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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel let down by Clarks shoes

74 replies

WendyWolf · 22/09/2014 16:29

Why are kids shoes so expensive?? And why is the quality not like it used to be? Or am I imagining it? I have just been through 2 pairs of the same Clarks shoes that have exactly the same fault with the tongue working out and flapping about causing hassle for my toddler (and anyone within 10 feet) . Has anyone else had this problem? I changed them once - waited ages for a replacement and then the next pair have exactly the same fault. How can they provide shoes that are so expensive that cannot even be worn? I thought they were supposed to be so experienced at providing good quality childrens shoes. Sorry. And breathe. There are just so many more important things in life than continually going back and forth to the shoe shop with all kids in tow, only to spend a fortune and leave with another faulty pair of shoes Sad

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donkir · 22/09/2014 17:32

My DS is now 12 so I get his shoes from sports direct. I always get him measured in clarks but make a point saying I'm not paying £40/50 for a pair of shoes when I can go down the road and get some for £20.
I have used next before and they lasted really well. The whole school year. Just bare in mind that places like next don't do half sizes.

Pugaboo · 22/09/2014 17:40

Their service is crap too, and they dole out bad advice, said my DS should be in shoes the minute he could walk as it "supported" their feet, when everything I've seen says they should be walking for 6 weeks before wearing proper shoes.
Unfortunately there isn't a startrite near here and DS has wider than average feet meaning most other brands aren't suitable.

Original poster
WendyWolf · 22/09/2014 18:12

It's the inconvenience that bugs me the most. You buy a more expensive brand hoping 'job done' for a while. You then have to go back and forth - petrol costs, parking costs, time, inconvenience etc to return/complain/replace/reorder etc etc. I don't think a good company would put you through that. John Lewis have always been pretty decent at customer service IMO - but we live a long way away from one. I do know a good independent shoe shop but it is approx 20 mins drive away and not always got stock in - so a return trip is sometimes necessary. Anyway, I have learnt my lesson - NO MORE CLARKS! And I'm glad I'm not the only one. Hopefully these companies will learn to respect their customers more or charge appropriately for their sub-standard goods!

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PoppyAmex · 23/09/2014 13:44

Wendy glad you like them. I buy them as an alternative to Bobux, who are criminally expensive and are scuffed in days.

DS is 10mo and lives mostly bare foot, but as it's starting to get cold I got him these Little Blue Lamb

DD is currently wearing the blue ones

Aeroflotgirl · 23/09/2014 14:23

I love kickers school shoes for dd, hers lasted 1.5 years no damage apart from a little scuffing, she grew out if them. They come in wide so last longer too.

Aeroflotgirl · 23/09/2014 14:25

Dd shoes are like tge good solid shoes Clark's used to make 30 years ago, with leather inside and out.

Aeroflotgirl · 23/09/2014 14:27

These are her ones

www.kickers.co.uk/kids-c155/kick-t-star-junior-patent-black-p5294

NoodleOodle · 23/09/2014 14:32

Shoes just don't seem to be made the way they used to be. I have a pair of shoes that were bought for me as school shoes aged14 that are still going strong. Even when I buy expensive boots now, they only seem to last a couple of seasons. And DD's school shoes last anything from a few weeks to a term or two at absolute most. During middle school I had her in boy's shoes as they seemed much sturdier and better made, but can't go that route now she's so image conscious.

Original poster
WendyWolf · 23/09/2014 14:33

I used to love my Kickers when I was a kid Smile

Well, I complained to Clarks and explained all the inconvenience of these shoes that are simply not fit for purpose and the result is ..... they have offered me a Clarks voucher!!! Shock Just about the last thing I possibly need!! Hmm

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picnicbasketcase · 23/09/2014 14:44

Agree with Bunny.

It's very weird that parents seem to have a 'must buy Clarks shoes or children will be hobbling around with missing toes' chip in their heads. I'm sure they only stay in business because of the seemingly inbuilt 'Clarks are best' mantra, yet you seem to hear a lot of stories about rotten service, being wrongly measured, measured in one size but the shop doesn't have any and sell them a different width anyway, shoes falling to bits etc.

DD's shoes this term are from Tesco and so far are lasting better than pairs she's had from anywhere else, no scuffs yet at all. Cheaper shoes aren't going to knacker your kids' feet.

MsBug · 23/09/2014 14:52

Clarks didn't even have any shoes which fit my dds feet (too wide). I wasn't too bothered as I didn't like any of their shoes. Went to a local independent shoe shop and got some nicer shoes for less money. Won't be going back to Clarks!

I think they almost have a monopoly on children's shoes, in some towns they are the only option and they have tapped into people's parental guilt to convince them that they will be damaging their child if they don't buy them Clarks shoes.

Kahlua4me · 23/09/2014 14:53

We have always bought Clarks for the dc as it was the nearest shop and they fitted both dc well as they have skinny feet.

Have had to stop now as noticed that the quality had dropped and they are stopping the d fittings. Only had 3 styles for dd's school shoes this term in D, and 2 of them were too wide anyway.

Not impressed at all, and also now struggling to find shoes to fit either of them.

BendyMum15 · 23/09/2014 19:04

YANBU - we had a flappy tongue prob with DS's last pair of Clarks and when I looked on the website there were lots of reviews saying that tongue slipped down. I assumed that Clarks must have been aware but apparently didn't do anything about it
I also don't think Clarks shoes support my DS feet enough so have moved to Startrite (even though his shoes cost more than mine!) and the fit is better, more support (I suspect he has inherited Ehler Danlos Syndrome from me) and no flappy tongue problems!

moxon · 23/09/2014 19:09

Toughees are brilliant!

Aeroflotgirl · 23/09/2014 19:11

As dd intoes the orthopaedic surgeon recommended shoes like Kickers

Kelly1814 · 23/09/2014 19:46

Sorry, children's shoes cost 45 quid?!

Jesus. My DD is one, I have all this to look forward to.

I can't remember the last time I spent that on a pair of shoes for me.

Original poster
WendyWolf · 23/09/2014 21:39

Wow Bendy That is really interesting - I wonder if they are the same shoe ?? Ours had 2 velcro straps going over and were grey and like an electric blue (although I guess they came in other colours). Were actually quite snazzy and nice for Clarks - but utterly useless as shoes Grin

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Original poster
WendyWolf · 23/09/2014 21:40

kelly I seem to ALWAYS spend more on the kids shoes than I would on my own.

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Original poster
WendyWolf · 23/09/2014 21:45

picnic & bunny I agree. I'm not sure where we got this idea that the Clarks of this world were so good. Perhaps they were in the 70s when there weren't so many shoes to choose from ? They certainly don't seem to have such a great reputation now. And we can all choose to shop for shoes in supermarkets or sports shops now where we can have so many more options at a cheaper price range. I don't mind paying more for anything if there is a really big difference in quality but the over-riding comments here seem to show that their quality is actually WORSE than cheaper rivals!!!

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Original poster
WendyWolf · 23/09/2014 21:47

bendy I offered to send the shoes back to Clarks head office for them to look at but they weren't interested - they said they didn't want to put me out but I'm now thinking that they knew damn well there was a design problem with the shoes and had just carried on selling them to us mugs regardless!!

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Original poster
WendyWolf · 23/09/2014 21:51

I love those kickers aero

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lbsjob87 · 23/09/2014 21:51

Don't get me started on Clarks shoes.
Last year, I wanted to buy DDs first pair of school shoes. The school specify plain black, small patterns are allowed but no patent or diamantés etc.
In Clarks that was all they had - when I asked for something plainer, the assistant said "No, what we have is what they're all wearing now." Well, it's not, but if that's all you sell, what choice do they have?
Also, on another occasion they didn't have any of the shoes on display and kept bringing out random shoes that bore no resemblance to the ones I wanted. And they had no size 7s but offered me a 10% discount if I wanted them in a different size. Because obviously, buying shoes works like that.

Now I always go to independent shoe shops instead.

Original poster
WendyWolf · 23/09/2014 21:53

noodle I'm curious - how old are your school shoes ?! Confused

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StillSquirrelling · 23/09/2014 21:53

Startrite shoes are really nice, and seem to fit better too but DH won't let me buy them as they are usually at least £10 more expensive per pair and with three kids it gives him the heebie-jeebies paying so much!

I used to really like Umi shoes for the girls when they were small - the first shoes range often had a big bumper thing on the front that stopped them getting scuffed!

As for Clarks, I've never had a pair break yet but the normal leather ones do seem to look worn quite quickly. Someone (a customer) mentioned to me last September - when doing the school shoes trip - that patent shoes are like magic! I was rather sceptical but it's true! They don't! I now try and buy patent shoes for school always. They don't need polishing, just a wipe over with a wet cloth occasionally, and don't scuff. Perfect Grin

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 23/09/2014 21:54

We tend to get Geoxx and hush Puppy shoes now.

Our local, independent shoe shop stocks a good range of school shoes and have just this year started selling Clarks. I don't know why!