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?!?!?

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

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).

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!

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.

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.

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.