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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 26/01/2021 15:18

The economy is fucked and this is what's pissing you off?

TennisBunny · 26/01/2021 15:19

I know someone high up at Clarks, and sadly they were on the verge of going bust.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 26/01/2021 15:22

It was a stupid promotion anyway, why should a shoe shop be responsible for the hugely variable rate at which children's feet grow

Do you want a tip OP? Children's feet grow most in late winter/early spring. This why kids school shoes annoyingly often stop fitting around may. Best bet is to accept it in Reception & replace after two terms then plan on replacing school shoes annually at start of summer.

ForTheLoveOfWine · 26/01/2021 15:30

There is also have stock/supply issues and as @TennisBunny says they are not in good shape as company
Understand the frustration but I don’t think they’ve done it to be sneaky or to mislead people

ConquestEmpireHungerPlague · 26/01/2021 15:40

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.

Are people missing this ^ in the OP? It's all very well to argue that Clarks are under no obligation to extend the offer/would go bust if they did, etc (all true in principle) but nevertheless, when the OP asked, she was specifically told that they would^. If this was a chain-wide policy, it's worth taking further on a trading standards basis the fact that T&Cs have since been unfairly changed. Clarks are undoubtedly insured against business interruption anyway, so I don''t know why everyone is boohooing on their behalf. If it was an individual shop assistant speaking out of turn, it will affect far fewer people and is therefore worth taking further on a goodwill basis. It's lovely to be well off enough that you could let this go yourself, but an incredible imagination fail not to realise that life isn't so comfortable for everyone, especially now.

Fwiw, I think Clarks are crap. Their quality has gone down and down, their prices up and up, and they have traded on the associations their name carried for at least a decade and more like two. Presumably this bizarrely generous promotion arose out of a decision to try and outsell their competitors without bothering to look at their business model, so if they are folding I would say it's well deserved. None of this is OP's fault, or even the pandemic's.

LazyName · 26/01/2021 15:48

I’m actually not usually judgemental at all but the fact there are a group of people out there so angry over it it’s just a bit depressing with what else happens in the world/life. You had a problem with them, they gave you a goodwill gesture and you’re still stressing over it and making it more of a problem (for yourself as you are going to continue to be angry about it), when you would really do yourself a favour if you just let it go in the nicest way possible. Its crap but if you just step back and look at it it’s not the end of the world nor is it worth dragging it out because you are going to drive yourself crazy over a pair of shoes.

BikeRunSki · 26/01/2021 15:49

I think Clarks are crap. Their quality has gone down and down, their prices up and up, and they have traded on the associations

I couldn’t agree more

Backbee · 26/01/2021 15:53

Are people missing this ^^ in the OP? It's all very well to argue that Clarks are under no obligation to extend the offer/would go bust if they did, etc (all true in principle) but nevertheless, when the OP asked, she was specifically told that they would.

A member of staff verbally saying it would be extended does not a legal obligation make.

cakewench · 26/01/2021 15:55

Try a different brand. Clarks is pretty outrageously priced given they grow out of them so quickly and the quality is very hit or miss.

(FWIW I agree with you about the promotion, it should be honoured. It was the conditions of your sale)

davidsSchitt · 26/01/2021 15:58

"I know someone high up at Clarks"

SummerBlondey · 26/01/2021 15:59

Why on earth would they promise to replace shoes if they were outgrown in 8 months? They should never have run such a stupid promotion.

luxxlisbon · 26/01/2021 16:07

@ConquestEmpireHungerPlague *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.

Are people missing this ^^ in the OP?*

OP bought the shoes in the summer and since then retail closed for lockdown 2 in November. It doesn't sound like the shop said the promotion would roll on indefinitely regardless of how many lockdowns happened.

Since it never actually said any of this on the promotion it is clear it was a single employee misspeaking. This cannot be proved either way so a 30% discount sounds more than fair.

MidSummersNightmare · 26/01/2021 16:12

I think it’s time to do away with the requirement for children to have certain types of shoes in order to go to school. I found it mad to have to buy new shoes and trainers in September even though my daughter already had a few pairs of perfectly good shoes in her size and obviously now they will hardly be worn.

HintOfVintagePink · 26/01/2021 16:14

Yanbu OP. I’ve stopped buying Clarks shoes as the quality isn’t worth the price. They used to be a hallmark of quality, but that isn’t the case anymore.
I haven’t replaced DCs school shoes due to home schooling, but I would be interested to know of any decent alternative brands that do a proper fitting service. I don’t mind paying for quality but I do mind paying for a name with nothing that backs it up anymore.
Also agree with PP about schools not being picky over uniform until things settle. We invested in extra uniform as the school wanted entirely clean uniform every day (including tie!) and three months later it’s barely been worn.

Mia1415 · 26/01/2021 16:19

YABU I don't blame them at all for not extending the offer. They are clearly trying to protect their business and jobs.

Givemeabreak88 · 26/01/2021 16:19

But unless that was written into the promotion (which I’m guessing it wasn’t!) some random worker in the shop telling you won’t make any difference she could easily be lying about that so unless they said it officially then she won’t get anywhere

MadameButterface · 26/01/2021 16:21

Are people missing that clarks told op to come back at Christmas but she never got round to it? I feel like i’m taking crazy pills. You snooze you lose, was anyone shocked and surprised when we went back into lockdown in jan? Like at all? My kids will be going back to school in whatever trainers/crocs/walking boots still fit them and school can kiss my broke arse if they don’t like it.

hellejuice91 · 26/01/2021 16:28

If the shoes are still in good condition I would sell them on and then decide what to do from there. You may only be out a few quid if you get a good price for them

And in terms of what the staff member said at the time she couldn't know for sure what they were going to do. A lot of the time staff members say things like 'I'm sure they will extend it' but this is not a guarantee and certainly not in these times.

mummytolittledragons · 26/01/2021 16:29

I'm not surprised. I expected this to happen. It was simply a publicity stunt. It's really mean to do this to customers

IncludeWomenInTheSequel · 26/01/2021 16:32

Nice try @OverTheRubicon

I buy school shoes from Tesco or Matalan so money is really fuck all to do with what I said.

emeraldcity2000 · 26/01/2021 17:42

@Updatemate will give them a try!

HoppingPavlova · 27/01/2021 21:40

*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.*

So, I would buy a pair of shoes and then they would replace them twice during the year due to growth spurts? As I said, my boys went through 3 pairs in a year when they had the huge pubertal spurt.

Sounds like a crap business model.

Comefromaway · 27/01/2021 21:46

@HoppingPavlova

*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.*

So, I would buy a pair of shoes and then they would replace them twice during the year due to growth spurts? As I said, my boys went through 3 pairs in a year when they had the huge pubertal spurt.

Sounds like a crap business model.

Because their entire business model for children’s shoes is based around growing room.

Hmmmm2018 · 27/01/2021 22:03

Clark's quality has been going down hill for the past 20 years, sainsbury had some excellent children school shoes for half the price

HikeForward · 28/01/2021 10:23

I'm guessing those who are telling others to stop whinging are those who can afford £50 shoes every term. I can't

Then don’t get sucked into a promotion that encourages you to spend £50 you can’t afford, it must have said in the small print they reserve the right to discontinue the scheme under certain conditions eg national lockdown (or delay replacement if parents try to get a new pair before their child has outgrown the current size.

How would Clark’s stay in business if they continued the scheme, given that all children’s feet will have grown by the time school re-opens so they’ll all want free replacements at the same time. If it were staggered over a year (without a lockdown that’s probably cost the company a fortune in profit anyway) school shoe replacements would be more feasible.

I do think it’s a shame they couldn’t honour it, but more fool parents who splashed out on overpriced shoes thinking they’d get freebies to balance it out.

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