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?

Message withdrawn

oh what a brilliant thread. My kids have very rarely been able to have clarks shoes even though i keep trying. They have always flopped off their heals.

Startright have always fitted better and have much better service its just more expensive.

There have been times when assistants have siad yes their fine and i have said no. On second looking they have agreed.

My dds never been able to have much of a choice just really awkward feet i guess.

Now that youngest two need shoes its an absolute nightmare - again.

dd age 2.5 hasnt manag3ed to have clarks yet, and now we have a new prob. she has insoles coz of flat feet and really turns her feet over.

Went to an independant shop yesterday that sold continental shoes unable to find a pair for her, went to another that sells clarks and startrite unable to find a pair either. The insole pushes her foot up so far that shoes aren't deep enough. Tried some on size bigger but that just meant insoles were too small for the shoe. Can see this is going to be a nightmare.

Looking at the thread though i wonder if hushpuppies would be better then could leave the insoles out altoghter and just put hers in.

Will have to try today.

hope they do nice little pink ones though cant stand having to buy navy and black in the summer.

Not that i have enough to worry about right now. Buying shoes shouldnt be so flipping difficult.

clicked on this with interest as i well remember the twice-yearly ritual of being taken by mum to a small clarks shop to buy new shoes - highlight of my year because of the shoes and the lovely rocking horse there! was always a bit disappointed by mums insistence on 'sensible' t-bar shoes... i have bumps on the side of both feet, one of them was off the width scale and i could never have hoped to fit into shoes without width fittings - still can't - as i still have small feet (3-4) i buy clarks teen shoes on my trips to england. in summer i wear sports shoes or trainers - the only sandals i could hope to fit into are birkenstocks... any ideas for me? some have said have the bump sliced off but why should i go into hosp when perfectly healthy?

berolina,
evans, the large size clothes shop do cheap - mid range wide fitting shoes. Im not sure what their size range is though.
I also have wide feet, and am wearing a pair of evans shoes at this moment!

the shoe tailor also does width fittings. Ive used their internet service, cos they will accept orders from and deliver to Europe.

the shoe tailor

cheers nn

husband my dd1 has orthotic inserts and she is able to wear clarks boots and trainers... not sure if you would get the same sorts there... obviously we are in winter so boots are ideal. He just pulled out the insoles and put dd's inserts and they fit fine.

oh god, we're off again today round the shops trying to find anything at all that will fit - wish me luck

arrrrgh. i went into clarks last week to get dd2 some new strainers. they didnt have her width fitting, again!!! she is a G fitting, they offered her an F, which they also did the other week when we were shopping for sandles. they put an F fitting sandle on her ansd said it fitted fine. i had to point out that her feet were spilling over the sides. managed to find a G in the end.

went to buy dd some new shoes in clarks on saturday. the woman who helped us was rude and i couldn't understand a word she was saying as she just mumbled. i got the impression she couldn't wait to sell us something and get us out of the shop. we got home and when i put the shoes on dd i found they were way way too big. i know there has to be room to grow etc, but these shoes were one or two sizes too big. her feet came out on the heel. she said her feet hurt when she walked. so we took them back yesterday and thankfully got a full refund and an apology. i think this is the last time we've bought shoes at clarks.

{end rant}

My local shoe shop is a Clark's franchise. There's never any queues, the choice is good and the service fantastic. My children know the staff by name.
Can't fault them and would never buy shoes that are weren't the right width or size. Sorry but the discount shoe shops just sell badly made tat that falls apart far quicker than the Clark's ones.

hi
I worked in clarks and john lewis doing childrens shoes many years ago. Just wanted to make a few points the measuring is just a guide start point. Its the fit of the shoes that counts this is why it takes so long to fit and why your child may need a different size to the measurement. They will not sell you shoes that they think do not fit because childs feet take a long time to develop. I was given 6 months training before I was able to sell shoes that had not been checked by a more experienced member of staff first. They do have limited stock because they would need a warehouse in the shop to stock every size and colour of every shoe. They should be able to order any that you want if they do not have them. In saying this i would go and buy cheaper ones because they do not last very long and are very expensive but I know how to fit my ds shoes.

Excellently put Cainsmum.

Starlover where are you????!!!!

I agree that it is a pain in the behind having to wait so long to be served but Clarks are constantly trying to think of new ways to make shoe buying a more pleasant experience.
When we go for dd's shoes and I don't mind waiting at all, Dh hates it and gets quite frustrated but having worked there I know what the staff have to go through just to serve 1 customer.

I am a trained fitter for Clarks and I am honestly shocked by some of the stories I have read here.

In defence of the company, if you do want your children?s shoes fitted then make sure you go to a Clarks shop and not a franchise, a John Lewis or a factory outlet store. The so called ?fitters? there, from all customer accounts, are not properly trained. In my town we have Brantanos who claim to have trained fitters and unfortunately for decent Clark stores such as my own, sell (last seasons) Clarks shoes.

I had one woman come in the other day who had her child?s feet measured in Brantanos and they only measured one foot! Shocking still, they got her a pair of shoes and the girl only put one shoe on, the child didn?t make her walk or do a four point fit check (let alone a nine point fit check which Clarks teach and insist on) fit check and still declared they were ok.

The lesson here is always go to a proper Clarks shop I guess.

I am seriously annoyed and shocked by the treatment some of you have been getting in certain Clarks shops around the country. All trained fitters, in my store at least must do a three month training scheme called ?Shine: Kids Plus? in addition to the standard initial training scheme for new comers. They must also go on a day long fitting course, have a certain amount of hours shadowing an experienced fitter before they begin their 50 supervised fits, of which they must complete a certain amount of fits in various stated sizes. Only then can they apply for their trained fitter certificate.

what are you doing kate, looking for all clarks threads?

i still wont forget the time a lad tried to stuff my dd1 foot into a shoe too small, and the amount of times they hagve tried to sell F width fitting for my dd who is a G fitting.

Was just thinking the same, Misdee

nowt wrong wi' shoe zone - £ 2.99

Went to startite for the first time yesterday as clarkes range for girls is so awful adnd got a lovely pair in sale for 22 pounds and a pair of trainers in sale for ds half price. I will no only go there for dd.

clarks arggggggggggghhhhhhh!! i took dd3 there for her school shoes ,they measured her feet ,,am i mad or do they not care if the shoe fits if thats the size it says on the measure contraption?? my dds shoes were slipping at the back ,woman said she was wearing them wrong huh??that she needed to push her toes right to the front ...======no shoes brought!

I have to say I've been using clarkes for 9 years with ds and can only praise the fitting and service we've had. Shoes have all lasted bar one pair they exchanged.
I just had their girls range though.

Jess has only had 2 pairs of clarkes, and not a problem either time.

Admit the range is a bit crappy.... so may have to check out start rite for her if there is a bit more choice.

sale is good there.

clarkes outlet shops are fantastic! got lovely boots for ds £3!!!!! Got him 2 pairs. Hardly worn and grown out of now!!!!!
Doodles 8 I think!
Trainers for big ones about 12. Must admit to liking bucklemy shoe though!
If you think they are boaring now wait till she is about 5 or 6 then they turn black or navy..abit older and its black or black!!!!