Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To spend £115 on 12yo's school shoes?

41 replies

Readysteadygoat · 09/01/2019 20:12

He's 6ft tall and wears a size 12. His current pair cost £28 from ASOS and are falling apart after half a term. DH says buy another pair the same, I'd like to buy him some Dr Martens because I believe they might actually survive till July and beyond. Its a false economy to keep buying cheap.
We both own DMs but they were birthday or Christmas presents because they're dear.
Any suggestions for sturdy black shoes that don't cost as much please?

OP posts:
ShinyMe · 09/01/2019 20:14

I was going to say that crazy money, but DMs are practically indestructible, so go for it.

19lottie82 · 09/01/2019 20:16

If you can afford it then I’d buy them. It’s important to look after feet, and as you said, cheap shoes can often be a false economy.

user1468942365 · 09/01/2019 20:16

For goodness sake, check your bloody uniform policy! It sounds wise to me. Buy the best!

Wolfiefan · 09/01/2019 20:17

Depends. Are his feet still growing? Is he likely to lose them or get them stolen?

Original poster
Readysteadygoat · 09/01/2019 20:17

That's what I said shinyme DH won't have it. I mean sure they'll get scuffed but they're not going to fall apart are they?!

OP posts:
Smallinthesmoke · 09/01/2019 20:17

DMs all the way
Find someone with a student card and I think you get a discount

poshredrose · 09/01/2019 20:17

Is there an outlet anywhere near you? We were in York for the day and visited the designer outlet, dr marten boots for £40

XmasPostmanBos · 09/01/2019 20:17

I think you could get DMs cheaper if you shop around. DH gets them online for about £70.

ny20005 · 09/01/2019 20:17

Absolutely! Impossible to destroy

19lottie82 · 09/01/2019 20:18

These are on sale for £65 in the sale.
www.drmartens.com/uk/en_gb/p/23705001

booellesmum · 09/01/2019 20:18

I got DD Dr Martens for school Sept 2017 and they are still going although the heels have worn unevenly due to how she walks so need new heels - on my to do list this weekend.
I bought on eBay - they were new but cheaper than the shop. I think something like £79.99? Worth shopping round.

Original poster
Readysteadygoat · 09/01/2019 20:19

They probably are still growing wolfiefan I don't think they'll get stolen though

OP posts:
Lifecanbeabeach2 · 09/01/2019 20:19

DMs all the way I spend 55/65 pound on daughters boots every year always DM and last all wonder rain and snow !

To spend £115 on 12yo's school shoes?
booellesmum · 09/01/2019 20:19

Just check uniform policy.
Our school does not allow the yellow stitching so had to get ones with black stitching.

Madbengalmum · 09/01/2019 20:19

You are being ripped off for your dm's if you are paying £115 for them!

SuperstarDJ · 09/01/2019 20:21

The ones that lottie linked to seem like a bargain - available in size 12 as well!

IncyWincyGrownUp · 09/01/2019 20:26

The only reason I’ve ever had to replace a pair of docs is through the child growing out of them. They’re epic for school.

Notsoaccidentproneanymore · 09/01/2019 20:27

I bought ds2 (nearly 17) dr martens 3 years ago and they’re still going strong. I think they were £55 in the sale. They’ve been re soled and heeled for £20. He wears them virtually every day for school. He’s also had new inner soles as he wore through them.

So if he’ll wear them, I think they’re good value for money.

Original poster
Readysteadygoat · 09/01/2019 20:33

19lottie82 thank you! I didn't order that exact pair but some very similar and only £70

madbengalmum you're right! I had only checked the ASOS website tbf

Thank you for your replies everyone, let's hope his feet don't grow too quickly and we get to the reheeling stage too

OP posts:
niknac1 · 09/01/2019 20:34

I recommend Dr Martens, there’s a sale online now, we have had excellent customer services. If you buy direct from them you will get a longer guarantee than if you shopped elsewhere. We have actually saved after the expenditure because they last so much longer, I got a oair next size up but they were a little too big so got insoles from Clark’s ( took the boots in to check what would fit) and they have now been removed as our child grew. They have different widths or last styles so you can ring them up to get advice. They were really helpful.

ggirl · 09/01/2019 20:38

DH's one year old DM's have fallen apart , the are brogue ones and the stitching came apart . He emailed pic to Doctor Marten , their reply was ..'oh well they are a year old'. Shocking customer service.

Also know someone else who had same issue with DMs recently .

MargotsFlounceyBlouse · 09/01/2019 20:39

I spent 80 quid on eldest Clarks Hush Puppies size 7 for year 7. Theyve lasted really well. Still got another half term or term out of them. He's walking a mile each way to school. Not cheap, but cheaper than some, but worth the money.

Pythonesque · 09/01/2019 21:03

When my eldest joined cadets I discovered that suppliers offer parade shoes as well as boots, and they've been brilliant for her younger brother (whose feet appear to have stopped at a wide 11, thank goodness). There's at least couple of online sites; the shoes I've bought him have been from cadetdirect and less than £40; proper leather laceups that so far are wearing well.
See www.cadetdirect.com/bulling-polish-cadet-socks/cadet-boots-shoes/shoes

Avonandice · 09/01/2019 22:21

The Doc Marten factory has an outlet shop in Wollaston. We go up at least once a year to get the school shoes.
It took DS two years to destroy a pair but they were a fabric type shoe. DD1 has a pair of fab glow in the dark ones that she lives in out of school and she refuses to sdmit they are getting to small for her.

Think they had school shoes starting at £35 september.

Screamish · 09/01/2019 22:27

I just bought my 6 foot size 12 14 year old son some doc shoes (in the sale) as I was sick of replacing his school shoes every couple of months, he has to walk a couple of miles each day to get to his bus so hopefully they will be up to the task!

I feel your pain, these boys will insist on growing and growing Grin