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AIBU?

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Original poster

Clarks pulling promotion

155 replies

CaffineismyBFF · 26/01/2021 11:24

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.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 26/01/2021 14:25

The issue is that Clarks guarantee that their measuring and fitting system gives x number of months growing room. People pay a premium because of this not because of the quality of the shoes.

It's very poor of them to pull the promotion.

wildraisins · 26/01/2021 14:25

It's not great of Clarks and you could probably pursue it legally if you are really that bothered (if you have anything in writing about this).

But, you know, we are in the midst of a global emergency and sometimes it's better to just let things like this go.

LazyName · 26/01/2021 14:29

Do people in the tribes who rant about minor issues on Facebook, mumsnet and who knows where else have no actual problems in life??? Confused
Yes it’s annoying kids grow out of clothes and shoes fast but end of the day no one made you spend £50 on a pair of children’s shoes. Yabu.

ancientgran · 26/01/2021 14:29

It's OK letting it go if you can afford to, with people on short time/furlough/out of work some people will be struggling and £50 would be massive for them.

I'd ask Trading Standards to look into it.

Givemeabreak88 · 26/01/2021 14:30

Well if you can afford £50 on school shoes then I imagine you are not struggling Confused

SoUmmYeah · 26/01/2021 14:35

@Givemeabreak88

Well if you can afford £50 on school shoes then I imagine you are not struggling Confused
Some people just have different priorities. We don't have a TV licence, so that frees up £130 a year.
emeraldcity2000 · 26/01/2021 14:35

I'm surprised how many people thinks Clark's quality is rubbish ... I've always found them by far the best quality for small people shoes... 🤷‍♀️

davidsSchitt · 26/01/2021 14:35

"The issue is that Clarks guarantee that their measuring and fitting system gives x number of months growing room."

Yeah and as a result parents let their kids go to school with their shoes flopping off their feet because we've been conditioned to think Clark's are the bees knees.

They are shit and couldn't measure a kids foot properly if their life depended on it

davidsSchitt · 26/01/2021 14:36

The quality is awful too.

ancientgran · 26/01/2021 14:37

@Givemeabreak88

Well if you can afford £50 on school shoes then I imagine you are not struggling Confused
I wonder how many people have lost their jobs since August?
Fufumuji · 26/01/2021 14:37

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

Genuinely out of interest...do people think that brought and bought are interchangeable? It's not a typo as its used more than once. I see it all the time and I really would like to know if those who use the wrong one know that they are two different words.
Not being goady or nitpicky, its a genuine question I'd love to have answered. I've been wondering for years.

Updatemate · 26/01/2021 14:39

@emeraldcity2000

I'm surprised how many people thinks Clark's quality is rubbish ... I've always found them by far the best quality for small people shoes... 🤷‍♀️
Have you ever tried bobux? Or Geox, far superior!
redsquirrelfan · 26/01/2021 14:39

@ancientgran

It's OK letting it go if you can afford to, with people on short time/furlough/out of work some people will be struggling and £50 would be massive for them.

I'd ask Trading Standards to look into it.

Trading standards won't care, Clarks haven't done anything wrong.

The offer was until end of Feb. They're not extending it to take into account shop closures. That is up to them.

The ASA looks at the spirit of the law as well as the law and regulatory codes themselves, so they might uphold complaints, but they did say they would take a light touch on covid related things unless advertisers were promising miracle cures for covid or price gouging (ie charging £10 for a £1 bottle of sanitiser).

I think the ASA would be hard pushed to say that Clarks should extend the promotion, especially as their normal guidance is always that you never ever on pain on everything extend a closing date.

redsquirrelfan · 26/01/2021 14:40

Also - obvious point here - it's more likely that if they extended the offer that kids' feet would grow during the extended period, is it not?

ZoeTurtle · 26/01/2021 14:45

@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.

Yes, by the end of February. Subject to a re-measure in the shop. The shops have been forced to close and therefore the promotion is void.

How is this hard to understand?

MarthasGinYard · 26/01/2021 14:46

I'd say that 'offer' was open to quite a bit of abuse.

I think a 30 percent discount is quite fair as they were bought

MarthasGinYard · 26/01/2021 14:46

In the summer

ancientgran · 26/01/2021 14:48

@redsquirrelfan It isn't even the first of February yet, they are jumping the gun as none of us know what is going to happen next. Shoe shops might be considered essential, I'd think that was reasonable for children.

You don't know if Trading Standards would be interested, will depend on all the T&Cs, what the advert said etc.

curlymom · 26/01/2021 14:52

YANBU. They should honour their promise and if it isn’t practical to carry on with it they should pull it on future purchase. The posters who are up,in arms about the future of Clark’s would probably have a different opinion of this concerned them. So if your kettle,has a one year guarantee at time of purchase and it breaks in six months would they be ok if the company said. ‘Actually it’s only six months now else we will go under’ that be ok would it ?

redsquirrelfan · 26/01/2021 14:56

[quote ancientgran]@redsquirrelfan It isn't even the first of February yet, they are jumping the gun as none of us know what is going to happen next. Shoe shops might be considered essential, I'd think that was reasonable for children.

You don't know if Trading Standards would be interested, will depend on all the T&Cs, what the advert said etc.[/quote]
They've not pulled it, they've said they are not extending it to when the shops reopen. If the shops are allowed to open in February (unlikely) then they'll have to honour it. If primary schools do reopen after half term you are right that shoe shops might be considered essential.

I do know that Trading Standards won't be interested, being a real life lawyer with a strong interest in advertising and consumer matters and all that.

redsquirrelfan · 26/01/2021 14:57

@curlymom

YANBU. They should honour their promise and if it isn’t practical to carry on with it they should pull it on future purchase. The posters who are up,in arms about the future of Clark’s would probably have a different opinion of this concerned them. So if your kettle,has a one year guarantee at time of purchase and it breaks in six months would they be ok if the company said. ‘Actually it’s only six months now else we will go under’ that be ok would it ?
That's different.

Although if a company were in administration, the adminstrators would be able to do exactly that.

OverTheRubicon · 26/01/2021 15:07

@curlymom

YANBU. They should honour their promise and if it isn’t practical to carry on with it they should pull it on future purchase. The posters who are up,in arms about the future of Clark’s would probably have a different opinion of this concerned them. So if your kettle,has a one year guarantee at time of purchase and it breaks in six months would they be ok if the company said. ‘Actually it’s only six months now else we will go under’ that be ok would it ?
If Clarks goes under, then we will be down a fairly large employer and yet another useful shop on the high street. And no-one will honour your guarantee then.

But yes, getting a refund that doesn't have a legal basis is more important...

Original poster
CaffineismyBFF · 26/01/2021 15:12

@LazyName

Do people in the tribes who rant about minor issues on Facebook, mumsnet and who knows where else have no actual problems in life??? Confused Yes it’s annoying kids grow out of clothes and shoes fast but end of the day no one made you spend £50 on a pair of children’s shoes. Yabu.
Aren't you a judgey one! You have no idea of my personal circumstances so 🖕
OP posts:
GellerYeller · 26/01/2021 15:13

Our local branch measured DD as what cpuld best be described as generously to allow for growth. She came up two and a half sizes bigger than the shoes she arrived in. They fit me.

She looked like Ronald McDonald.

Original poster
CaffineismyBFF · 26/01/2021 15:16

So many judgey people on this site. I imagine they are the ones that have their comfortable lives with their perfect car, home and 2.4 family life.

So I'm out! I get it, some think I'm being unreasonable, others don't. Let's just call it a draw and leave it as instead of making comments about what I can and can't afford (which is nobody's business)!!!!!

OP posts:
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