I feel sorry for Clark's Shoes staff

[MT2017]

Visited there mid week with DS1 and DD. DS1 is in large men's size, was told there were only two pairs in his size - boots and slippers.
DD in very normal size (6) - nothing in her size at all in black lace up school shoes.

I felt really sorry for the woman serving us, her service was fine but due to the lack of shoes in stock we couldn't buy anything.

Had to order online and couldn't order next day as they were originally coming from different places, then had email to say they would be arriving together on Tuesday. Nearly a week!

AIBU to think their staff should be better supported by the stockroom?

Yep last rune we went they said DS was an E fitting but they never really had anything in an E, and actually didn't currently have anything in his size in an F, but a G would be fine. Um, no. The point of paying Clark's extortionate prices is to get some that actually fit. I can buy shoes that are too-wide for a fraction of the price!

Agree completely with the following posters and their comments - plus how are the staff getting any commission if we order online? Or don't they have that there?

@DisgruntledGuineaPig

I assume the OP means people go in, get their dcs fitted/measured, but due to lack of stock, end up ordering on line. This makes it look like the staff aren't needed/aren't able to sell the shoes, and eventually will lead to stores shutting and staff being laid off.

And

@daisychain01

Can't people on here see that if store takings go down because there isn't the stock available in store, it's just another step closer to high street shops like Clark's, M& S etc closing down and everything being on line = job losses.

Go to John Lewis or another shop where you can choose from more than one brand. Clark's have mismeasured my kids a couple of times but John Lewis never have so I suspect that the fancy iPad method is bullshit.

I don't feel sorry for the staff at all. Retail jobs can be shit but Clark's isn't out of the ordinary imo.

I worked for Clark’s for several years, several years ago! The training is that you have to offer the customer something even if it is completely not what they want or asked for so if a child was for example a 9F and they wanted a black school shoe but we only had a power rangers slipper and a light up trainer in that size we HAD to take that out to show them ( usually all stock rooms are upstairs too ) If you did sell a pair of shoes you also have to offer the appropriate polish/ shoe care to the customer, you also had a sundries target you had to make each month or you would a stern ticking off from management. It was not a easy job and I wouldn't ever want to work there again!!

I’m not surprised there wasn’t much stock in these sizes op. Most children with adult sized feet won’t be seen dead in Clark’s shoes.

I have been to 4 different ones near me, over the years, and have never had a problem.

Most retailers don't offer staff commission but even if they did, the staff probably wouldn't lose out from doing an online sale as they would still attribute the sale to that staff member.
A lot of retail businesses are pushing online as overheads are much cheaper- business rates arent helping make bricks and mortar profitable. So they're not going to spend loads of money filling stores up with stock and staff when they can take the money for more profit online and look to get out of costly locations where needed. Business rates need to change or the problems on the high street are not going to improve and yes, lots more job losses will happen.

I love how this thread has a Start Rite advert on it!

Following in from other comments, where else is good for shoes? We don't have a Start Rite near us here and I do generally find Clark's reasonably well lasting. I know DMs are a Mumsnet fave and I'd personally like to get some for the boy, but he's not keen! Have tried Next and Mark's before, not too bad. But I feel there's not much high street choice other than that!

I really think Clarke's should specialise in very narrow and very wide fittings. That's why most people go there, because their children are not average.