clarks should be obliterated from the face of the earth

[morocco]

utterly pissed off about the whole crappy buying shoes palarva. How hard can it be to train a few people to measure kids feet? I could do it after about 2 minutes training. So why is it every shop I went into today had a queue that took 20 minutes to get to the head of, (while all the adult specialist shoe box carriers stood idly by with nothing to do) then they never have the right size anyway, as if the difference between f and g could be that drastic. I notice French people don't have totally deformed feet but manage to get by without width measurements as well.
oh, piddly poo - will have to go back again next week.
It's all a massive marketing con imo to convince us the £30 we cough up with (outrageously infated surely???) is a quality buy that can only be sold by their specialist staff. Do they think we are stupid?

Twiglett - I don't know but I have his feet measured and get exactly the size so I must be doing it half right! I agree I think it's all arse, loads of countries don't make the fuss clarks do and their feet are fine.

I do only buy next to new or new though.. thats fussy though!

have you not got a clarkes seconds shop-it would be worth hunting one down
we buy perfectly decent clarkes shoes measured by a trained fitter a a fraction of the price
shop is independant of clarkes
ask around if anyone in your area knows of one

Thanks Marina. I just looked at the website. I'm limited to WHSmith in Liverpool St and Books Etc in Bishopsgate at the moment, so have to browse Amazon, but it's just not the same as a decent bookshop is it?

I buy Hush Puppies now as 2 weeks after buying Clarks I was fed up with "My feet hurt". At least with Hush Puppies 3 way fitting system insoles you can you can change the width using their included insoles

In france & other countries the foot is measured for length only. The width is checked by feeling the fit of the shoe.

I once went to john lewis to get some shoes for my 18 month year old who was going between crawling & walking to be told I could buy any as child wasn't walking. Tried to explain that when at the park dd like to test out her walking & that cloth padders wouldn't be suitable in the wet. The refused to sell me any - couldn't believe it!!! Anyway went to another local shop & got some shoes - small independent retailers much better inho. Perfect & dd loved them.

If I ever win the lottery Otto I would seriously consider going into children's bookselling in the City. The range of bookshops is dire.

Clarks is now private franchise shops which may have a degree of autonomy on stock and staff resources...

Peril of Ill Fitting Shoes

I understand the risks of children wearing ill fitting feet, but they can't expect parents to drag their children to a shoe shop every few weeks to check on their shoes. In which case they are relying on the parents to be able to tell when the feet are starting to grow out of the shoes a little, to go back for a new pair.

I think with this level of conscientousness most sensible people should be able to pick a pair of shoes that fit their child well without the need to suffer an hour long clarks visit and spend £30 a pair for shoes.

I like my ds (14 months) to have a few pairs of shoes. Keeps them smelling nice, in a good condition, matching outfits etc. If I bought him 4 pairs from clarks that would be close to £100, if not over, and he will grow out of them in a matter of weeks.

Older children generally have more shoes, and scuff them and wear them out quickly too. What's the point in spending so much.

wearing ill fitting shoes sorry!

I personally couldn't pick cheaper shoes for my ds as he has extremely wide feet. For people like us, clarks and startrite are pretty much the only option.

I can not complain cos the staff in my local clarks shop are great and all of the staff are trained to measure kids feet and when it is really busy they have a ticket system (like at the meat counter in the supermarket) and if they do not have the shoes you choose in stock they will ring one of their other shops and have them for you the next day.
I do agree about the prices though and with 3 kids it does get expensive but I do like them to have good shoes for school but now they are older we do get trainers and party shoes from cheaper shops.

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great link to brantanos, thank you QF, there's one near me and I'm going to check it out.

also, the hush puppies stuff sounds really promising too - never even thought about trying them til now either.

know just what you mean, millward, that's what so enraged me - they wouldn't even let ds try on anything that wasn't 'the right size' (ie G not F fitting) aaaargh!!!!

til then, it is asda specials for ds2

I bought some shoes for DS2 when he was 11 months, before he could walk, as it was cold weather and he could pull his 'pram shoes' and socks off easily and the only things that would stay on were 'proper' shoes. He's grown out of them and still hasn't started walking, 5 months later! But at least it's summer and he doesn't need them so much. On the plus side when they measured his feet it turns out he's the same fitting as his big brother was so now he's wearing an old pair of his. I promise to buy him a proper pair of his own when he gets off his arse.

Don't know why they would refuse to sell you a pair for a non-walking child, though. Clarks' first shoes range includes shoes specifically for crawling (more flexible sole, more protection at the toes) and shoes for cruising (more 'shoe-like' sole).

i think clarks are great.

Thank you lemonice that was a really useful link.

bought my ds2 some clarks sandals for his holiday.had them measured and fitted etc £25( and he's not 2 yet) and the first time he wore them he got blisters on both feet and the skin rubbed off his ankle.poor little chap could hardly walk.

Hush Puppies link about 3 way fitting and stockists Hush Puppies

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Are there other Clarks-bashing threads then? How about a MOthercare bashing one?

I'm very disapointed with Clarks, they make so much advertising about the importance of having the shoes properly fitted (and charging for the service in the expensiveness of their shoes for children), and... well... I bought a pair for DS around last summer, and keep going back everyfew weeks to check if he needed a new pair and everytime they told me that he didn't, that he still had lots of space in the shoe but still his toe nails started to grow in a funny way and I asked if they could measure his feet without socks as I was afraid he was curling his toes. Well they said that it was forbidden fro hygienic reasons (wtf? do 2 yrs old get athlete feet? besides, most women try on the shoes on display without sock and nobody complain...) Anyways, I got tired and went to another clarks where tehy told me he needed shoes 1.5 size bigger!!!

Prior to that pair I have bought another one that become to small in just a month...

P.S.
Where's the other Clarks bashing thread?

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Thanks Socci

Pruni, I've not been frightened into buying DS any shoes yet. He can have some when he walks and not before - he's not missed out by not having crawlers and cruisers!

He's 14mo - am planning on Doodles as his first shoes as he's likely to start to walk over a hot summer!