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Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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Original poster

Where do you buy your children's shoes?

89 replies

sandyballs · 20/03/2006 14:30

I'm fed up with Clarks, they've messed up the measuring too many times, and the school shoes look hideous now my girls are a bit older (5). Just curious where everyone else goes.

OP posts:

Nbg · 20/03/2006 14:33

Clarks atm (ex employee, it's a disease) but agree with you about the styles. Not great. I quite like Next for shoes and Vertbaudet do some lovely styles.

red37 · 20/03/2006 14:33

Clarks for me I'm afraid

LIZS · 20/03/2006 14:35

I buy Startrite for dd who is 4 1/2 - Either Jones' or a local independent . They fit her better, do proper school shoes for her tiny feet and are more timeless styles.

Piffle · 20/03/2006 14:36

DD gets her shoes on NHS as she has tiny feet - piedro boots, superb shoes.
Not keen on Clarks at all - they were quite prepared to sell em shoes for dd that were an F fitting and dd is a B.
I like independent shoe shops, such brands as Elefanten, Buckle My Shoe, Naturino and although expensive, Doc Martens are superb shoes, even though they have stopped making kids shoes, many sizes are available if you look.
I'm affected by dd teensy feet though :)

Hayls · 20/03/2006 14:38

I bought dd new shoes from Shop for Shoes this morning- they do all the big brands but at lower prices (also did ful fitting). The range was excellent and quite a bit cheaper. I can't bring myself to buy anything but Clarks even though I've always been disappointed in the range available. I have to say that the range in Shop for Shoes was excellent- much better than when I've been in the Clarks shop.

Kelly1978 · 20/03/2006 14:38

ds has start rite, the dts have clarks. dd who is the oldest has had hush puppies out of tKMaxx for her last two pairs of school shoes.

Nbg · 20/03/2006 14:39

Agree Piffle, they are good shoes.

MeAndMyBoy · 20/03/2006 14:39

Get my DS feet measured in clarkes and then buy new or nearly new off ebay :)

pupuce · 20/03/2006 14:40

I have found a shop in my town who has to rival (sp?) with Clarks, R&B, Jones, etc... they sell all the good brands and many more European styles, they are the same price and it's owned by a local woman... I say "give her the money and not the Clarks' shareholders!"

Weatherwax · 20/03/2006 14:43

Russell & Bromley.
They stock Clarks, Start rite,their own brands and possibly some more. My Kids normally have start rite as they provide greater ankle support and seem to be better made. The shop insist on a final fitting check by a superior and I havent had problems with them. Three different clarks shops each gave my dd2 a different shoe size reading and none of them could supply her with suitable shoes!

MeAndMyBoy · 20/03/2006 14:44

I do like vertbaudet though some really pretty girls shoes and different boys shoes too.

madmarchhare · 20/03/2006 14:46

Kids @ Clinks (Charles Clinkard). Not many around though, but they do have huge choice, Clarks, S rite, Kickers, Rockpot, Timberland and 'many many more'.

Normsnockers · 20/03/2006 14:54

Whilst we're on the subject, does everybody have to suffer the take a numbered ticket and await your turn to be meaasured and attended to system ?

I usually check what the next ticket number is and what number is currently being served to assess the wait. If its too long we do some other shopping first or have a sncak somewhere and come back later.

Last time I was in our local clarks shoes shop, yippee it was no. 69 and they were currently serving number 65. Great I thought and we took a seat. 30 minutes of entertaining ds later I was about to give up. What happened ? Parents were only taking one ticket when they actually wanted 2 measurements and trying on session, 1 for each of their kids or in the case of ticket 68, 3 measurements and trying on session. Had I realised that there were 8 kids ahead of us in the queue, not 3 I would have made better use of the time.

I suggested to the sales lady that they put up a sign saying please take a ticket for each child requiring a fitting but she said that might put people off waiting as the number gap would be so large between their ticket and the one currently being served.

Rant Over

LIZS · 20/03/2006 15:02

The ticket system ! We were in Clarks a few weeks ago with dd (4) and ds (7) looking for school shoes for dd which was a joke in itself. A family was being served ahead of us and another paying so we took a ticket and kids sat down with dh while I browsed. Another family came in straight after us, with 2 kids about 9 -11 years old, saw they 'd have to wait so their son picked a ticket up off the floor and then they tried to get in next when the previous customer had finished . It was only a matter of waiting one turn fgs !

Clary · 20/03/2006 15:03

I found some lovely school shoes by Start-rite for DD (4) in a locally owned shop. We normally do Clarks as we have a lovely Clarks shop here but for girls I agree the school range is a bit hopeless. They were all really open and summery even tho it was November!
Start-rite cost a bit more but I have always found the leather wears very well and doesn’t scuff so badly. DS1 (6) had summer shoes from there last year which I loved.

Hmmmm, just looked on the site (very slow!) and can’t find wither pair to show you but DS1’s were a bit like \link{http://www.startriteshoes.com/footwear/boys/summer_sandals/widget.php\this}

CountessDracula · 20/03/2006 15:04

One small step one giant leap usually

\link{http://www.onesmallsteponegiantleap.com\here}

expatinscotland · 20/03/2006 15:07

russell & bromley. only b/c she wears a C width shoe and only certian brands make that - startrite & kickers.

Kidstrack2 · 20/03/2006 15:07

Clarks and Startrite(Now called One Step Ahead) thats all the kids shoe shops they have in my area, Startrites shoes last longer on my dd than clarks

HRHQueenOfQuotes · 20/03/2006 15:08

The cheap shoe shops I'm afraid - I'm not spending £30+ on a pair of shoes which will be knackered ina few weeks time (or grown out of). I get their feet measure at Clarks and then go off elsewhere.

All their trainers come from Woolies.

Mercy · 20/03/2006 15:19

We always go to John Lewis and usually end up with Startrite (both mine have narrow feet). Have also bought Elefanten.

Someone bought dd some Pomme d'Api (?) shoes as a present some time ago - really nice quality.

Original poster

sandyballs · 20/03/2006 15:41

Thanks for all your suggestions. They are currently wearing school shoes from M&S which have lasted really well (since August), but I can't help thinking I should get them properly measured.

OP posts:

Kelly1978 · 20/03/2006 16:35

I'm jsut wondering how people manage to get their kids measured in clarks and then take them elsewhere? Do you tell them you only want measuring or pretend you don't like the shoes or what?

Enid · 20/03/2006 16:36

buckle my shoe factory shop

Polgara2 · 20/03/2006 16:41

Well I've always had Clarks but got fed up of them so tried Barratts this time - BIG mistake! He actually put her in a smaller size than Clarks measured her but I thought well all the sizes are probably different. Her feet were a mess they hurt her so much, chucked them in the bin and went to Clarks 2 weeks later! Better the devil you know and all that.

lockets · 20/03/2006 16:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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