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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School shoes haven't lasted a week

168 replies

Smartphonetoomuchoo · 10/09/2021 16:21

£20 in sainsburies which i thought looked quite sturdy. Well they lasted a grand total of 5 days. How can this be? The sole is ripped up after a week. I don't have the receipts because I am a moron.
I can't afford £45 each on clarkes shoes. I have looked in all the charity shops but school shoes are never sent in. Are they all just shit?
Considering just sending them in converse because at least they last and look alright even when they are tattered and old. and converse are easy enough to find on second hand market places.
Am I the only one? I thought 20 quid was a lot, I usually go for the 12 pound ones but thought I'd go more expensive thinking they would last better. Ha!
Also, I am worried about spending more money and still getting the same results.
I never have this problem with home shoes, mostly they last until we outgrow.

OP posts:
DeepaBeesKit · 10/09/2021 18:10

What on earth is your child doing at school all day to rip up the soles of their shoes?

A school aged child is old enough to be told to take more care.

I've had loads of sainsburys shoes and they've been absolutely fine, lasted ages, been outgrown before they fell apart.

Ingloriousbasterd · 10/09/2021 18:10

Doc martens on Schuh with klarna pay in 3, they last the school year and then some ...paid 42 pound for my DS, they also have voucher codes online X

Peanutsandchilli · 10/09/2021 18:10

I got my daughter's Clarks shoes from M&M Direct for £20. They're currently on for £14.99. There are definitely shops out there that sell older styles for half the usual price.

Poppitt58 · 10/09/2021 18:11

I bought my son’s for £6 on eBay. Brand new in the box. They’ve lasted us since february, they’ll last until he grows out of them, and then I’ll pass them to family. Petasil, Ricosta, kickers, startrite and geox are great second hand.

Poppitt58 · 10/09/2021 18:12

Tk maxx are great online too - I got startrite school shoes for my daughter - they were £20

DixonD · 10/09/2021 18:13

It’s false economy to buy cheap shoes - now you’ll have to spend £40+ on two pairs (and likely more if you get another cheap pair), rather than £40 for one pair of Start-Rite or Clark’s.

YABU. You get what you pay for.

Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin · 10/09/2021 18:14

Take them back. However they do look more like trainers or canvas shoes rather than proper school shoes so I wouldn’t have expected them to last…..

DixonD · 10/09/2021 18:15

My daughter’s Start-Rite shoes lasted all last year and are still in brilliant condition and could go on for far longer.

Original poster
Smartphonetoomuchoo · 10/09/2021 18:16

@Demelza82

Can't afford Clarks but can afford Converse?Hmm
yes because converse are easy to find on shpock and Facebook marketplace. Literally a pair on every corner.
OP posts:
Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin · 10/09/2021 18:16

Just to add although they do look like trainers/canvas shoes I would have expected them to have lasted longer than a week.

TonkinLenkicks · 10/09/2021 18:18

Clark’s lasted 3 days in this house so they aren’t better quality. The strap snapped off so took them back for a refund. Not paying £49 for 3 day shoes!!

Original poster
Smartphonetoomuchoo · 10/09/2021 18:19

Considering just sending them in converse because at least they last and look alright even when they are tattered and old. and converse are easy enough to find on second hand market places.
Literally said it in the Opening post but don't worry, I'm sure I could find you a new pair of glasses and few manners for cheap if you ask nicely Hmm

OP posts:
Strawbsaturno · 10/09/2021 18:19

Take them back, say they’re faulty and see what they offer. Shoes should last longer than 1 week.
I had exactly the same issue but with ladies slip on shoes, worn precisely for 1 week, in an office. The sole split away. They properly gave up the ghost, and fell apart completely as I walked upto customer services with a replacement pair in my hand. They could absolutely see they were still ‘new’.

Marcee · 10/09/2021 18:20

@RedHelenB

Buy Clarks, they last the year.
I literally posted on a thread that was slatong them a couple of weeks ago. I ended up buying from Clark's. But some other places recommended were treads, and startrite
Marcee · 10/09/2021 18:20

Slating

DayDate · 10/09/2021 18:21

I'd still taken them back, they should exchange them even if they won't refund. IF you've got a transaction on a card or bank statement even better.

I always got the full year from Clarks shoes. Thenone time they did fail me and split after a term, into them back and they replaced them, even though they'd been worn for a full term.

I also had a pair replaced because they made DCs feet sore. Again, after they'd been worn.

Cheap shoes for children or adults always a false economy imo. That said, my DC had school shoes, trainers and wellies. That's where I saved money, they didn't have a wardrobe of shoes for growing feet.

Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin · 10/09/2021 18:25

From OP photos the shoes are trainers or canvas shoes and not would be classed as school shoes.

purplesequins · 10/09/2021 18:31

I never got a year's worth of wear from my dc school shoes.
don't your children's feet grow?

MrsMiddleMother · 10/09/2021 18:33

Take them back to sainsburys firstly, you don't need a receipt. Imo clarks are shit anyway. You'll get a free replacement from Sainsburys but if not, Asda fair way better.

MrsWhites · 10/09/2021 18:39

Definitely take them back, I bet they’ll be happy to replace them. I bought my dd kickers once and they were destroyed within a week, took them back to schuh and they changed them with no problems at all. School shoes should be sturdy enough to withstand at least a half term.

I find M&S shoes excellent, my sons for this year were £30 so not as expensive as Clarks.

Welshmaenad · 10/09/2021 18:40

Geox are the only shoes my DS cannot kill. Have a look on brandalley for discounted ones.

CottonSock · 10/09/2021 18:43

Agree on the Geox. I paid £50 but saw them in shoe zone yesterday for £30.

Newmumatlast · 10/09/2021 18:51

@ImFree2doasiwant

I know you said you can't afford Clarks, but by the time you've bought a second d pair of cheap shoes (and 3rd...) you've paid for the clarks.

Ds2 has a not quick black pair that were £12 last week. Ds1 has black which I bought last year and still fit him.

The problem is if you're on that tight a budget you don't always have the money at the time to pay the double and can't wait to save it as theyre needed there and then. Ideally you would save a quid a week or something but then if something comes up emergency wise, rather than get in debt you fight the fire presently in front of you and have to start again
AttaGirrrrl · 10/09/2021 18:53

Are they allowed plain black trainers? Mine have plain black Nikes from sports direct for £25 and they last well.

GertrudeKerfuffle · 10/09/2021 18:59

Have a look at Treads www.treads-shoes.com

They cost the same as Clark's full price, but currently have a sale and often have offers if you sign up to emails. Delivery is free too. We're on our third pair over three years, we only ever need new ones when they get too small.