To take these back to clarks?

[theuglyduck]

DD (12 months) has just started walking, took her to clarks a few days ago to get fitted for shoes. They measured her at a 4G, I didn't think her feet looked overly wide but fine, picked some shoes and they had a feel etc, said they fitted well. She's had them on a few times now in the house for no more than 15/20 minutes at a time and every time I take them off her feet are red raw where they've been digging in across the top of her foot and at the sides, she isn't too happy when I'm putting them on either so they must be uncomfortable. Clarks returns policy says for a refund they must be unworn but aibu to ask for a refund anyway? They weren't cheap and she obviously can't wear them.
Also can anyone recommend somewhere other than Clarks to get her measured? We don't have a startrite stockist near us and as far as I could see that was the only other place that did it.

Definitely return them, they haven’t been fitted correctly.

Yes return them and if she’s only just started walking, leave the shoes for a few weeks.

Yes definitely return. I’d buy the start rite measuring guage and DIY at home. So easy! I didn’t discover it until during covid but I was honestly kicking myself for not doing it sooner.

I would defiantly return them as they don’t fit properly. I’d always go with a local independent shoe shop. You need to find one that stocks a range of brands as they all fit slightly diffrent. Local to me there is a shop called Little Brogues that stocks many brands and the staff/owner is really great at measuring and fitting. They really know their stuff. If you post your county/general area someone may be able to recommend an independent shop to go to.

Take them back, and if you can, go to an independent shoe shop. Why Clark’s are held up as the holy grail of children’s shoes I’ll never know-they’re awful

I've returned shoes in similar circumstances. I did phone first to check it would be ok but didn't have any problems

Thanks I'll have a look into the foot gauges and try that, will definitely be taking the shoes back tomorrow.
Shoe shops seem really limited where we live it's such a shame, there's literally a clarks store and that's it. I've found a little independent shoe shop around little while away from us (90 minute round trip) so I think that will probably be the best option, we'll just make an afternoon of it.

Yes I would go back and ask for them to check the size again as they could have made a mistake so it's worth a shot.

It could just be the shoe style though. We've had Clarks before that gave me son blisters on his ankles , they were the correct size, but awful shoes! He often complains that his school shoes which are Clarks aren't as comfortable as his spare pair too ( which aren't clarks!)

If they've measured her as having wide feet but they don't look wide and shoes are leaving marks then I suspect she's actually got a high arch. This would seemingly measure as wide on the gauge as the tape has to go over the foot but the number/letter is actually a false reading.
I'd recommend trying to find an independent shoe shop if possible where they're likely to have a range of brands and styles.
Failing that we've had success with Camper, Bobux and Geox shoes for similar shaped feet so perhaps see if you can get a pair of those to try. Even buy them online and send back if not right and at least you know the size then to purchase elsewhere.

I would definitely return them. We went to John Lewis for DD first shoes.

Agreed. DD has a high arch but not wide feet and she needs shoes that are very adjustable over the top.

Go back to Clarks.
DD (20) has wide feet and a high instep (inherited from me and my DF) - she measured as an H fitting. Once she was able to communicate with us shoe buying became less painful. A shoe would seem to fit but her feet and mine don't conform to normal shapes (the width is in an abnormal position) so the fitter would be checking the fit in the wrong place.

Thankyou for all the info on high arch/insteps, I do think that could be the issue as even with the straps quite loose she's still getting marks. I will take her to the independent and see how we get on there, they stock a lot of the brands mentioned so we can at least try a few.