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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have bought my sons cheap school shoes in Deichmann (light hearted)

137 replies

StillWantingADog · 25/08/2023 15:51

Yes a very first world problem.

Long story short my kindly dm gave me £100 for school shoes as she does every year - last year I lied when she asked if it was enough, I think 2 pairs cost me about £130. And one pair had to be glued back together at Christmas, another story

Being an old fashioned sort I know she expects me to go to Clarks so off we went today.

Nobody else in the shop. Served by teenager who was beyond useless. Brought out various shoes and couldn't give an opinion as to whether they fitted or not. DS2 wanted a particular pair and she brought out the same wrong pair THREE Times and didn't believe me when I said she was bringing out quite a different design to what he wanted. Didn't have anything that DS1 wanted at all. DS2 tried about 10 pairs of shoes too big or too small (according to him) so in the end we gave up and left.

We headed to another stockist other side of town which sells Clarks and other brands. But passed Deichmann - brightly lit, welcoming store, full of other mums and kids on the way so I thought let's give it a go. Much easier experience - ok so you find your own shoes but you don't have to rely on useless teenagers to find the ones you want, you either find them or you don't. Result was two happy boys, 2 for 1 offer, paid less than £40 for two pairs of shoes including some weatherproofing in a machine, came home, happy days.

Now I know the quality might be rubbish and that possibly some dodgy child labour was involved (anyone know?) but quite frankly Clarks is taking the piss if a. their shoes fall apart before christmas b. you don't get any actual advice when buying your shoes which tbh I always assumed was part of the cost and c. all the child options are a patchwork of smaller bits of leather which are a nightmare to clean. Added to that they have zero lace up options for a size 3 son. I think they are a rip-off.

Was I unreasonable to have bought my sons cheap (and possibly not hard-wearing) shoes. Will I be shopping again in a few weeks' time? Is Deichmann quality actually ok? At the price I paid if they lasted a few months I'd be happy. The staff person I spoke to was lovely, so much more helpful than her counterpart at Clarks.

But if I was unreasonble I will take them back and head to the other Clarks stockist (who also stocks other brands).

Before anyone says I will explain to my dm and use the other £60 on other stuff the kids need for school. And yes I know I'm extremely lucky that I have a dm to help me with such costs in a COL crisis.

OP posts:
TheGirlWhoLived · 25/08/2023 15:54

Well she has given you £100 to cover school shoes. You have bought school shoes. She is happy with her end, you are happy with your end. If you need to buy replacement shoes then in theory that’ll come out of the rest of the money I guess!

clarks is way downhill now on quality considering the price. I buy leather school shoes from m and s, they lasted the whole school year this time!

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 25/08/2023 15:56

I think I realised this year after spending £55 on one pair of dd’s school shoes that I wouldn’t do it again. Got them from Clark’s and she outgrew them in 2 months. I could have got her a pair from Asda for £15 that lasted same time frame. So this year I’m off to Asda or Windsor world of shoes to buy them instead.

YANBU I think in buying the cheaper shoes if they do the job.

ThisIsNotARealAvo · 25/08/2023 15:56

Clarks can be so rubbish. I used to get mine from M and S and then when they went to a different school which didn't have uniform they went in trainers. Much better than the crappy Clarks which as you found don't last more than a term.

SherlocksDeerstalker · 25/08/2023 15:56

I will say that I bought Deichmanns for DD last year as they were the only pair in the whole town she deemed suitable, and they fell apart in approx 13 seconds. Looked like I’d dragged her up from a pit by Christmas. Ended up buying another pair for January as the seams had split and her feet were soaked every day.

Original poster
StillWantingADog · 25/08/2023 15:57

SherlocksDeerstalker · 25/08/2023 15:56

I will say that I bought Deichmanns for DD last year as they were the only pair in the whole town she deemed suitable, and they fell apart in approx 13 seconds. Looked like I’d dragged her up from a pit by Christmas. Ended up buying another pair for January as the seams had split and her feet were soaked every day.

oh dear appreciate your honesty

OP posts:
Raggeo · 25/08/2023 15:59

Imo Clarks are not what they used to be. Last time I was there they didn't have what DS wanted in his size so despite measuring his feet and telling me what size he needed the sales assistant changed their mind and told me that another size (the one they had in stock) would fit best after all. Totally defeated the point of going there to be measured. I didn't buy the shoes. My local Deichmann always seem busy whenever I pass and I think they have some branded shoes too. So I would be happy to try them and see how it goes.

MariaVT65 · 25/08/2023 15:59

YANBU

My son is only 2 but I found Clarks useless and so overpriced. They fit him for some sandals that left marks on his feet. Meanwhile I found a really great pair for him from Sainsburys for £8 and now I go to Schuh. Plus they grow out of them so quickly anyway, I don’t think Clarks is worth the price.

immergeradeaus · 25/08/2023 16:00

i found that Startrite always lasted the whole school year. We once got supermarket shoes and it was a false economy, as we ended up replacing them within weeks.

anotheranotheranotheranother · 25/08/2023 16:00

Before anyone says I will explain to my dm and use the other £60 on other stuff the kids need for school.

Very presumptuous of you.

Give the £60 back.

Original poster
StillWantingADog · 25/08/2023 16:00

Raggeo · 25/08/2023 15:59

Imo Clarks are not what they used to be. Last time I was there they didn't have what DS wanted in his size so despite measuring his feet and telling me what size he needed the sales assistant changed their mind and told me that another size (the one they had in stock) would fit best after all. Totally defeated the point of going there to be measured. I didn't buy the shoes. My local Deichmann always seem busy whenever I pass and I think they have some branded shoes too. So I would be happy to try them and see how it goes.

yup they have kickers and hush puppies and others that I tried in vain to steer my kids towards but they didn't find them comfy hence went with the cheap 'own brand'.

OP posts:
Original poster
StillWantingADog · 25/08/2023 16:01

anotheranotheranotheranother · 25/08/2023 16:00

Before anyone says I will explain to my dm and use the other £60 on other stuff the kids need for school.

Very presumptuous of you.

Give the £60 back.

Fair point, I know my dm wouldn't accept it. I have tried to before.

OP posts:
tooanxious · 25/08/2023 16:02

I buy from deichman for me and heading there tomorrow for the kids

LaurieFairyCake · 25/08/2023 16:02

I bought Start rite in the sale every year - shoes were about £40 in the sale

Lasted all year, every year

Original poster
StillWantingADog · 25/08/2023 16:03

tooanxious · 25/08/2023 16:02

I buy from deichman for me and heading there tomorrow for the kids

so you think the quality is ok?

OP posts:
Badbudgeter · 25/08/2023 16:06

Are they the only shoes they need? Our school they need to have indoor shoes suitable for PE plus outdoor pe trainers suitable for running in. I’d spend extra ££ on that so still school shoes!

Original poster
StillWantingADog · 25/08/2023 16:07

Badbudgeter · 25/08/2023 16:06

Are they the only shoes they need? Our school they need to have indoor shoes suitable for PE plus outdoor pe trainers suitable for running in. I’d spend extra ££ on that so still school shoes!

fair point yes they need extra shoes not necessarily immediately but they will need replacing (again) soon enough.

OP posts:
TheGirlWhoLived · 25/08/2023 16:07

I’ve never heard of deichmann, is it like shoezone?

Lonzdale34 · 25/08/2023 16:07

According to half of mumsnet they'll get bullied if they don't wear fashionable footwear that the rest of their peers have and you should buy whatever is deemed cool for school shoes so they fit in with everyone else...see other thread on Skechers trainers

PamperMoose · 25/08/2023 16:08

I don't know about the school shoes but I buy a lot of shoes from Deichmann and they really last. I also very rarely have to break them in first. They're very comfortable ime.

kwetu · 25/08/2023 16:09

Deichmanns soles wore through on both my kid's school shoes in less than 5 weeks. Even supermarket shoes do far better.

Original poster
StillWantingADog · 25/08/2023 16:09

TheGirlWhoLived · 25/08/2023 16:07

I’ve never heard of deichmann, is it like shoezone?

not sure never stepped into shoezeone. But it is a huge european brand. German, I think.

OP posts:
Original poster
StillWantingADog · 25/08/2023 16:10

Lonzdale34 · 25/08/2023 16:07

According to half of mumsnet they'll get bullied if they don't wear fashionable footwear that the rest of their peers have and you should buy whatever is deemed cool for school shoes so they fit in with everyone else...see other thread on Skechers trainers

wow that is definitely not something I need to worry about just yet. They're at primary and I don't think have noticed what their friends have on their feet. But am sure they will when a bit older.

OP posts:
TheGirlWhoLived · 25/08/2023 16:10

My city only has bubble tea or cafe’s on the high street, so obviously not posh enough for a deichman!

napody · 25/08/2023 16:11

Clarks are the problem - their quality has gone through the floor.

I had a very embarrassing moment on a class whatsapp asking if someone had my son's shoes - had bought him a pair mid year, he'd told me lots of his friends had the same ones and he'd only had them a couple of weeks, but they looked ancient. No.... nobody had stolen his shoes, they'd just aged that fast 😳

WickedUsername · 25/08/2023 16:11

My kids have awkwardly wide feet so we are stuck with Clarkes! Luckily we have an outlet village in driving distance, not only are they cheaper, they have all the sizes hung up on the displays. You get measured as you walk in and they write it down, and explain different styles may fit slightly different. You see at a glance what they've got in your size. You can grab an assistant to check the fitting or help you get a different size.

3 DC, measured, fitted and paid for in 35 minutes yesterday!