Clarks Issue

[stardust22]

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.

Hope you get it sorted op, that’s dreadful. How did they manage to do two right shoes ffs?! Clarks shoes are dreadful all ways round. Always trying to sell what they had in store even if it was the wrong size, oh it’s ok to go up a number and down a width my arse. I always did a better job myself on fitting. Of all the school shoes we’ve had, Clark’s lasted the shortest time. Even supermarket stuff did better.
I’m so glad to not have to even consider going there anymore, both kids schools accept black trainers. The staff in JD sports were brilliant.

@2reefsin30knots

I was thinking that. My 8 year old is a size 4 right now. But then there are tiny kids in his class still ins size 12/13.

@2reefsin30knots

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.

12 year old boy in size 4, his 10 year old brother in size 6! 😂

Had issues yesterday with Clarks. My sons feet have shrunk by 2 sizes in the last year...

Hope you get a refund OP

Clarks are awful, and so expensive for the quality. Either get cheap shoes, or get decent brands, but don;t pay top prices for Clarks.

I hope they give you a refund!

I hope the store sorts you out properly, OP.

@Muchmorethan

Had issues yesterday with Clarks. My sons feet have shrunk by 2 sizes in the last year...

My Dd was measuring 1.5 sizes smaller this time, so I ordered some from Next and we did it ourselves.

Clarks are trading on past glory. They used to be the go to for school shoes but I haven't bought from them in a decade now.

@2reefsin30knots My 11 yr old, measured today at a size 3.5f in clarks, his feet grow incredibly slowly.
He was the same shoe size for almost 3 years when he was younger! We only had to replace shoes as they became old and tatty, never because he’d outgrown them.
So many of my friend’s children have far, far bigger feet. Ds has always been a petite thing, all in proportion for him though. He’s also never been in the corresponding clothes size for his age either.

Dd definitely has faster growing feet than ds. She is autistic and refuses to wear any footwear except crocs. I hate back to school as I buy her school shoes for her to muddle through the school run in and then she takes them off and is barefoot at school all day 🤷🏼‍♀️ Complete waste of money.

No idea where to buy ds some school shoes from now. I saw some lovely kickers ones on schuh but I feel his school will say they’re too much like trainers.

Do you have a clinks you can get to jay ?

We had the same shoes for DS who has a high instep...I made a hole in that upper fake hole and it worked

I've given up on Clarks, the customer service is awful. I go to Clinkards and get the Clarks school shoes from there, straight in, no fuss measuring and straight out with a bunch of shoes that fit - not lost having a natter rummaging in the stock for eons.

I got a refund.

Thank you all for your advice, I wouldn't have felt so brave without your comments.

The man I spoke to (manager/supervisor) obviously wasn't happy and made me feel so small. My voice was shaking as I had to explained the situation again to him, whilst he over dramatically pulled out the new lace. He said you haven't actually cut the laces have you?! He said I had voided any chance of a refund by cutting the lace. I explained I only did that on advice from the sales assistant. After going back and forth between us, he asked if I would be buying another pair of shoes today? I explained, my Son tried on the lace ups in stock, they were no good so no I wouldn't be.

He spoke to head office (which took literally 2-3 mins out back ) came back out and said he would refund but don't damage or cut anything in future if I wanted a refund.

He commented the sales assistant would be getting a disciplinary.

At the till he again asked if I would be getting any other shoes today to replace the ones I was getting refunded. I explained again that I wouldn't be.

I do hate Clarks but I don't feel confident buying shoes without having them fitted.

I ordered a pair of Nike Airforce 1 but my Son tried them on and the tongue came up high, digging in to his foot so they were no good.

He isn't really bothered by what they look like he just wants them to be comfortable.

I definitely won't be going back to Clarks again. I have always bought my children's shoes from Clarks and bought my Daughter's shoes from there the other day. I will have to find somewhere else in future.

Thank you all for you help.

I have given up with Clarks. I have two stores nearby which have never been able to agree on the size of DCs feet despite "expertly" measuring them - and regardless of what they measure them as they just bring out a selection of shoes in various sizes to see which fit.

Now I order online (even from Clarks), try them on at home, and then take back what I don't need. This is easier to do with Next as you can often manage to return the ones you don't want before you have to pay off your monthly statement.

Gosh that's shocking service all round, but pleased you got your money back OP.

DD will need her first shoes. I feel like Clark's are the only option if I want someone to measure her feet. Don't think we have anything else locally.

Glad you got a refund.

Clarks are spectacularly shit and it' beyond me that they're viewed in this country as being at the forefront of shoe fitting. The pilgrimage to Clarks at the end of the summer seems a must for most families of school-aged children.

No one seems to question the poor variety on offer, the high prices, and the fact that the quality has gone down the pan and their shoes often don't make it until the end of the the academic year.

Not only that, but do those stupid machines EVER guess the right size???? Usually kids step on them and get a reading, only for the shop assistant to then go backwards and forwards finding different sizes for the kid to try until a good fit is found, which is not what the machine guessed. It's all a prop, isn't it?

I guess the problem is that there really isn't much of an alternative. Some towns have an in dependent shoe shops, but not many.

He commented the sales assistant would be getting a disciplinary.

That really is shit customer service from the manager. Why do you need to know the assistant will get a disciplinary - is he trying to guilt-trip you? He should just have said he'd investigate what had gone wrong to stop it happening again. And apologised for your poor customer experience, of course.

[quote TheWoleb]@2reefsin30knots

I was thinking that. My 8 year old is a size 4 right now. But then there are tiny kids in his class still ins size 12/13.[/quote]
My 2yo is a size 10

Clarks are awful. They're crap for toddlers who don't have "standard" feet and they seem to have missed the memo about flexible shoes for younger children.

I feel like Clark's are the only option if I want someone to measure her feet. Don't think we have anything else locally.

You could buy a shoe gauge online, and would probably still be more accurate than Clarks fitters.

Seems harsh too I mean the sales assistant must have got it from somewhere? Very possible they all have been told the same thing or that it even came from.head officer ir the shop manager

Back in the 70s/80s when I was a child, Clarks used a manual foot gauge and as far as I recall, it worked. There was no trying on of different sizes - they brought out shoes in the size the gauge said and they fitted.

If you're going to have to try on several different sizes and widths, you might as well not bother with the i-pad or whatever they use now, and just do that in the first place.

I’m really glad you got a refund OP. Well done!

@BananasAreEvil

Glad you got a refund.

Clarks are spectacularly shit and it' beyond me that they're viewed in this country as being at the forefront of shoe fitting. The pilgrimage to Clarks at the end of the summer seems a must for most families of school-aged children.

No one seems to question the poor variety on offer, the high prices, and the fact that the quality has gone down the pan and their shoes often don't make it until the end of the the academic year.

Not only that, but do those stupid machines EVER guess the right size???? Usually kids step on them and get a reading, only for the shop assistant to then go backwards and forwards finding different sizes for the kid to try until a good fit is found, which is not what the machine guessed. It's all a prop, isn't it?

I guess the problem is that there really isn't much of an alternative. Some towns have an in dependent shoe shops, but not many.

The sizes aren't good. And I never agree with their sizing. But the school shoes do last a whole year.

Where else would people recommend as an alternative.

I bough some trainers from shoe zone the other year. After one day at school for PE they were destroyed. I need to buy a new pair of trainers within the month- I bought Clark's which lasted a whole year and have now been grown put of.

None of the shoes I have ever bought from Clarks have been worn out by my kid. They've always grown out of the shoes.

The other problem is I'm used to Clark's sizing. I know what size to buy.

But with any other brand if ordering online would probably have to buy 3-4 pairs in different sizing and widths and then return online. Which can be very expensive and difficult if you want some school shoes and casual shoes.- so ordering up to 8 pairs of shoes- very expensive - even if you will get the money back in the end.

I am so glad to read you got a refund, OP.

Clarks have been going downhill for a long time although their prices have remained high, which tricks people into thinking they are the same good quality they used to be.

They were bought out by private equity last year.