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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To buy good condition shoes for 2YO DS from ebay? Long explanation!

68 replies

youngbutnotdumb · 14/07/2008 11:29

ARGH sorry this is a bit of a daft thread but am bloody angry!

Well basically I took DS to get his feet measured last week and he has gone up a size since his last pair fair enough! But as u all know Clarks are absolutely extortionate, well in my opinion. We are not exactly flush with cash so thought I'd get him a pair of Doodles as they are around £15 and is around £30 for shoes/trainers. So got home oand bought hima pair from ebay which were on sale in clarks for £20 but I got them for £2.50! They are in excellent condition and have only been worn a few times am very pleased with them but DP and a friend have said that I shouldnt buy used shoes as its disgusting and just stingy on my part and theyll prob be uncomfy as hey have been worn!

Am soo annoyed with them both am trying to save some money and making small cutbacks I dont see the problem with buying from ebay or am I basically bloody neglecting my child?

OP posts:

Flibbertyjibbet · 14/07/2008 12:10

Mine are winning!!!

oh, I am only a very wide 6 but then am only 5'2" so proportionately they are MASSIVE!!! So if my boys are tall AND have their mothers bigfootedness, omg I better just take out shares in Clarks.
Or just ask the tax credit people to pay it straight as a direct debit to clarks and we will have to eat the boxes they come in as we might be short on food some months

Grrr if I don't get off mumsnet and get some work done they'll have nothing but wellies...

iheartdusty · 14/07/2008 12:16

I agree with posters who say no second hand shoes, BUT I think barely worn Doodles are OK.

they can be washed in washing machine, so no nasty germs (lol at parasites! like what exactly?). Or just wear socks.

they are mainly fabric so are not likely to have become shaped to other child's foot in the same way as leather.

ideally I think children would benefit from having 2 pairs of summer shoes as they can get so sweaty, but if only 1 then so be it.

Brantano's does Clarks and other brands very cheaply.

Original poster

youngbutnotdumb · 14/07/2008 12:22

Yes Dusty I ve just looked up theres a bRantano in Inverness so maybe try there but am afraid second hand will have to do for now

PSML at Flibberty tax credits thingy is a good idea!

OP posts:

Fimbo · 14/07/2008 12:34

John Lewis had doodles in their sale. I got them for ds, they were reduced to £7.50

Sim43 · 14/07/2008 12:35

I can sympathise you about the being skint bit, lets face it none of has money to burn, but I would not buy my DS secondhand shoes. I think you have to ask yourself if you would wear second hand shoes yourself. Sorry!

Original poster

youngbutnotdumb · 14/07/2008 12:36

I would and have done actually. Sim. Also is only for a short period of time until I get Family Allowance and then will be used for kicking around at nursery.

OP posts:

Fimbo · 14/07/2008 12:37

This Website sells new shoes. There are Doodles at the bottom for £5 plus £3 p & p

Original poster

youngbutnotdumb · 14/07/2008 12:41

OOh thanks for that link Fimbo they actually have some and seem to be fitted will give them ago at the end of the month.

OP posts:

Sim43 · 14/07/2008 12:44

Fair do's, each to there own. I suppose s/hand shoes are better than shoes too tight and ruining feet.

Original poster

youngbutnotdumb · 14/07/2008 12:45

Yeah Sim other than that I wouldnt buy second hand if theyd been worn in but the ones I have bought from charity shop for myself have still had tags on or hardly worn same as trainers Ive bought DS.

OP posts:

Kewcumber · 14/07/2008 13:02

I go against the trend and buy DS shoes on ebay - either brnad new or very lightly worn only. I think saysing there might be parasites in then is a tad of an over-reaction - have you seen what goes into a 2 yr olds mouth on an average day in the garden!!

And yes I have worn second hand shoes myself as a child

Umlellala · 14/07/2008 13:13

With Kewcumber here, dd has second-hand shoes from ebay you can see if they have been worn in too much. Don't think it's that big a deal tbh.

I wore both new and second-hand clothes and shoes as a child too.

Fimbo · 14/07/2008 13:19

Doodles can be washed in the machine

MsDemeanor · 14/07/2008 13:23

Yes, I'd wear second hand shoes! And I'd buy them for the kids - especially Doodles which go in the washing machine.

IneedacleanerIamalazyslattern · 14/07/2008 13:28

youngbutnotdumb where in the highlands are you? I am up here too.
Brantano is good, DE shoes are good too, their own "cheapy" brand are wuite a wide fit too and they are good solid shoes. Next to Brantano in Inverness there is a Diechman (SP?) shoes as well they do a lot of good shoes in variety of makes and fittings cheap too.

BexieID · 14/07/2008 13:44

I went to our local Start-rite shop for a change yesterday. There were only 3 choices in Toms size (the same as when we goto Clarks) and the pair he tried on was £38.50! Thats £1.50 less than the Doc Martins I was wearing! I just said i'd come back after the holidays but don't really want to pay that much for shoes that will be outgrown in a matter of weeks. Although I was impressed that they were waterproof shoes, unlike the ones i've had out of Clarks. Tom does like finding puddles!

rookiemater · 14/07/2008 15:10

Gosh I'm surprised at how many people wouldn't buy second hand shoes. DH used to be a shoe fitter in Clarks a life time ago and we only buy Clarks on E-bay interspersed with getting him measured at the shop and buying the odd pair of Doodles or sandals new. I'm surprised people think its such a big deal.

I'm also amazed at how good quality the second hand ones we get are. After a few days on DS they are scuffed to bits and generally non flashing, so either the ones we bought before were polished every evening by their canny mothers, or the children danced delicately round inside the house, shying away from dust bunnys or anything that would dirty them.

Either way, I'm not proud, happy to save £25.00 a pair.

Kewcumber · 14/07/2008 15:12

rookie - don;t think anyone would guess DS's shoes are often second hand or hand-me-downs they are in such good nick.

tori32 · 14/07/2008 15:21

I can see both sides. Depends how old ds is. If a child had worn them for a long time I definately wouldn't- these haven't been. Bear in mind though that if you intend him to wear no socks in hot weather the other child potentially could have had a varuca. Trainersn and winter shoes no issue if nearly new. Also childrens feet tend to mould to the shoe rather than stretch them like an adult would. So long as they are the correct size and width I think your DP is being slightly precious.

Funny because I have also considered it, but dd1 wears them without socks in the summer.

bubblagirl · 14/07/2008 15:28

well i would admit to buying shoes also havent alot of money and have had great bargains from ebay

recently been to sainsbuy=rys and stocked up as lovel;y shoes have been reduced to 2 pound so have bought a few sizes bigger

rookiemater · 14/07/2008 15:29

I just have these odd flashes of guilt where I can picture the child out in his shiny new shoes
"No you must not jump in that puddle as once you have grown out of your shoes they are getting sold on E-bay. No stay away from the muddy log"
I'm really hoping its not like that and the people I buy from are just a bit more dilligent about getting their childs feet measured more frequently, hence don't get worn as much as DSs, or some other benign explanation.

Kewcumber · 14/07/2008 15:32

I think its also where people buy new shoes and child grows out quickly or like a friend of mine - her MIl is forever buying her DS (handily one size bigger than mine) shoes so A) sometimes she buys the worng size and b) he doesn;t wear them to death because he has so many.

biscuitsmustbedunkedintea · 14/07/2008 15:33

I feel i have double standards when it comes to this. I wouldn't put DD in 2nd hand shoes but because my Dad drummed into me that it's very important for young growing feet to have shoes that fit correctly, and 2nd hand shoes would have moulded to another foot.
I have this morning purchased some new shoes for DD from Clarks (as luck would have it got them in the sale - hoorah! She's a 5.5G). I am going to put them on ebay as I have no guilt at selling 2nd hand shoes?!
I also have purchased 2nd hand shoes for myself off ebay and would do so again. I have wide feet also and know that Wrangler Boots fit me well but can't afford the price as new.

Kewcumber · 14/07/2008 15:38

but unless you have a specific need - properly fitting shoes arent; that importnat is it. I mean as long as they aren;t too small or massively too big. IF so then anyone who buys at our local Clarkes is up shit creek because they're crap at measuring.

Good local shoe shop measures DS then tries a pair on then ignores the size they measure and chekc whether it fits by feeling where his toe is! Quite often they tell me that despite the theory saying he needs a bigger size that his current shoes are fine.

VictorianSqualor · 14/07/2008 15:45

DD has normal shaped feet, no wide fittings etc needed here.
She is also the biggest shoe wrecker I have ever met. Her school shoes I get in shops, but she must have five(?) pairs of playing out shoes all from ebay, all been washed and all barely worn.

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