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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:
drpet49 · 28/08/2021 23:04

Never had an issue with Clarks fitting or shoes.

kitkat463 · 28/08/2021 23:08

Top tip I was told... get child to stand on a bit of cardboard ( cereal box) barefooted and draw around both feet and cut out. Go into shoe shops get pairs in their size, put the cardboard footprint into all the shoes in child's size select pairs that don't crease the footprint ( too narrow or small) or move around vastly ( too big). Watch start rites fitting video on YouTube and follow the instructions as you try on pairs that pass the cardboard test. Child has to try on less shoes, gets less bored, you can avoid them seeing one's they really like the look of but don't fit, and you don't need to pay a premium for shoes from ' expert fitters'. Can also avoid the shops entirely if you are prepared to buy a few pairs based on the footprint test and try them at home. Perfect for ds who has sensory issues making shoe shopping in August a nightmare!

Jangle33 · 29/08/2021 06:56

Op what width fitting is your child. Assuming narrow turn avoid Clark’s like the plague….!

SusannaM · 29/08/2021 07:10

I see you've ordered from M&S now, that's what we ended up doing after 2 bad experiences with Clarks for school shoes. DD did most of secondary school in M&S shoes, they were brilliant. Then she got to size 8 and we found they didn't make girls 8s, ended up back at Clarks. Had to buy from the adults section as there was nothing in the kids section that fitted properly, £60, the shoes peeled and and a lump came up in the sole after 6mths. Took them back and was told they weren't meant to be used as school shoes (lace up brogues), didn't get a refund, but will never go there again. Bought some emergency cheap replacements from New Look to see her through to the end of the year, the NL shoes are still wearing well over a year later!

FatOaf · 29/08/2021 07:18

Clarks are for small children and old people.
Clarks are not for anyone. Their shoes are garbage and their service is KFC-standard. I don't understand why anyone would shop there.

BikeRunSki · 29/08/2021 07:30

@FatOaf

Clarks are for small children and old people. Clarks are not for anyone. Their shoes are garbage and their service is KFC-standard. I don't understand why anyone would shop there.
Unfortunately, Clarks are the only high street shoe shop that sells wide fit women’s size 9/43.
BogRollBOGOF · 29/08/2021 08:31

I gave up on Clarks 5 years ago after yet another pair of DS's shoes fell apart long before he outgrew them. The stitching just used to unravel.

Marcee · 29/08/2021 08:42

@Boredmotherofone
No it wasn't stomp. It was in a small village locally. Dont want to name them. Not a national brand.

herecomesthsun · 29/08/2021 08:44

Best shoe shop for school shoes ever

www.wjfrenchandson.co.uk/

Proper fitting

Wide range of shoes

Repairs (while you wait if they can and very reasonable

And the shop looks like it would belong in Diagon Alley, to...boot.

Lalliella · 29/08/2021 08:45

The manager was a total arse. He shouldn’t have made you feel like that, he shouldn’t have guilt-tripped you over the staff member, and he shouldn’t have blamed her, he should instead provide better training. Glad you got your refund, but what a crap experience.

Cuddlywaterfall · 29/08/2021 09:09

Clarks are crap. I strongly recommend you find an independent shoe shop where they can actually measure your kids feet properly, then assess which brand of shoe would fit. Some kids have narrow feet, some wide etc and Clark's are shite. We find Geox is great for our kids feet and price wise about the same as Clark's. If you're in south London I can recommend somewhere.
Well done on going back, I hate those scenes too.

CurlsandCurves · 29/08/2021 09:25

I work in an independent shoe shop, and we do stock Clark’s amongst other children’s shoe brands.

The number of horror stories I’ve heard from customers coming to us having been to the local branch of Clark’s this year is unbelievable. Staff refusing to bring out any other size other than the one the child measures, measuring them an E for width (I could tell before even getting the measure on their foot there was no way this was true!). They’ve really gone downhill.

It’s absolutely not the case that you measure then that’s the size shoe they end up leaving with. It depends on the brand, the fit , style, the shape of the child’s foot. What they measure is just the starting point.

EmmaJR1 · 29/08/2021 09:42

Schu do fittings and sell Geox and similar. My ds is a bloody H fitting do getting shoes for him is fun.

Singlebutmarried · 29/08/2021 10:03

Gave up on Clark’s after DDs last pair lasted a while 6 weeks before they fell apart.

I used to work there 20 odd years ago so am happy with DD trying shoes on and then ‘feeling’ if they fit right (there’s a heel test and a crease test you can do).

We’ve had success with Next and with sports direct (she has some of the boys shoes for wearing with trousers on tue days they play football in the playground).

L1ttleSeahorse · 29/08/2021 10:28

"It’s absolutely not the case that you measure then that’s the size shoe they end up leaving with. It depends on the brand, the fit , style, the shape of the child’s foot. What they measure is just the starting point."

I think this is something many parents dont realise. And in fact one of the criticisms of clarks that isn't entirely fair - "he measured a 4 but then they tried a 4.5 in x style," can in fact be good fitting!

We were one of the ones that moved independent after a difficult Clarks visit. Historically though we've gone (midweek) and had brilliant fitters. I think it will depend on local store. Shoes lasted etc. Its only this last year we've had difficulties.

thegcatsmother · 29/08/2021 10:35

I gave up on Clarks when trying to buy ds's first pair or shoes. He is very wide and what they wanted to sell me fell off his feet as they were too big. I went to Start Rite, pointed out what I liked and was told they would only sell me what fitted ds's feet. They had my custom for years and I never went elsewhere for over a decade until we moved abroad.

Glad to hear French's are still going. I am mid 50s, but can remember going there before I was 10 for school shoes and sandals.

GintyMcGinty · 29/08/2021 10:39

He commented the sales assistant would be getting a disciplinary.

Appalling behaviour to share that with a customer. And obviously not planning on following ACAS guides either.

NameChange30 · 29/08/2021 10:44

Other shops to try:
Charles Clinkard
North Shoes (a few branches in the Midlands/East www.northshoes.co.uk/map)
Happy Little Soles (online)

Muchmorethan · 29/08/2021 12:57

DS14 are H width. Apart from Clarks, does anyone know of other shops that sell wide fit shoes?

ElephantOfRisk · 29/08/2021 13:04

@Muchmorethan

DS14 are H width. Apart from Clarks, does anyone know of other shops that sell wide fit shoes?
Does he definitely have wide feet? Clarks kept selling us wide fit shoes every year until I got hacked off one year as they wouldn't sell DS trainers a half size too large but when I pointed out that his brother has one foot a half size bigger than the other yet they still sold me shoes (in the bigger size) for him, then what was the difference? They would rather i just went to a sports shoe shop and bought anything it seems.

However, what I then discovered was that DSs actually have slightly narrow feet but they sold me wide ones to accommodate their high instep without ever mentioning that's what they were doing. Found this out in a walking boot store where they took a lot of time to ensure that they had the best fit.

ElephantOfRisk · 29/08/2021 13:05

Start right do up to an H if that is his correct size.

Muchmorethan · 29/08/2021 15:28

Yes, he does. Struggle to get rugby boots and trainers also for him.

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 29/08/2021 16:06

@BikeRunSki I know they're not the height of style but if you haven't already done so, try Skechers. I'm wide footed and a size 8 or 9 everywhere else, but Skechers I'm a size 7. And they're sooooo comfy!

NeverForgetYourDreams · 29/08/2021 16:11

@Muchmorethan

Had issues yesterday with Clarks. My sons feet have shrunk by 2 sizes in the last year...
Apparently my DS15 who has grown 7 inches in height in the past 18 months and is now 5'10", is still the same shoe size (6.5) as he was in March 2020......needless to say we left without a purchase. He's in size 9 in Skechers.....!