to take school shoes back as unfit for purpose?

[swampytiggaa]

bought my four shoes from startrite for school in September. cost between £40 and £45 each pair. two of the girls shoes have holes in the heels.

I am right to take them back with the receipt aren't I? I expected them to last the year for that money unless they were outgrown....

damn my children and their narrow feet!

I'd certainly give it a go. I'd expect shoes to last - as long as they still fitted. I'd also expect a reputable brand like Startrite would offer replacements.

Yes I would take them back, even if they had only cost half that amount and been from Tesco I'd still expect them to last 6 months tbh.

I expect school shoes to last my DC about 9-10 months, I sometimes get a year out of them (Clarks usually). We only have a short walk to school though - if our walk was longer, I can see how they might only last 6 months. And girls ones seem to wear more than boys, maybe they start off with thinner soles or something!?

hollow heels seem to be the issue. worn down a little and holes have appeared in the heel. very disappointed.

The heels can be repaired with a new cap quite cheaply, and may even last longer than the original.

YABU to expect them to last a whole year. I think 6 months of hard wear is good. Get them reheeled if the rest of the shoe is still OK and fits.

I think YANBU but I would be surprised if they refund you your money or offer a replacement.

My dd 12 shoes were £75 they are now in a similar state as to how you described your dc shoes.

Good luck & let us know how you get on.

I'm not sure on this. My ds has a pair of startrites (bought August) and they are not going to see the year through until end of summer term. If someone wears the same pair of shoes for 40+ hours a week, runs, walks, plays in them, I actually think 6 months is reasonable. They aren't indestructible but they will wear out after a lot of heavy use. I would prefer not to have to buy my ds new shoes but I accept he's had a lot of use from the ones that are almost worn out on the bottom and really I don't think there is a complaint to be made. He had startrites last year and they did the entire school year but had to be thrown straight away on the last day of term because the sole was completely falling apart.

I think you are being cheeky taking them back after all this time. I think I would have to replace most if my shoes if I wore them for as long as kids wear their school shoes.

As a side note Clark's and Start rite are crap. Kickers are fab for little girls with narrow feet and will last a year without being grown out of. Barring that continental makes are often better for narrow feet.

I actually think yabu. Why not get them re-heeled? I consider myself lucky that my boys have managed to get a school year out of a pair and would be happy if they lasted half the school year. They wear the shoes all day for 5 days a week, running around the playground etc.

I will reheel if I get no joy. owner of shop will like look at them and get back to me on Friday.

clarkes replaced a pair for the same issue last year. my children aren't actually hard on shoes odd as it sounds.

if the shop won't do anything I will get them repaired and look at dm's for next time.

I think it is reasonable that the heels would be worn down and would just take them to be reheeled.

Sorry I think yabu (and I'm the first in line to moan about school shoes as a rule) but it seems fair wear and tear after this long. If it's just the heels I'd have them repaired.

Another yabu here. Shoes wear out, five months of everyday wear is quite a lot of wear.

yeah take them back as you have had less than 6 months out of them. I recently took some shoes back that I bought from M & S. I only had them 3 1/2 months but they had started to come apart. They refunded me with no quibbles.

i seem to recall something similar with start-rite shoes, take them back it is worth a go anyway!

I have had school shoes last an academic year before (just about) so I don't think I have very unreasonable expectations.

we live in the arse end of nowhere so we are lucky to have a choice of Clarke's and start rite. anything else means a long trip out. am going to have to invest in a foot gauge and buy online

I think it would be very unusual for your children feet not to grow in a year unless they are older teenagers.

Don't normally grow within the year ?

my smallest has had the same size feet for at least 18 months now. she is five. this is typical for my children.

I think after 6 months you are pushing really>I mean some kids give their shoes proper punishment like using them instaed of brakes on a bike!

I wouldn't, I think you have had your moneys worth they have been worn day in and day out for 6 months. Children are also very heavy on their shoes. But, it might be worth a try, I know how you feel because my son's school kickers also have a hole in them and they were not cheap either. It's also a funny time of the year to be buying school shoes because hopefully we will have better weather soon and need a lighter shoe. Yet for the time being a full shoe is needed. I do remember my DD getting a full school year out of her Startrites.

Our policy at work (Large clothing retailer) is a three month window from day of purchase for any wear and tear, after that they won't return them. I wouldn't get your hopes up.