To expect a shop to change a pair of split shoes after 4 wears?!

[Myfairone]

Sooooooooooo angry (and upset if Im being honest!) right now.

Bought my 2 year old a pair of shoes (£32) from a local shop (support the community etc.) last Friday. They are Startrite shoes and have stitching around the front. So he's worn them 4 times this week.

Noticed yesterday that the stitching has all come undone, so went back to the store today, thinking they would swap them for me or allow me to change them for something else...

Oh how wrong I was. The sales assistant (approx 12 years of age!) said it was my fault because of how he walked on them! how can he possibly walk on his toes!?

I asked to see the manager who made me wait 20 minutes. When she came over she glanced at them and said 'nothing I can do, its not my fault if your kid kicks a wall and splits them'! Who mentioned wall kicking? not me?! My 2 year old has never kicked a wall, let alone wearing a pair of £32 shoes!!!!

I asked why she was being aggressive and she said that she wasn't.... clearly!

Does anyone else think Im being unreasonable to expect them to change them? I mean, they are one week old and have been worn 4 times!

I've come home and cried (I know its stupid!) but i was expecting these shoes to last him all summer (according to the lady that sold them to me!) and now he has a split pair of shoes!

So if anyone lives in Sidcup, DO NOT GO TO PARES AT BLACKFEN TO BUY SHOES!!!!!!!

Well the idiot has come back to me again and said that he will not give me a refund because the shoes were damaged whilst in my possession!

I am going to contact Startrite and ask if this is the kind of customer service they would expect from one of their recommended stores!

All I can say is if you live in the Blackheath or Sidcup area, do not buy from Pares shoes as you have zero chance of getting an exchange or refund if the goods are faulty!

I used to work in a discount shoe shop and we would definately have changed them.

it did annoy us that often we would get men coming in trying to get a refund on split boots/doc marten lookalike shoes thay had been working in.

We always told them that the only boots/shoes we would guarantee against splitting for work use (lots of bending etc) were x make and real Doc M's. The reason these others were so cheap was they were for leisure/fashion wear, not work wear.

But £30 odd Startright shoes should withstand normal toddler wear and tear for longer than 1 week.

OK, slight change of subject but knowing your rights and enforcing them are very different! I bought a faulty phone, asked for a replacement a week later and am now preparing a court case to get the money back after being ignored and fobbed off. So, you may have a battle on your hands - consumer direct can advise you but not actually do anything on an individual basis.

Hi Stroppyknickers (great name!).

Yes, its a shame that consumer direct can only advise. This is just so ridiculous...I cannot understand why they won't just change them! I don't know anyone that would accept a pair of shoes breaking so quickly after being purchased, let alone shoes for a 2 year old!

GOod luck with your court case!

Myfairone - go to Russell and Bromley at Bluewater or in Bromley, in future.

They replaced a three week old pair of school shoes without any questions at all, when the strap showed signs of wearing though.

Pares never fit their shoes properly either ime - they shove feet into whatever the nearest size they have in stock happens to be!

Have you tried writing to the shop (send it signed for) and enclosing a copy of the Sale of Goods Act, highlighting the relevant area?) Say that you are aware that you don't have to prove an inherent fault - (ie any faults shown in the first 6 months are considered to have existed at time of purchase unless otherwise proved, I think)
Restate that you want a refund or replacement?

I bought some flip flips in Monsoon a few years ago, and the sole came off completely after one day. I took them back and was told it was because I had walked in them . Apparently they were only 'party' shoes to stand in That is actually what the silly bint told me. I made such a fuss that I think they gave me my money back just to make me go away. They cost 30 quid as well. Grrr

oh, just read that you tried writing.

Myfairone - the manager at Pares in Blackheath was quite good dealing with us face to face when we had a problem - have you spoken to her and not one of the 12 year olds they employ in Blackheath? We actually get shoes picked up from the Blackheath branch for my DD as she has such narrow feet and it is the only place we have found T Bar Kickers in Black for her.

I would second the John Lewis or Russell and Bromley recommendation though as R & B exchanged a pair of 6 month old boots of my DDs because the trim had come off - no questions asked.

And i never buy Clarkes or Startrite - always Kickers or Buckle my Shoe or the continental makes - they are so much better and last so much longer.

Have you been reporting back to Trading Standards? They may be able to get involved. Have you told the shop that TS know about the situation?

Around here if you get dodgy service you just say "OK, I'm ringing Doolan in the morning" and amazingly things get done. Ed Doolan is a radio presenter who does consumer affairs. He hates his name being used like that but as a last resort it works wonders, although if you call him he says "tell them you spoke to me and I want to know for tomorrows show what happened"

TS don't get involved on a one to one basis. Wish Doolan lived here!

I remember countless times at work being told "Ed Doolan might ring about x, pass him straight onto x manager!!!"

He is certainly a character.

Do you have a John Lewis you could take them back to although you I know you didn't buy them there?

I did this once (ok ok flame me) but my justification was that Start-rite would give the store replacements.

I GOT A REFUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG, so happy!

He originally said he would not give me a refund because there was no fault with the shoes and they broke while in my possession! I mean how else would they break!?

I went back (as advised by TS) to say that he had breached the contract and the burden of proof was with him to prove that they were 'not faulty' (in his opinion).

His reply said that he stands by his original analysis of the shoes (analysis?!!!!) that they were not at fault BUT he will send me a refund!

So happy! This became personal in the end because I knew I was right (And thanks to the Trading Standards I knew my rights!).

Thank you all so much for your help.

...and remind the shop that when a customer has a bad experience they tell, on average ten people....they must know that mums talk to mums and word gets round where no to go. good luck!

Well done! Now you all have to help me solve my mobile phone case!

You have to stand your ground, big time.

Similar thing happened with a pair of shoes I bought for myself, fell apart in one week, and when I brought them back the sales assistant wouldn't help me. I insisted on seeing the manager, who was worse, told me I must have done something to them.

Well I'd been in that position before and wasn't having it again, so I smiled nicely and stood in the shop tellin every potential customer not to buy anythin because they sold faulty shoes and wouldn't refund or replace, and showed them the shoes I was bringing back. They asked me to leave and I said I would be delighted to as soon as they refunded the price to me. It took ten minutes to get my refund!

Glad you got your refund myfair one, by send it do you mean you are waiting for a cheque or do you have the cold hard cash already?

Is shocking hte crap service these so called "proper"shoe shops offer.

After my expereince with Clarks I moved alligance to startrite as assumed the service would be better but maybe not.

Surely the manufacturer will refund the store anyway? The way these sales people carry on it is as if they are getting hte £30 docked off their wages.

I bought DS some cheapo shoes from jojomaman and the insoles came away within a week and they refunded no problem. (I foolishly bought him the same ones again this year and the same thing happened doh but they have said they will refund and didn;t accuse DS of walking funny or gasp ,playing in them!

Well done for sticking up for your (consumer) rights

Just seen this note below about Pares Footwear. It may be out of date but is still on the net. WE HAVE HAD EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD SERVICE FROM PARES FOOTWEAR IN BLACKFEN & WANT TO SAY THAT. I saw the note when looking up their opening times just now. We are grandparents & have bought shoes for our grandchildren from Pares many times. Thank you Pares for giving us such a good choice of children's shoe & for the good service we are given when we visit your shop in Blackfen.