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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Crap Clark’s School Shoes….

29 replies

PunkPeach · 03/10/2023 16:54

Always bought Clark’s yet this year both pairs (two different DC) have already broken. The soles have come away from the actual shoes.

Has anyone else found them rubbish for the price? Any other recommendations?

OP posts:
EightNine2019 · 03/10/2023 17:05

Yes, I found they never lasted long
My daughter now has the doc marten shoes, which have been worth the splash now her feet have stopped growing, she's had them 18 months and they still look great

Turfwars · 03/10/2023 17:05

They've been crap for years. DS is 11 and they were his first shoes and were shite even then.

I switched to Startrite which were indestructible. Not sure if they still are but worth a try and slightly cheaper as well. There used to be a Polish shoe shop in my local town that had the best shoes and were really reasonably priced.

BoohooWoohoo · 03/10/2023 17:08

If you bought them over the summer for the new school year then get a refund as they are clearly not fit for purpose.

I buy from John Lewis. They have a variety of brands (so you can avoid Clark's) and their fitting is superior imo. JL is the easiest place for me to get to but there's other shops that will sell a variety of brands too.

cocksstrideintheevening · 03/10/2023 17:13

Clarks have been crap for years. DTs wear dms now. I accidentally bought them the steel capped safety ones first time around - they were indestructible and exceptionally heavy for the poor kids to walk around in

They get the regular shoes now.

Mumof1andacat · 03/10/2023 19:12

Marks and spencer shoes are much better

Youngman1267 · 03/10/2023 19:15

Spent £50 on a pair last year and they quickly fell apart. I vowed never to but clarks again. Went to sainsburys- brilliant school shoes for a great price .

ZenNudist · 03/10/2023 19:16

Had too many pairs fall apart mid year so switched to start rite for teen ds and m&s for 9yo.

Jandob · 03/10/2023 20:14

Keep your receipt and take back within 6 months if no good. Start rite or kickers are better. DM's are good too.

GoodnightJude1 · 03/10/2023 20:24

I hear you OP!

always bought Clark’s shoes for my DC but the last 2 years they’ve been rubbish. My DS13 is a size 11 now and the last 2 pairs have come apart within a few months and gone very soft and more grey than black….even with the proper shoe polish etc.

I bought him M&S shoes last term and they still look brand new and were less than half the price! I’ll never buy Clarks shoes again.

InTheRainOnATrain · 03/10/2023 20:25

Never had issues with start rite.

EnchantedCastle · 03/10/2023 20:29

Startrite so much better.

menopausalmare · 03/10/2023 20:31

Last year, my son had 3 pairs of Clarks shoes September to December. They exchanged them pretty sharpish due to a 'sole bond error'. Against my better judgement we bought another pair and they've split in a month so back to Clarks this Thursday (for the last time).

Magicmagician · 03/10/2023 20:31

We’ve gone for adidas smart black trainer shoes this year - still spotless, the clarks ones would have been scuffed to bits by now. Half the price of clarks too in sports direct

Lorelaigilmore88 · 03/10/2023 20:34

Yes they are crap. I grew up with clarks (remember the key on the sole? Loved them) but the last few years i have noticed with my two the shoes are not the quality they were especially the boys styles which scruff away on the toe within a matter of weeks.
My daughter had a pair of doc martins about a year ago. Beautiful patent mary janes, they were the best shoes shes ever had, they looked the same when she outgrew them as they did when i bought them.

GeneralLevy · 03/10/2023 20:40

Start rite are amazing. My son destroys shoes in months, yet we have a pair from them now being worn by sibling no.3.
Sainsburys are very good for the price and John Lewis are solid too.

confusedlots · 03/10/2023 20:41

I stopped buying Clark's school shoes last year. Definitely not worth it for £50 each. I buy M&S now, better quality and around £30 each

PimpMyFridge · 03/10/2023 20:43

I found Clarke's awful. Lasted five minutes and soles came away.
Geox for us every time now. They last and look good for ages. 👌

PatChaunceysFruitCake · 03/10/2023 21:01

My DC have always had Clarks. This year I left it a bit late and the local store didn't have any of their sizes left.

I ended up getting DS a pair from Next and DD a pair of Hush Puppy loafers. I've been very impressed so far, I doubt we will go back to Clarks now.

LittleBoPeepHasLostHerShit · 03/10/2023 21:03

YANBU. I get Kickers and Geox now.

LelliKelly are also awful.

Starrystarrynighttt · 03/10/2023 21:08

My DD has Clark’s and they’ve been fine apart from looking slightly creased in one area. I might get her some Kickers next

TheLightProgramme · 03/10/2023 21:11

Wtf are your kids doing in their shoes?

I bought DS a pair from clarks in April. He'd outgrown the previous pair - they were still in good nick.

He plays footie in them at break, walks to and from school everyday etc. They are in absolutely fine condition, sole fully joined etc.

Original poster
PunkPeach · 10/10/2023 12:02

Got a refund from John Lewis, apparently there is an issue with the glue failing and the shoes falling apart. Not great!

Have startrite now so will report back!

OP posts:
yarnwitch · 10/10/2023 15:17

Glad you got a refund. One of my DD's is very hard on shoes and goes through cheap shoes in weeks. We've found Clark's last her but only if they've been one of the chunkier styles, we had to return a flimsier pair once that fell apart in less than half a term! They're not really worth the price, plus our local store is rubbish now with not stocking hardly any sizes.

PimpMyFridge · 10/10/2023 16:08

TheLightProgramme · 03/10/2023 21:11

Wtf are your kids doing in their shoes?

I bought DS a pair from clarks in April. He'd outgrown the previous pair - they were still in good nick.

He plays footie in them at break, walks to and from school everyday etc. They are in absolutely fine condition, sole fully joined etc.

No idea, my son is a bookish lad, doesn't play footie and they feel apart within one month... Don't think it's the kids wearing them, sounds like you got lucky.

AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 10/10/2023 16:17

My in-laws insisted on buying DS's first school shoes from Clarks and I'm already side-eyeing the soles, but I reckon he will just about outgrow them before they fail.

Next pair are going to be something like Kickers from Sports Direct or, as a PP said, the Sainsburys school shoe brand.

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