To think Clarks have lost the plot?

[AudTheDeepMinded]

School shoe shopping today. Was shown school shoe for five-year old (size 10) from newest range. Lovely shoe, but fuck me £56. I don't spend this on my own shoes.
www.clarks.co.uk/c/Encode-Flash-Kid/p/26153466
AIBU to think Clarks have lost touch with the reality of what the majority of parents can afford. I don't mind paying for quality and a pair that will endure but £56 is surely completely ludicrous for a five year old? A pair of DM boots in the same size is only a fiver more.

We moved to DM's a long time ago!!!
Clarke's were so expensive and badly made and Start rite totally took the piss!
Both kids wear DM boots due to hypermobility syndrome..... bit upset that the eldest in one in a man's 7 ....but if he stays in them for 6 months I'll be happy.
They polish up like new !

Another who's always seen Clarks shoes last a whole year. Now my DC's feet have stopped growing they are lasting even longer. I don't think the price is bad for something that they wear for 7-8 hours a day, 5 days a week. The odd time I've got cheaper shoes, they have hardly lasted at all.

Looking at those, is it some sort of sensor that sets of different lights as they move in different directions?

That's what's wrong here... School shoes don't need flashy lights or toys or gems... They just need to be comfortable, sturdy and practical.

DS has always had a full academic year out of his Clarks school shoes before he has had to move up a size, so I've always thought that they've been good value for money. They polish up well too. His school shoes were £50 this time though (adult size 4) which did make me inhale sharply!

I've just gone with a simple leather pair from Tesco for £12.50. He is going to run around and scuff them and grow out of them in a few months anyway. Not to mention with the current climate, might not be in school all that often anyway with guaranteed regular isolating as he will end up with some form of tonsillitis or cold and not be allowed back in 😂

I always goes to the clarks outlet Instead, tend to be about £20-£30 cheaper just from last seasons stock. I got my daughters for £23 and they measured her. I think there is one at castleford and we went to Hornsea. If you type in google Clark's outlet it will list them all xx

Clarks boys shoes are generally worth paying for. Mine have had plenty of pairs over the years and they last until they're outgrown.

Clarks girls shoes are definitely way overpriced. Poorly made, poorly designed and impractical. Kickers all the way for dd.

Yes, we go to Clarks outlet. Ds's latest ones size 3 were £31 reduced from £49.

@lurker101

At least this year, if your child’s feet grow you will get a replacement pair for free!

What? Come again? I've missed that.

If they grow out their shoes in 6 months, you take them back, they remeasure, and give you a bigger pair if needed. You need to keep your receipt. Knowing my child, shell have a massive growth spurt in 6.5 months.

I think Clarks is a bit like Mothercare - trading on past glories and still loving in a world where they were the only option.

I’ll always remember going to a Clarks store near my office a few years ago because someone had told me their shoes had got a lot nicer. I found one that looked good on the sale rack and asked the assistant to fetch me the other one. She said, ‘It’s here’ and picked up a shoe of a totally different shade. I said they couldn’t possibly be a pair and she said ‘Oh, one’s just a bit faded; that’s why they’re reduced’. She seemed genuinely bewildered when I didn’t want to buy what was effectively odd shoes!

We go to the Clark's outlet and usually pay about £30. But this year I couldn't face the queues so got DD measured in a regular Clark's but bought Hush Puppies from Shoezone for £30.

DD usually ends up with Clark's because she's inevitably a half size and that's the only place I can find them. We were lucky this year though!

I only ever buy from Clarks outlet or Startrite outlet. Same shoes but usually about £25. They are much softer and more durable than supermarket shoes.

ds is only a toddler but im happy to pay £45 for his shoes, they last well, are really supportive, are supple (I'm a bit of a shoe granny but I can only wear leather shoes or my feet hurt!!).

Yanbu I always go to the outlet shop for school shoes.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves yes it's purely charging for some bollocks unnecessary gimmick I think.

@AudTheDeepMinded

Children's shoes are zero rated for VAT too so should be 1/6 cheaper!

Now probably made abroad too. Always put about that it would ruin a child's feet if they wore second hand shoes. [Rubbish!]

Clarks shoes are absolutely hideous as well.

I went for Kickers. I used to have them when I was at school. No idea of the quality yet as it's his first pair.

But those shoes you've linked to have "movement reactive LED lights" in them. That's not a 'normal' pair of shoes is it? I appreciate that you are still looking at £40 for a more normal pair, which obviously is expensive for many people, but it's nearly a third less in price and I'd say was better value for money.

Clarks outlet stores are so much cheaper. Alternatively look on eBay. My daughter wanted the same shoes as last year but clarks online didn't have her size available. I found them brand new in the box on eBay for £26 (usually around £50)

I've shopped in the outlet in the past but our nearest one is next county. I can usually shop around but what with the current situation wanted to get all three done at once. There were limited styles available in each size due to demand. The pair he eventually got were a much more reasonable £40.

@Sparticle I know that, but the shoes were already on his feet before the price and the poncy features were made known to me. But even with the flashing lights a pair of five year old's shoes should not be so flipping extortionate.

I always got a year out of Clark’s shoes, I did clean and polish them with shoe polish every couple of days.

I never minded paying extra for showed that came in half sizes and different widths when feet are still growing.

I objected to buying trendy shoes when mine reached 12 and adult sized feet.

Maybe Clark’s are shit now, but I wouldn’t buy supermarket plastic ones but I was fortunate that I never had to either.

Bought ours from JD sports this year. They are selling black shoes and half the price of Clark’s which is normally where we would go.

I've bought from Clarks outlet before and had to take a pair of boys schools shoes back as they'd fallen apart. I took them to a non Outlet Clarks and they were quite snooty about it and said that the outlet versions were a lower quality. Not sure whether it was true but my son had the same pair for four years and the outlet ones did look slightly different.

Lesson learned about men's shoes for school shoes, bought a lovely pair of shoes in the Clark's sale for my son. He had worn a large hole in the leather sole within three months (in fairness, not the fault of the shoes and trashed a similar pair from M&S too).

Back to anything with a rubber not leather sole. What is it about teenage boys and keeping shoes looking vaguely presentable...?