sold it, M&S it is!

[aquafunf]

dont bother.

guarantee when you go to clarks in the last 2 weeks of august, you will be lucky to have 1 pair of shoes in black in the right size. do not let your ds spend the hour long wait choosing what he would like. do not let him want shoes with toys in the heels, deny they exist.

if you are unlucky they will have none in your sons perfectly normal size "because its a busy time of year" they will offer to order some for you in return for full payment. a week later they will arrive and will not fit"because they come up wide". they will not have in stock the next width down because "its a busy time of year." they will offer to order them for you. you will demand a refund which will be given with bad grace.

the following august, you will log onto marks and spencers, order 2 pairs in the right size in different widths, they will arrive, your child will walk around in the house long enough for you make sure that they do not rub. you will take the other pair back to local marks and get a refund in september.


i have 3 children- i wish i had learned this in the first year of school

[ungratefulbiped]

Yes, I think the choice for boys shoes at Clarks is appaulling actually! They are all much the same and not very stylish, imo. I did buy them for first few shoes, though. I think you can't beat Next for style. Maybe for school shoes it doesn't matter as much?

[PaperBank]

Have a look on the Start Rite website. They sell the measuring guages and unlike Clarks you can order children's shoes online. There are also videos to show you how to tell if the shoes are a good fit.

[giyadas]

I'd recommend brantanos too. Like MumToTheBoy says, they measure as accurately as clarks but have a much wider range. The brantanos near us is bigger than any clarks in the area.

[molepom]

As far as school shoes go, you are better off getting them from ASDA. School shoes, you will go through at least 3 pairs during the school year, it's really not worth spending more than about £20 at a time as they just wont last.

[deemented]

I wouldn't bother with Clarks either.

I bought a pair of shoes for DS2 last year in preperation for him to wear going into year 1. They lasted him seventeen days of wear before a large - about three inches - hole appeared along the little toe of the right foot.

I brought them back to where i'd bought them and was told that it was simple wear and tear - which i contested completely. Convieniently they were lost in the post when being sent to head office

[Funtimewincies]

Independent shops? Where ?

No choice here, it's Clarkes or Brantano and ds1 is an 11E (aged 4 and a half ) so online is no easier as it's impossible to tell how wide they'll turn out to be . The department shops (such as they are) are too small to stock children's shoes. £32 today to get a pair of trainers (just for playing in, nothing special) that actually fit him!

Can you tell I'm already fed up with shoes?

[Ismeyes]

Having DD just finished 2 terms of receptions (Jan starter) and having gone through 3 pairs of Clarks (i.e. through the toe), I wouldn't bother with them.