Returning some shoes...

[Feminine]

I am wondering if (l am being unreasonable) to think that a small independent shoe shop could refund/exchange some school shoes without a receipt?

They were ordered in especially in September.

I probably should have kept my receipt, but l honestly didn't think my daughter's school shoes (startrite) £45 pounds would be in the state they are.

Most of the patent leather has peeled away, more alarmingly the sole has now come away.

They aren't safe to wear now.

My daughter is six, and plays normally in them.... We only have a three minute walk to school.

Anyway.... The manager wants proof. That l understand.

I don't understand why they can't use their 'special order book' to locate the transaction.

They had to be ordered especially, as Daughter has thin feet.

We have only had them since September!
I shop there regularly for my younger two children.

Do you have a smart phone or a tablet? Can you get online banking so that you can see your statement from Sept online? (Probably would take longer to get set up with online banking than to get this sorted)

Under the Sale Of Goods & Supply of Services Act you are entitled to either
(a) a refund
(b) repair
(c) replacement
and whichever you are offered is at the discretion of the seller.

As these are supposed to be hardwearing school shoes, I'd be approaching the shop/manager as nicely as I could (while biting my tongue) saying that you understand that there are a number of books to go through, but you're a regular customer in their store, you appreciate the effort that they will have to go to in order to help you confirm that you purchased these shoes from them back in September 2014 as a special order due to your daughter's narrow feet.

I would also say that you're aware of your rights (Sale of Goods and so on) and that your contract is with them and not Startrite. Their contract might be with the shoe manufacturer but yours is with them (and I have a feeling they want you to stop hassling them and deal direct with the manufacturer seeing as they are being a bit difficult already).

Best of luck getting this sorted.

What about contacting Start-Rite direct on-line, telling them what you've told us.
These shoes really should have lasted longer than a term. If they are school shoes and have only be worn when your dd was a school then the amount of wear hasn't been great.
I have always been told than patent leather is more hard wearing, but honestly I think salespeople will tell you what they think you want to hear.
I don't think the shop is being entirely helpful either - if it's a small shop in a rural area, surely they can't have that many books - and how hard would it be to go back until September.
I do not think you ABU at all

having said all that I would go with what WhatchMaCallit is suggesting - excellent advice IMHO

Thank you both. That is such helpful advice.
I will let her know that l will go directly to start rite if need be.
Maybe when she sees me, she'll remember and help me. fingers crossed thanks again

update
I took a screen shot from my on-line banking....and was given an exchange.
At first they just wanted to send them back to start rite, to see what could be done.
I explained that really wouldn't work for me, and they let us have a new pair < in a good way.
Thanks for the advice all...