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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be thoroughly peed off with Clarkes?

62 replies

ComeOVeneer · 21/07/2007 22:27

Went today to get dd's new shoes for school. They had hardly any sizes of the "normal" shoes but every size in these awful "daisy" shoes with the doll in the heel. Ended up paying an extra £5 for the doll the size of my thumb . Woman in the shop then proceeded to take dd around the shop showing her the trainers/slippers/wellies that she could get in order to collect all the other dolls (not a chance). It serves no purpose to the shoe, only a marketing ploy forcing already stressed parents to part with their money. Plus can you imagine what next term will be like, with all these dolls (and cars for the boys) being lost, fought over etc. I wouldn't be surprised if we get a letter home shortly after the beginning of term asking the children not to bring them in.

OP posts:
Tommy · 21/07/2007 23:37

have had a bad day with Clarks as well today - buying trainers for DS2. I'm sure ebey time I go to one of their shops they annoy more even more.

We're lucky to have an independent shop here that does other brands as well as Clarks and they are meticulous with their measuring

Lazylou · 22/07/2007 00:01

I had DD's feet measured in Clarks recently and the lady told me she was measuring at 7.5 on each foot. She tehn went on to show me a range of nasty, frankly cheap looking shoes that were hugely expensive. I declined politely and said I would try somewhere else and all the other shops, I needed a 7, not a 7.5

As for their trainers, they are horrid and I find they are just as expensive as a 'branded' pair of trainers. My DD wears trainers a lot because they go with everything (we have special occasion shoes. I hate shoes/trainers with lights and couldn't seem to find any that didn't have them.

NeverTickleASleepingSoupDragon · 22/07/2007 09:48

Out of interest, do you not worry that your DD's feet will grow over the 6 week holiday??

Budababe · 22/07/2007 10:06

Took DS to Clarkes last year for his school shoes - will be worn all day in school so wanted them to fit properly. Everything came up to high on the back of the heel and the guy basically told me that DS didn't suit Clarkes shoes!

Went to M&S and bought some for 11 pounds and had no problems - he wore them - said were comfortable etc.

At Xmas took him to Russel & Bromley - got him measured and there there 2 pairs in his size that were comfy - one Clarkes and one Timberland. He picked the Timberlands - never wore them as said they weren't comfortable!

So it's M&S again this year. Somehow.

elesbells · 22/07/2007 10:13

ive been told about a shop called 'one small step for mankind' does anyone have any experience of them? supposed to be better than clarkes for tiny feet. my dd is 15 months and it will be her first pair of shoes.

grouchyoscar · 22/07/2007 10:26

DS is 4 and is now size 12H already. I got so very fed up of being looked down the nose at and being told 'he has wide feet and we only have this pair' and feeling obliged to pay 40 quid for a pair of shoes I didn't really want. And for a family on a tight budget 40 pounds is a hell of a lot, especially when they are not hard wearing and the stitching fails after a 6 weeks.

I started to use tesco or the local shoefayre. When you've paid less than 15 pounds, you don't mind if he's scuffed them to blazes by week 4

Will check M&S, thanks for the tip

Blondilocks · 22/07/2007 10:31

I just go to Jones the Bootmaker - they seem pretty good. Won't be going til the end of the holidays though. Don't tend to go for Clarks as Startrite suit DD's feet better.

helenhismadwife · 22/07/2007 12:17

I would be annoyed who would pay £5 for a cheap nasty plastic doll.

I use john Lewis for shoes I find them really helpful and they usually have a good choice a few times they have had the same shoes cheaper than clarks

Gobbledigook · 22/07/2007 12:18

Never heard of them.

God, I chuffing hate Clarks

louloulouise · 22/07/2007 12:18

Just as a general note, most high street, 'cheap' type shoes are the standard width of F so if your child has wider or narrower feet than this then they could be doing some damage. Personally I would rather fork out for something that fit properly as they have to walk round on their feet for the rest of their lives!

I've not always had good experiences with Clarks and my loyalties lie nowhere when shoe shopping's involved, I sway between Clarks (depending on the town, some are better than others), Clinkards (for Start-Rites) or a local independent shop.

As A has G width feet I always make sure I get her measured and shoes properly fitted. For shoes it's just not worth the compromise IMO.

Furball · 22/07/2007 13:16

Completely agree with crappy marketing ploy.

I've always gone to Jones the bootmakers for DS shoes after not having a lot of luck with Clarks shops. However after 4 months of ds wearing his shoes he said they started to hurt. I felt inside the heel and there was something sticking out. I took them back to Clarks and had a refund no questions. We then went upstairs and bought more shoes. I was very surprised when they then bought 7-8 pairs of shoes out in ds' size! We then didn't tell ds which pairs had the cars in so not to sway his judgement. He said the shoes with the cars in hurt his feet, thank god.

MaloryTowers · 22/07/2007 13:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ComeOVeneer · 23/07/2007 09:49

Soupy, dd's feet grow really slowly. I have her feet checked regularly when I take ds (who needs new shoes every couple of months). She hasn't neede new shoes since last December. I wanted to get it out the way as we are on holiday the last 3 weeks of the hols, only returning monday morning (schools starts Tuesday). We are off to sort out school uniform today (yay).

OP posts:
eleusis · 23/07/2007 10:05

I hate Clarks. But do recommend John Lewis or Russel and Bromley in Kingston. Much better selection. Personally, I like Start Rite.

And, speaking of which.... ohhhh.... I get to go buy DD her first school shoes soon. I mean that. We like shoe shopping.

edam · 23/07/2007 10:10

We are lucky enough to have a lovely independent shoe shop within walking distance. They do all the kids in this town - and embarrass the teenagers they've served since toddlerdom by waving at them as they go past. Shoes are bloody expensive though, Start Rite at £35. And ds GROWS fast - already in size 11 at (just) four.

Original poster
ComeOVeneer · 23/07/2007 10:12

I like shoe shopping for me .

OP posts:
eleusis · 23/07/2007 10:37

I used to like shopping for. But since having two kids I have turned into a lard arse, and I get rather depressed when I realise my size is comprised of number bigger than I can count to. So, I prefer to shop for someone who looks good in their clothes, DD. Also, shopping seems to work great for bribery. "Put all of your shoes away and I'll buy you a new pink shirt" (although cleaner might be cheaper)

eleusis · 23/07/2007 10:37

OMG, someone send me to grammar boot camp.

LIZS · 23/07/2007 10:44

That reminds me to check if our independent are doing back to school shoes by appointment liek last year , so much mroe civilised and they will order the right sizes in if not already in stock . Succumbed to a pair of Clarks sandals for dd and they are ok-ish but she is so narrow footed that the velcro only just fastens across the forefoot and they never have school shoes for her, so gave up trying a long time ago.

eleusis · 23/07/2007 10:46

So, how is she now?

Pixel · 23/07/2007 11:39

Louloulouise, going to Clarks and paying a fortune doesn't guarantee a proper fit. I bought my dd a pair of school shoes in April, had them 'fitted' and everything but after a week they were hurting her feet. I took them back for a replacement and the man measured her feet then came out with a choice of two pairs of shoes. He kept saying they were fine and I was saying 'are you sure, they look tight to me' but he insisted they fitted. When I pointed out that they were digging in to the top of dd's foot he realised he had brought out the wrong size! Dd was saying they were tight too, why would he not trust an 11 year old to know if her feet hurt? I'm just glad she was able to say so. Ds is non-verbal and I really dread buying shoes for him as we are so at the mercy of shop assistants.

meandmy · 23/07/2007 11:45

our closest clarkes never measure my dd correctly as her mom i know when dd's shoes arent fitting properly (not walking properly in them not letting me put them on etc)
in the space of 5mins at our clarkes i had dd measured twice the first was youngish lady she said dd's shoes fit nicely asked her to measure she did told me size, found some shoes i liked in dd size got ticket an older lady came she automatically measured dd's feet and she was a bigger width and size
now i travel 1hr 30mins on bus to a clarkes in a mothercare where the staff are polite and listen when i tell them dd's shoes not fitting.

melpomene · 23/07/2007 12:09

That doll is a bit of a con...

Last time we visited Clarks, the assistant measured dd1's feet and came up with a size that was SMALLER than the Clarks shoes dd1 had been wearing for the past 8 months. She then tried to sell us a pair of shoes in the smaller size, and seemed surprised when I refused to buy any.

We have also twice had shoes from Clarks which had to be exchanged because of rubbed and bleeding feet.

Plus it is so annoying that they only ever have 1 or 2 shoes in stock in any particular size. My friend visited 2 Clarks shops trying to get shoes for her ds, and neither had any shoes in his size (which was a standard F width). It is so frustrating when they mail out brochures full of pictures of lovely shoes, giving the illusion of choice.

I don't intend to go there again.

LIZS · 23/07/2007 20:01

In Clarks Bluewater today I saw they had "range" in the entrance to the kids section. What a gimmick - AVOID you have been warned!!

tegan · 23/07/2007 20:10

dd1 is 9 and a size 4. She has always had clarkes until this year. Last year she ended up having 2 pairs of clarkes and a pair from next which lasted longer that both pairs of clarkes put together.

I will never buy clarkes again.

I have managed to get 4 pairs of shoes in the next sale so she is kitted out for this year.