Clarks pulling promotion

[CaffineismyBFF]

Brought a pair of clarks shoes in the summer with the promise that these could be replaced if my child outgrows them before the end of February. My daughter was complaining about them in mid-November so we went back and they were adamant her size hadn't changed but she was on the verge of being the next size, but come back in the Christmas holidays for a resize then.

Now I've just heard that the promotion has been pulled. I'm not a happy bunny! I specifically asked in store when I purchased the shoes what happens if we go into another lockdown and was reassured they would extend the promotion. Had I known, I would have brought cheaper alternatives rather than spending £50 on a pair of school shoes shes only worn for a term.

Kind of split views on social media, some are fuming and vowing never to shop at clarks again (I'm in that camp) and hoping they go bust (which I'm not!) And others are telling people to suck it up and stop whinging.

I'm guessing those who are telling others to stop whinging are those who can afford £50 shoes every term. I can't. As a "goodwill" they have offered a measley 30% discount on new school shoes if purchased by March. They're having a laugh! They are expecting us to spend more when we were promised new shoes due to their guarantee. I wasn't planning to spend on another pair of school shoes and even with the 30% off it makes them £35.

AIBU to think they are copping out on thousands of customers? Probably going to lose a lot of business as a result of this decision. 100% will never buy clarks again.

Well I think it's poor. If they promised to replace if outgrown by February and the shops aren't open to honour this then they need to come up with a way to honour it.

But they've pulled it because they aren't allowed to have their shops open.

The promotion specifically said they would only replace shoes if a child was remeasured in store and their shoe size had changed, and they have said they don't anticipate being allowed to reopen before the end of the promotion.

They would have every parent measuring at home and saying their child's size had changed so they could have a free pair of shoes otherwise.

@EnglishBreakfastTea

What?!?! That is dreadful! You cannot run a promotion, advertise it heavily then decide one month before the deadline that you've changed your mind! It's fraud!!!

??? They didn't extend the promotion.

Nobody can meet the orignal criteria - go to a shop and get the kids feet measured and that's not of Clerk's doing!

They have replaced it with a much more inclusive offer - ALL SHOES not just kids.

Clarks has introduced a new promotion to allow any customers who purchased a pair of school shoes in one of its stores between July and September 2020 to get a 30 per cent discount off their next purchase.

The school shoes do not need to have been purchased under the guarantee, and can be any size.

The discount will apply to any full-price kids or adults shoes, and customers will need their receipt to claim it.

I hate Clarke's shoes and wouldn't use them after a £49 pair of school shoes fell apart after 2 weeks. Took them back to be told it's because he wore them to school. They were school shoes. Never been back since.

I dong blame them for pulling the promotion. It was a daft idea anyway. I think they're a bit of a con tbh. Though I fell for it myself. If you don't buy clarks shoes your childrens feet won't have room to grow.

@seepingweeping

I hate Clarke's shoes and wouldn't use them after a £49 pair of school shoes fell apart after 2 weeks. Took them back to be told it's because he wore them to school. They were school shoes. Never been back since.

I bought my son Doc Martens thinking they would be sturdy enough for him: two days letter a big chunk of leather came off the toe, and I had to have a stand up row with Schuh to get my money back.

They also blamed my son for, I don't know, being six and wearing shoes?

Well, the problem with their promotion is that is really can't be extended can it? pretty much 100% of kids will outgrow their shoes by the time lockdown ends.

It is just one of those crap side effects of covid.

I am amazed anyway, as all my kids went through 2 pairs of shoes per academic year due to growth. They always outgrew them before they wore out.

the best ones we had were hush puppies. Lasted ages

Wonder how many pairs of school shoes Clark's are currently selling?

OP when we get to the point when our dc go back to school, I would recommend going to a shoe shop where they fit children's shoes and stock a variety of brands. They don't have to be Clarks, there are lots of other options including continental brands.

I think it's a shame they had to decide not to extend the promotion. It's left a bad feeling with their customers

However, I can't see that they had any choice. If they'd extended, they'd quite possibly have gone bust. Which would result in lost jobs and no vouchers or discount for anyone. They are in dire straits as a business.

Personally, I'm putting this down to one of the negatives people have suffered during the pandemic which was unfortunate but unavoidable.

I'm hating the negative campaign on sm against a business that is struggling.

Once it's clear schools are reopening stock them on Facebook marketplace for £20 and someone will snap them up.
Then buy a new pair with your 30% discount and you'll only be £15 out of pocket.

Sorted. No real drama.

I’m torn. With 2 of my boys I went through 3 changes of uniform and school shoes in a year because they had a year of massive growth spurts. There was no way any show could have lasted from beginning to end as their feet literally doubled in size in 12 mths and their height went up over a foot and a half. Second boy was easier as by that stage I had a whole range of barely worn shoes and uniforms from older brother. Why would a shoe company be expected to pay for growth spurts. Kids grow.

Shoe, not show

Put them on Ebay. If they are in really good condition you're likely to get a good price for them. I always find adults' shoes sell well on there.

They can't exactly extend the promotion for months because of a government decision to lockdown and close retail. With rumours of things lifting in April the last thing they need is to make no money when they open from everyone coming in for free shoes because the child's feet have had an extra 4 months to grow.

@CaffineismyBFF

They had 2 bands for the promotion Younger kids were eligible until November and older ran until end of February.

I've heard Tread shoes fair well and they have a specific sizing system which means they actually last an academic year. Anyone have any experience of these? I read a blog where someone was sent a pair to test against a range of shoes and tbh they didn't look that great come the end of the first term thats why I didn't purchase from them this year.

I bought Treads for my 6yo at the start of the school year. I'm very impressed with them, they still look new. Most of his shoes don't last a term. They have an insole which can be removed to make them half a size bigger, but I haven't tried that yet.

God help them if any other shoe store put the effort into measuring kids feet as that seems to be the only reason people actually use them.

Why would a shoe company be expected to pay for growth spurts.

Because the promo they were running said that they would replace them if outgrown within a certain time.

I'm surprised how many people think yabu.

If the promotion was advertised as running until February, it needs to be honoured in full until then and can't be yanked early. I would be citing the Consumer Rights Act and threatening them with a report to Trading Standards.

However, if the problem is that you can't take advantage of it because the stores are closed, then it's a greyer area, as obviously this will have been as unforseen for them as it is for you, so you need to make a persuasive argument. In effect, free replacement is no different from refunding the cost of the original shoes, so I would be pressing for that and/or being able to order replacement shoes FOC for delivery (Clarks deliver anything that needs ordering in store anyway, so they are set up for this). If the T&Cs specifically exclude mail order, you would need to phrase this in terms of 'gesture of goodwill' etc, citing the fact that you were talked out of replacing them in store as far back as November. Who have you dealt with so far? I would go as high up the food chain as possible - how about [email protected]?

I presume that the reason they're yanking the promotion is because it cost them way more than they expected, so I imagine you'll be lucky to get a result, but yadnbu.

If the promotion was advertised as running until February, it needs to be honoured in full until then and can't be yanked early.

I bet this was covered in the T&C.

@MadisonAvenue

Why would a shoe company be expected to pay for growth spurts.

Because the promo they were running said that they would replace them if outgrown within a certain time.

👏🏼👏🏼 this was exactly my point, for those who have said I shouldn't expect Clarks to put shoes on my kids feet!

There are ways they could manage it. Online shoe consultations, sending shoes back and paying postage costs associated,

When I suggested paying postage costs I mean the customer not thr business so they don't suffer.

That was just off the top 0f my head. They have people employed to work on strategies for marketing promotions so sure they would between them have worked something out. But they copped out.

There are ways they could manage it. Online shoe consultations, sending shoes back and paying postage costs associated,

How do you propose getting round the fact that they have to measure your child's feet and deem the shoes outgrown?

So I’ve just have a check

The offer ends in the 28th.

What Clark’s are actually saying is that they can’t physically measure the shoes as the shops are shut. But they won’t allow parents to do so as they need to make sure they’ve definitely outgrown them.

It’s a bit cheeky.

28th feb.

By the way. So the offer hasn’t been pulled. It’s just their staff can’t tell if your child has outgrown the shoes.

Let it go.

There is enough big stuff to deal with.