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AIBU?

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Original poster

In expecting Clarks to have a pair of shoes in my daughter's size?

57 replies

Littlemissbusy · 09/05/2007 20:13

Went to Clarks after school to buy a new pair of shoes for DD2. We waited for 20 minutes (staff say "yes - we do get quite busy after school - I nearly yelled - well, perhaps if you regularly get busy after school you should consider having more than one trained member of staff available!) She's size 9.5G - fairly normal I would say. Then I find out there's no black shoes in the store in that size.
Is this Communist Russia or something? How can there be no shoes in stock, in a shoe shop????? Also, in this town, there is no where else to go to buy Clarks shoes, or any other measured / width fitting shoes etc. I do like Clarks shoes - they clearly have some great designers, and obviously the marketing has worked on me, as I think children should have properly fitted, width shoes etc - but today was outrageous!!! And I can't boycott the store, so I just needed to rant a bit!

OP posts:
themildmanneredjanitor · 10/05/2007 17:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pointydog · 10/05/2007 17:12

This is all too common. Clarks are the worst - loads of Fs not much else.

Dd1 is D width. Clarks useless. E if you're very lucky.

crokky · 10/05/2007 17:29

I think Clarks are abusing their good reputation in terms of fitting/offering appropriate shoes. They are catering for 'average' sizes to make a large profit and ignoring everyone else.

I took my DS for some cruising shoes (cannot quite walk, 14 months) and they did not have any in his size (5.5). Apparently the average child walks at size 4.5 so they only go half a size bigger than this. They suggested instead that I buy some canvas "doodles" for him as they have soft soles. They only had his size in the girls shoe so my DS is walking around in shoes with pink butterflies on!

I think as well they should do some unisex shoes, especially for very young children.

ChasingSquirrels · 10/05/2007 17:34

Wide feet are a real pain (and I assume really narrow aswell but dont have experience) and a high instep makes matters so much worse.
Last time we went ds was a 10.5H and nothing in the store (clarks) fitted him, and nothing in the catalogue (they will order in) was likely to fit him due to the style of those that went wide enough and his high instep meaning that that style have never fitted.
Would never wait in Clarks, but then ours isn't busy.
I searched high and low for anything anywhere that I could fit him with, and ended up with a great pair from adams in size 12! They were a bit too long but fitted him on the width, and as a bargain were only £8.50 in the sale

crokky · 10/05/2007 17:36

LMB - good idea to show the thread to Clarks as they don't give decent responses to individual complaints. I actually emailed them my own problem and their repsonse was not helpful (they didn't do DS's size - replied that 14 month old will be OK without shoes) - to go in a muddy garden?

themildmanneredjanitor · 10/05/2007 17:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoupDragon · 10/05/2007 17:45

My Clarkes is fab.

  1. I always go with DSs to get there at opening time on a Sunday. No queue.
  2. They have always had at least 3 pairs for both H fitting DSs to choose from.
  3. They spent ages re-fitting DS2 when we were sent home with smaller shoes than he had before.
  4. They kept telling me how gorgeous BabyDragon was when I took her in on Wednesday for new shoes
themildmanneredjanitor · 10/05/2007 17:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

yogabird · 10/05/2007 17:53

ditto for me, no sandals for dd on weds. Weve been busy because it's been so hot. Really we have deleiveries every day..... but we don't know what is coming in - right, thanks. I always try to go there first to keep the shiop going in our little town but invariably end up whizzing along the motorway to the big city. The situation is crazy and Clarks should be told.

flightattendant · 10/05/2007 17:54

Clarks never do. (IME) We've been in ours a few times mainly because there's only 3 shops selling kids shoes in Canterbury. There's never anyone in there in the week. So we go upstairs in the lift, everyone's got headphones on and someone appears from a door up there.
Measures DS's feet. Tells me the size. Can we see what you've got?
Disappears and brings out a couple of boxes.
These ones aren't his size.
We haven't got any in his size.
Oh these ones are. But they're an F.
Didn't you just say DS was a G?
Oh we only stock Gs. They fit everyone.
Tries shoe on DSs foot.
They're a bit wide.
Well are you sure you haven't got an F? in anything?
No we only do a G.

Me and DS get up and walk out...

SoupDragon · 10/05/2007 17:54

Central Croydon

flightattendant · 10/05/2007 17:57

Scrap that we needed an E, and they only had Fs. That's right.

scatterbrain · 10/05/2007 19:42

Wow - that must be a big Clarkes shop in Croydon soupy !

Just to clarify - I have been told in 4 separate Clarks shops in the last 3 weeks that they NO LONGER ORDER as they are launching a website for you to do it yourself. They will give you a custonmer services number for you to call yourself to find out if anyone near has the size you need - then you have to get there yourself ! The website ordering has not been launched yet - so we are left high and dry !

I have written to them - they are definitely downgrading the service they offer !

ChasingSquirrels · 10/05/2007 19:49

ah on the ordering, I haven't been in one for a few months, so my comments weren't recent.
I used to mystery shop at clarks, unfortunately haven't had one through in a while.

scatterbrain · 10/05/2007 19:50

They always used to - now have stopped it though - very recent !

Troutpout · 10/05/2007 19:51

i went in the other week...they measured dd (who has a c/d width) . I assumed they wouldn't have any in that width (past experience) so asked if they would order some...and the woman told me that Clarks don't make them any more !!
htf can they really claim to fit shoes!... since they only fit shoes for people with bog standard average feet.
I could blardy do that!

MilaMae · 10/05/2007 22:02

I also think the leather quality has gone down as it scuffs very easily, they sell loads of diff colours of shoe polish now to touch up. I may be a cynic but i'm thinking they've reduced the quality so you spend an extra £2.50 on polish. The service and shoes in startright are so much better

Hillls · 10/05/2007 22:07

With all the different size fittings on this thread it sounds like Clarks dont have many of anything

Furball · 10/05/2007 22:13

I never shop at clarks, hate their shops, fitting and everything awful. What really hacks me off not only with Clarks but other shops is they ask a silly question like. Have you seen anything you like? WTF is the point of that? as they disappear for 10 mins then come back with one pair claiming this is all they have and usually they're hideous.

scatterbrain · 12/05/2007 16:53

Well - I have to eat my words now !!

dd came home yesterday saying her school trainers were hurting her and could we get new ones !!! I groaned - as this is always a total nightmare - must be predominantly black or navy - must be velcro - and they have to fit her H fitting feet !!! Tall order !!

So we wnt to big sports shop - she tried on Nike, Adidas, Lacoste, and others - none that fitted were right colour etc - reluctantly I went back to Clarks - on a Saturday - and there was no queue - and the lady was lovely and found a perfect pair straight away that dd loved (same as her friends !) and they fit and are comfy !!! They are a G fitting - but come up wide - so we are really pleased with Clarks today !!

Clarks - I apologise for maligning you !

hippipotami · 14/05/2007 12:08

We had a fab Clarks experience at the weekend too - very unusual for us...

Went in, no queue, Dd got measured by the machine - it came up 1 size below her current size so I queried it, no worries says assistant, gets manual measure, sure enough measures a whole size bigger. Gets shoes in dd's size. Only have two pairs left in that size. I panick because Clarks usually only have styles left I really dislike, but NO, pleasant surprise - both pairs really nice, dd choses one pair, assistant tries them on her, they fit perfect, one happy dd and one very happy hipp. And they were £25 which surprised me as I have always paid more in the past.

Keep it up Clarks, I may be back!!

Original poster
Littlemissbusy · 15/05/2007 20:22

I have sent the link to this thread to Clarks - so please - any more feedback would be great to add!!! Come on anyone who's ever wanted to have a rant (or say something great!) about their local Clarks!!

OP posts:
Crotchety · 15/05/2007 20:31

I wonder if Clarks have started a new policy of offering shoes in the wrong size. For weeks I have been trying to get a certain style for myself in a 7. Have tried 3 Clarks shops. They NEVER have it but always try to get me to take a 6 and a half or else a seven and a half saying I can use an insole. In my experience that never makes it fit properly...

CaptainUnderpants · 15/05/2007 20:36

Ok went into to buy sandals for DS2 at the weekend - no sandals at all in size 9.5 F or 10 F. 'We have a delivery on Monday ' - yeah well Monday he is at school and I am at work so no good thank you !

chocolattegirl · 15/05/2007 20:38

I didn't think Clarks did half sizes in adult sizes . I'm a 7.5 and always struggle to find shoes that a) I like b) suit me c) fit me.

I have to go shoe shopping by myself as by the time we've got to a) most people have lost patience with me .

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