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.

I was going to say Clinkards too, they seem to fit them properly and there’s quite a big range so if they haven’t got the right size in one shoes they’re bound to have it in another. And DH spotted a pair for himself in the sale and as we were buying school shoes too they gave him an extra discount.

We've got another place local that specialises in measuring kids feet.

It's in the posh part of town.

Anyway I got some shoes but wasnt 100% they fit correctly. But the woman was adamant they fit- and they had a limited selection so we took the shoes.
But as soon as I got home I put the shoes on her and wasnt happy- she needs properly fitting shoes. She is very clumsy- I'm not sure if she has dyspraxia- so if they dont fit perfectly she will fall- and a lot of the time she wont even put her hands forward when she falls- so falls flat on her face and hurts her nose.

So anyway the next day I went to return them- and they were really off with me checking very carefully to make sure the shoes weren't dirty which they weren't cos we'd only worn them inside for a few minutes to check them. Looked annoyed from her face.

Then the woman asked for the carrier bag back as well- it was one of their branded plastic carrier bag- looked quite trendy.
I've never forgotten that and I've never been back since.

Anyway just shows other shops even if they specialise in fittings aren't always perfect and service can fall short.

@Marcee there are good shoe shops online that have great measuring advice. The problem with Clarks is they only measure length and width, and don't take into account foot volume, arch or instep. Their widest fitting isn't actually all that wide either.

If you use one that measures in cm and then tells you how long the internal dimensions of the shoes are, and whether they're suitable for wide toes, high instep etc then you can make a much better guess at the right shoes to buy than someone at Clarks. Have a look at happy little soles.

@TruJay would these work for your DD?

www.crocs.co.uk/p/womens-kadee-work-flat/200941.html?cgid=work-crocs&cid=001#start=15

I just let the kids I teach wear their crocs if that's what they feel better in. Pretty sure nobody ever missed out on learning because they had a pair of crocs on their feet.

@Whatwouldscullydo Have never even heard of Clinks so definitely not one nearby, thank you for suggestion though.
I’m just scouring online now to see what I can find. May order a few pairs and just try at home.

Glad you got your refund OP. He needs to tell all stores to stop with the lace cutting ‘advice’ as we got the same unless we were at the same shop

If you can’t find a trusted local shoe shop, then I highly recommend Treads after awful experiences with Clarke’s. Online but their customer service is superb (free delivery and returns, plus quick to deal with queries about sizing) and the shoes are just brilliant. Look new forever rather than trashed in a term!
www.treads-shoes.com/

I just bought my DC a pair of Doc Martens school shoes. They were £60 for a size 5 (the largest size they do for kids). They look robust like a normal pair of chunky lace-ups, and we've finally found something for her extra-wide feet.

@BlackberrySky

I bought those exact shoes in the same size for my 12 year old last week. They are not loose in the fit at all, nor are they meant to be. It sounds like the sales assistant was very poorly trained - not knowing about the shoe, getting the wrong size and feet, and of course that ridiculous advice about cutting the elastic out! It is so annoying when they don't have what you want (on your case lace ups) so they try and fudge it with what they do have. If you had ordered the ones you wanted she wouldn't have got her commission so I wonder if that's where her "advice" came from.

They don’t get commission. They are paid hourly

@2reefsin30knots They look fantastic! Thank you. They start in a size 3 and dd is a 1.5, well she was measured today as that. I will check crocs site and see if they have anything similar in a smaller size. Thank you for your help.

If no luck though, I’m seriously considering getting a black pair of crocs and she can wear them for school. At least then her feet have some protection during the day at school and she’ll just wear her crocs wellies for the school run as it gets colder/wetter and then switch into crocs when she arrives.

Like you say, their ability to learn is not affected by footwear. It’s also harder for her as with such a break from school during lockdowns and summer break she’s been barefoot/crocs for so long now, it’ll be hard getting her back into shoes anyway.

There are decent fitting guides on youtube (even clarks ones...) that show you how to fit shoes. I'd have a watch and fit yourself. Next usually have some decent shoes, mine also had Kickers which were good (bought when on sale on Amazon)

I think the sizes vary in Clark’s. I always buy work shoes from there and vary between a 4.5 and a 6. Unless the shoes sizes are exactly the same between styles how can the foot measuring devices be accurate?

Schuh use measuring devices but again I’m not convinced a size 10 DM is the same size as another size 10 shoe brand.

I always get my daughter measured at Russel and Bromley and then buy somewhere else. Last year she really liked a pair in Sainsbury’s and they lasted really well and she found them super comfortable. Only cost £18, too!

I buy DS kickers - not the boot type but they do shoes too, wallaby or trainer style but smart enough to pass in senior school.

I’ve just ordered some pairs of kickers from Footasylum for them both and will see how we get on. I’ve ordered them a pair each but in two sizes 🤦🏼‍♀️ Fingers crossed at least one pair fits.

I went into Next a few weeks ago and they had A3 printed sheets in the kids shoe section that you could take away with you. Just put them on the floor against the wall and have them stand on them and you can see the size and width. Really handy, free, re-usable and worked really well.

Then sainsburys for shoes and some trainers for PE.

What @BlackberrySky said. I used to work in one of the other chains fitting kids shoes in my teens. There is a lot of teaching tricks to fudge stuff. And yes I was on commission then, all the chains paid commission then, I doubt that has changed now. I’m a pain when I get my ds fitted because I still remember all the tricks, and how to check the fit for myself too, it’s a handy past job!

I highly recommend Charles Clinkards if you have nearby store. I only shopped once in Clarks and the assistant was brought out shoes and trainers...there was an offer if both were bought. Even though I told him shoes only when he mentioned the offer. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Not all Clarks are the same. The Clarks in Deal is a franchise and a family business, and we had a great experience there recently.

Just buy a hole punch and put it down to experience.

@toolazytothinkofausername

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

Agreed

M&S school shoes. Game changer.

We've always done well with Hush Puppies. My daughters are going into years 7 and 9 and I haven't had to buy them any new school shoes this year as the ones I bought last September are still in perfectly good condition (and their feet have stopped growing so quickly!) We used to do ok at Clark's but they haven't been great, recently. I have bought them for my 4 year old but I got some for £20 from a different website (last year's stock) so I don't feel too bad if they get wrecked or fall apart!

3 children here and after (many, many) years of using Clark’s I’ve given up and now go to M&S.

I find them very good quality. I just check the fit myself. My children are happy. They are cheaper than Clark’s and so much less hassle!

I bought a pair of shoes for my son from Treads on line. Free delivery and free return and guaranteed to last a year. He was so pleased with the last pair that I've just got the next size up for this year.

Clarks fitting is rubbish so I go to John Lewis instead who are miles better. I've had success at Charles Clinkard too