to think that Start Rite

[OorWullie]

shoes which I paid £27 for, should last longer than a fucking fortnight?

DS has been wearing them for 2 weeks and 2 days, for walking around town mostly, and a couple of trips to the local park. The heels have almost conpletely worn through and have split from the main shoe at the back.

I can't find the receipt but I feel I should return them, £27 is alot of money to me and I chose Start Rite because they are a reputable and supposedly good quality shoe. Not sure where I stand as I also paid in cash.

Lost cause?

*completely

Have you tried to return them?

Return them, you should'nt need the receipt, just the day you went in to the same shop.

not yet, we were on holiday last week and my gran noticed the heel on Thursday, only got back last night and the shop i bought them in is 20 miles away.

My mum says the staff are quite cheeky and unhelpful, and I'm worried they will try to claim the shoes are older than two weeks, since I don't have proof of purchase.

Same has happened with my DDs shoes. The soles on hers are really soft rubber. I got hers in a sale from Startrite website. I got them for about £22 but they were originally £36. I am annoyed about it but just glad I didn't pay full price. Should definitely last longer than two weeks though.

You don't have to have the receipt as proof of purchase; if you paid by card and have a bank statement that shows the shop's name on it, you could use that.

Oops sorry, just read you paid with cash

I am really upset about it, I really struggle with money but I don't like to buy cheap shoes for DS and make an effort to buy properly fitted, supportive shoes. If they don't refund me he will need to wear them as I can't afford to replace them, I don't think it's acceptable after two weeks for him to have to wear holey shoes.

Thanks zen, I checked my bank as I usually do pay with my card but there's no transaction on there so I must have paid cash. Sod's law

I don't think you should have a problem as they're faulty. If they still fit him, that's pretty much proof you haven't had them long!

They should refund, clarks would I know someone who had to take several pairs back for similar reasons.

I don't think you need the receipt of the item is faulty?

You might only be able to get an exchange rather than a refund without p.o.p ?

(as an aside, barefoot shoes in general very flexible and haven't had any that die as fast as two weeks. yes they're pricey, I go for sale items. have a look at happy little soles)

I bought my sons first shoes from startrite and they were ill-fitted. After three days I took them back, no receipt and they gave me replacement shoes, they just needed to look at when they were bought and pull it up on their till, its all electronic now.

You shouldn't need a receipt. If they are faulty you are claiming under the sale of goods act. Here is some info but you might do better by googling
www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/sale-of-goods-act . Definitely worth a go IMO.

Have you still got the box and/or bag? Might help to take those and the box might have their bar code on it or something(?).

I find startrite really good, they're the only school shoes that ever last a full year. You've been unlucky.

Thanks everyone. My mum said the same as you Obfus, that £27 was cheap (afaik that was full price) so I wonder if they are compromising on quality to have competetice prices. I usually have clarks but the shop closed down where I am and the start rite was my only other option apart from peacocks and factory shop.

Erin I haven't got any of the packaging aside from a little clippy hanger thing, as he wore them out of the shop and we threw his old clarks away. It's a small independent shop though so I assume my purchase will be easy enough to track if they are feeling helpful.

ICanHear That sounds encouraging, I will have a go at returning them tomorrow and hopefully they wont be difficult. If the shop doesn't help, is it worth writing to start rite?

You should be able to return them and get a refund as they are not fit for purpose. It doesn´t matter about the receipt.

Good luck!

Fingers crossed! I'm a bit nervous as I'm not very good at being assertive, but I went with them because of the good name they have.

Thanks for the reassurance, I will report back tomorrow with good news hopefully!

Same has happened to DS's. the bottom bit is ripping off. So ridiculous!

I went into the shop and the manager was working. I had to wait whilst she delt with a lady with a toddler who was also returning a pair of start-rite canvas shoes.

She didn't seem surprised when I showed her the state of the shoes, and replaced them without even questioning it.

She did comment that in ten years she could count on one hand the number of Start Rites she has had to return, but this summer she has had loads

Glad I got them replaced without any trouble- obviously I am not the first who has had a problem. Hopefully these ones will last him ok, if not I wont be using Start Rite again!.

Possibly, the manager was as baffled as I was. She has only ever stocked Start Rite apparently and this is the only year she has had problems.

The new shoes are a slightly different style so hopefully we will have more luck with these.

I. Had two pairs of start rite school shoes replaced after a term and a half of wear. They still fitted perfectly and the tops were in excellent condition but the heels had worn away.

Took them back to the shop - no quibbles - they ordered more in for me (children have very narrow feet shoes are always a special order)

I always keep shoe receipts now tho after a few issues with Clarke's in the past.