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Original poster

Clarks Issue

180 replies

stardust22 · 28/08/2021 13:48

Purchased school shoes for my 12 year old about 2 hours ago.

In store appointment booked, feet measured, sales assistant took us over to see shoes for his size. We said we wanted lace ups as in Yr 8 now.

Picked out 2 pairs, sales assistant showed us a different pair of slip on shoes with faux laces/elasticated laces. She explained other people cut the original elasticated laces, take them out and put new normal laces in meaning you can tighten them up more.

She came back with the shoes to try on including the slip on elasticated laced ones. (We had issues with the 2 we chose, so no good.) We then tried the slip on ones, after trying them on and having them fitted the sales assistant noticed when putting back in box one shoe was a 3 ½ and one was a 4. She rectified this then my son tried them on again, had them fitted, walk about etc. He then said I have got 2 right shoes on. The sales assistant went off to rectify this, came back made sure both same size and a left and right shoe.
The shoes were quite loose but she explained once the elastic laces cut and taken out we could replace with normal laces so would be tighter.
We buy new laces at the till at the same time as buying the shoes.

We get home, I sit down, cut the elasticated lace in the one shoe and try to take it out but the laces are attached at the top of the shoe inside the leather and the lining! My husband tried pulling the lace out but it won't budge. Even if we manage to get the elasticated lace out there isn't a hole at the top for a new lace to go through so we'd have to make a hole.

I don't know what to do now. I have tried phoning the store for advice but no answer as they are very busy.

The shoes were £48 and we can't afford to buy a new pair.

I should have looked properly but going on the advice given I just snipped the lace, pulled it and then saw the issue.

Is there any point in trying to speak to the store for advice?

I'll try to attach a photo.

OP posts:
MegCleary · 28/08/2021 14:36

@Pinkywoo there are shops in Norfolk that have Clark’s consessions, so expensive and really pernicity. Was getting DD measured there during the week and the shoes were £50, they looked so disgusted when I said no to £50 for shoes she’d grow out of in weeks.

SquirryTheSquirrel · 28/08/2021 14:39

@PuppyMonkey

Clarks and their “expert fitting” which takes so many years of top training and is not at all just “trying shoes on and seeing if they’re okay” like us mere mortals.Grin
Grin
Summerfun54321 · 28/08/2021 14:40

Good luck. I had a nightmare getting my kids fitted at Clark’s recently, they really need more quality control over inconsistencies with fitting. I find the weekend staff are terrible at fitting compared to the mid week staff where I am.

Whatwouldscullydo · 28/08/2021 14:41

Clarks are crap. I gave up with them years ago given they are incapable of even doing the basics of measuring feet. The ipads and that ridiculous monstrosity in the middle of the shop floor got it wrong every time with my dds.

I have no idea how their limited cheap looking range at inflated prices continue to be the number one high street shop fir school shoes.

Good luck getting your money back op

DobbyTheHouseElk · 28/08/2021 14:44

The iPads are crap. I always asked for the gauge. They said they could only use it on kids with a disability!

Whatwouldscullydo · 28/08/2021 14:45

How do the other shops manage thenConfused

Dguu6u · 28/08/2021 14:45

Not sure why you need to even ask this. You need to be assertive and just go back to the shop to return them, and complain about the bad service.

Aprilx · 28/08/2021 14:48

I am a bit torn on this one, I can’t believe you bought a new pair of shoes only to take a pair of scissors to them to change the shoe into something else. No matter what a sales assistant tells me I wouldn’t have done that. I would have kept on looking!

Lysianthus · 28/08/2021 14:49

@DobbyTheHouseElk

The iPads are crap. I always asked for the gauge. They said they could only use it on kids with a disability!
At least they don’t use X-ray machines anymore (showing my age!). I always wondered if the staff suffered side effects (sorry for small derail OP, i hope you get it sorted).
HarkeyQuim · 28/08/2021 14:50

Good luck, I hope you get it sorted out.

Mydogisagentleman · 28/08/2021 14:51

Our DD worked at Clark’s on Sunday afternoon while she was at school.
She had hours of fitting lessons and had to go to a half day event in Peterborough.
She is not a big fan of children, but as she was the trained ‘girl’ she spent 5 hours doing it.

ellyeth · 28/08/2021 14:52

Your receipt will show you bought new laces. You wouldn't have done that without the assistant advising it. Don't take no for an answer.

Jumpingintosummer · 28/08/2021 14:52

Good luck. The service alone would make me ask for a refund and go elsewhere.

TheWoleb · 28/08/2021 14:53

Oh, you need to have them do that in store.
You pay for them and then hand the shoes and laces to the staff member and ask them to do it. Or you sit down and do it in front of them.

I would never have done this anyway. Just buy shoes which fit in the first place.

I hope you've managed to get the same staff member because that's the beat option for a refund!

subsy1 · 28/08/2021 14:54

Absolutely go back now - especially if they are busy. They will be keen to get rid of you so will do the right thing just to shut you up!

herecomesthsun · 28/08/2021 14:56

We went into Clarks 2 weeks ago to buy my daughter some trainers - they were £42!! Not even leather!

The words "bloody expensive" may have escaped my lips involuntarily, I might pay that for actual school shoes, not for rubbishy thin trainers.

So I went to Sports Direct instead and got some (much nicer) ones, for less than £30.

We also bought school shoes last year under a guarantee that they would replace them if outgrown that they then apparently decided not to honour, not their finest hour. Come Feb I just got some far better ones online from ShoesForKids who are really good- StartRite for £26.

toolazytothinkofausername · 28/08/2021 14:57

Clarks are the worst for school shoes! I have no idea how they are still in business Hmm

TruJay · 28/08/2021 14:58

We just tried these exact shoes on my son a few hours ago, he’s going into year 7. Really lovely pair just like what he usually goes for but without Velcro. They were far too baggy around the ankle and, like you say, could not be tightened due to faux laces.
We were too given the same advice though, to snip out the fixed lace and rethread with proper ones.

We left without any shoes though as I thought no way am I paying £50 to cut them up and change them!
Stupid advice they’re giving though when they’re not as easily removable as they make out in the shop.
Glad we left them now. I’d be taking them back and saying their instructions didn’t work and can they show you how to do it and if they can’t you want a refund or another pair.

TheWoleb · 28/08/2021 15:00

@BlackberrySky

Do staff in Clark's work on commission? My friend worked there back in high school and never earned commission.

Whinge · 28/08/2021 15:01

@toolazytothinkofausername

Clarks are the worst for school shoes! I have no idea how they are still in business Hmm
Me either. They're so overpriced, and the service seems to get worse every year. Perhaps it's because so many adults were taken to Clarks as children, and now take their children as it's just what they were used to?
GoodnightGrandma · 28/08/2021 15:01

I once took my toddler for shoes, when I got back home I realised that they’d given me two different sizes of shoe. We were the only people in at that time so not exactly rushed off their feet 🙄

Pixilulu · 28/08/2021 15:01

I’ve has a few issues with Clark’s - they will try to fob you off with a different shoe or different size if they haven’t got one in stock that’s right for your children. They must work on commission. Customer service is terrible.

Don’t be fobbed off!

Thelittleweasel · 28/08/2021 15:03

@stardust22

If you google Clarks Payrates it seems to come out at about minimum wage. Would you be impressed by an "expert" paid minimum wage?

It used to be said that you should not reuse previously worn shoes to another child but there was a report [long ago] debunking that!

2reefsin30knots · 28/08/2021 15:04

Missing the point of the thread, but you guys have 12yo boys in size 4?! My 11yo DS is in a 10. I really wish I could still buy kids shoes.

I have this joy to come next week. I really don't want to buy Clarks but I just cannot think of another shoe shop in the area that doesn't sell shoes out of mixed buckets and it's been so long since he's worn school shoes (been in PE kit all covid) we really need a fitting. Confused

usernotfound0000 · 28/08/2021 15:06

Unrelated but not sure if this is national or not but Clarks is the only shop in our shopping centre that seems to not want customers back in. They still have a barrier across the entrance and you can only get in with a fitting appointment or some assurance that you will buy something. They've really put me off and schools shoes have come from Next this year because of it.