to be miffed at Clarks

[webwahm]

How long would you expect a pair of Clarks school shoes to last?

I kitted the kids out back in September with new shoes - by November they were wearing winter boots. They wore their boots until March, then reverted back to their school shoes.

Last week, the strap snapped and Clarks say they won't do anything because they're over 6 months old.

BUT, my point is they haven't been wearing the shoes for half that time due to winter and the fact they only wear them in term time anyway.

So that's about 3 months wear (I've been through the term calendar and added it all up ).

Always gone to Clarks x 3 kids, and never had an issue, and normally the shoes last so long that they grow out of them.

Anyone else tried to put their point to Clarks?

I would expect children's school shoes from Clarks to last until the child outgrew them. So YANBU. Write and complain.

The fact is the shoes are over six months old, so you will be out of luck. Sorry.

The shoes being over six months old may be relevant for Clarks' own refund policy, but it has no effect on your legal rights that they should be of satisfactory quality. I do not consider that shoes that are six months old and that have barely been worn should break, so I would personally complain.

Can you see a defect as to why the strap snapped? I had a similar thing, but could clearly see that the metal holding the strap in place was badly fitted, and had rubbed, causing the strap to weaken. I got a refund.

I've been told to argue under the Sales of Goods Act, but that the onus is on me to prove my point - if we are presuming they should have at least lasted '6 months wear and tear'...they clearly haven't.

its under the 'fit for purpose' area of trading standards. You would have to prove that they weren't of course but I'd perhaps print this poilcy off and try again.

Have to admit I buy clarks and they have always lasted a year even trainers and been grown out of before broken.

Only one pair didn't last and that was because DS scraps his feet when on a chair so I bought ones with tougher front.