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.

@Jellybeansincognito is H for unusual?

Clark’s go E-H E for narrow, H for extra wide.

Buying shoes for children that have wide feet is not easy in ‘normal’ shops.

Mine weren’t that expensive, around £36. The only reason I go to Clarks though is they’re the only shop relatively near by who fit shoes as I’m not confident doing it. This year it was done from behind a big screen and they used the gauge while he was sat down when every other time they have him standing. I had to put them on him and fasten them, the fitter watched him walk and barely touched the shoe on his foot to check the width or if they were slipping. I knew things were going to be different but I feel like the shoes were not checked adequately.

Don't shop there anymore, shoes never lasted. I purchase elsewhere now.

I actually found sainsburys school shoes better quality that’s Clark’s, saved me a small fortune over the last few years, I was naively paying £50 three times a year in Clark’s. Sainsburys are nicely cushioned have decent heel protecter and don’t seem to scuff, at £16 a pair well worth it.

Last time I went to Clark’s was when ds2 started primary. I queried the size with the assistant as it was smaller than he was wearing in trainers, but they convinced me it was correct. They didn’t even last until October half term! After that I just bought the various sports brands (last year’s style from sports direct if I was skint). I’m sure some of the Clark’s staff know what they’re doing, but it’s not guaranteed, and I think they trade off the fact that we all grew up wearing Clark’s in the 80’s.

Also, my children never wear shoes that last a whole year before they've outgrown them!

I've been getting my DS school shoes from M and S , for a few years, and I think they seem just as good as Clarks, and not do manic in the shop. They've lasted up to a year and hes a typical boy so his shoes get a lot of wear from running around/football etc.

We always have Clarks for school shoes but the selection we were shown this year were awful - all really trainery and chavy looking. Luckily they had a couple of more formal looking ones. And yes, they're ridiculously expensive for tiny shoes.

I became disillusioned with Clarks last year when my DS started secondary. The bloody laces never stayed tied and there was a hole in both soles within 5 months. I was about to replace them when we went into lockdown.

For this school year I've bought him Treads (£45 for size 5). They have a 12 month indestructible guarantee. Hopefully I won't need to test whether they honour it!

I gave up on Clarks after going in a couple of times with DS, trying on a couple of pairs of shoes that were not the right fit and basically being told (by the shop assistant) that all their boys shoes are about the same fit so if one pair doesn't work none of them will. Not sure if this is true but both members of staff who served me told me the same thing. DS does have quite narrow feet but nothing too unusual.

Staff at a local independent shoe shop recommended styles and brands that would be a better fit. I'd expected them to be even more expensive but actually some were cheaper.

I usually go to the outlet store and have never had a problem with them not lasting. I generally only have to get a new pair once a year. This year I got them from the online outlet store (I have a foot measurer at home) and they cost £25.

Used to get Clark's every year but I have found my DS tends to scuff them like crazy. By October, they look like they've been fished out of a bin. Weirdly, his longest lasting pair were a last minute panic buy from Asda. They looked pretty good until he outgrew them.

YADNBU! I recently went in for my son’s first pair of shoes. Baby size 4.5 and they cost £45! I was gobsmacked

Clark’s don’t last any longer than a supermarket pair unless they never run around in them. At the rate children’s feet grow, waste of money buying an expensive pair.

Yep and there was no sale which there usual is.
Actually there's another thing, do Clarkes ever do sales on kids' shoes? The clarkes shop and shoe shop that sells them never do sales on kids' shoes, there can be a big sticker on the window and it's adult shoes only!!

Clarks are only doing what all effective brands do; build up the perception of prestige and then pull the rug in terms of quality. I can't believe anyone still buys from them at these prices; the quality nosedived years ago. I've bought lovely leather shoes from Matalan from my son for the last four years and never had any issues with them apart from that the laces are cheap; but these are easily replaced. £26 for the last pair compared to the £60 it would have cost me at Clarks.

DH has terrible feet, bunions and hammertoes. His DM always had him fitted for shoes from Clarks. I, like most North American kids, grew up in trainers and have no foot issues, nor do any other people under 80 that I know from there. I gave up on Clarks long ago as the girls' shoes were a disgrace, no grip and thin soles and now DD wears Petasil (goof for wide feet or added orthotics).

DD13 and has just grown out of all her Angry Angels (I used to size ahead in the Startrite sales) so it was a bit of a shock to buy full price shoes.

We are giving Treads a go this year. She will be doing a lot of walking and they guarantee them for a year. Both they and Startrite have measuring gauges you can print off to measure DC's foot length and width. They arrived within a couple of days (whereas there has been quite a queue outside our Clarks in town).

If you can still find them Toughees (the South African brand mentioned by a PP) were fairly bombproof.

We have also had Geox (they do great trainers) and Primigi and Petasil. Both of the last two brands seemed very light and comfortable, but they also seemed to last well. I seem to remember they were fairly narrow fitting so might not be suitable for everybody.

Thankfully the hockey shoes, trainers and running shoes still fit.

@stayathomer

Yep and there was no sale which there usual is. Actually there's another thing, do Clarkes ever do sales on kids' shoes? The clarkes shop and shoe shop that sells them never do sales on kids' shoes, there can be a big sticker on the window and it's adult shoes only!!

They do. But obviously its out of season stuff, which is no good when buying for kids as you can't really put stuff away when they are growing. You have no idea how big their feet will be by next season.

Like previous posters, my three girls always wore Kickers. We had to slice the coloured tags off with a Stanley knife though, school were strict about black shoes.

I face up on Clarks after on pair of school shoes. We have a local independent child's shoe shop. They are amazing and make me feel much more confident in the way they measure, don't just suggest a size but also how they fit around the ankles etc. We usually end up with a pair of geox or start rite.

Try the outlet op.
I got dd (age 11 size 3) shoes for £26, my fiend paid over £50 for similar shoes in store.

www.clarksoutlet.co.uk/c/all-girls-styles?q=%3Arelevance%3AshortColour%3Ablack&text=#

*1. Some people will say that it is important to have children's feet properly fitted by someone who is trained to do it and therefore it is worth the money.

1. The others will say that you can fit them yourself and therefore it is a waste of money as you can but much cheaper shoes or go for a different brand*

any chiropodist will know that 1 will be good and 2 will make them serious money in a few years

children feet are very pliable and can easily be misshapen, which will cause problems later in life, not just with feet but knees and back issues

Clarks do seem more expensive. My son was very pleased with his black timberland boots bought in a retail outlet for £33.00.