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Original poster

Why are clarks shoes so minging! and all boys shoes?

45 replies

laughinglil · 15/05/2006 22:55

Was out shopping today for dt's sandals and I couldn't believe the pure filth that is around in shoe shops! I have always hated clarks shoes think they are disgusting especially for little boys! I felt incredibly rude today as I got my kids feet measured and told the lady that I didn't like any of the shoes and I wan't willing to pay £30 + for something I didn't like however she still insisted I buy shoes from their as they 'fit better'...whatever! Why oh why are kids shoes so expensive? I forked out on two pairs of buckle my shoe sandals that cost me nearly £100!
Just wondering how everyone else feels about the price of shoes for children? where do you get your kids shoes from?

OP posts:
Kidstrack · 15/05/2006 23:24

agree some of the little boys shoes in Clarks are a bit grown up looking, Startrite is good for those kind of little boy shoes

Original poster
laughinglil · 15/05/2006 23:26

hehe not they don't have lots of shoes can't afford it wish I could! They have trainers,shoes and sandals each and the canvas shoes from jojomamanbebe but thats it ..DH would kill me!

OP posts:
gingernut · 16/05/2006 00:11

Kidstrack, I've looked on the Clarkes website and they actually don't make any sandals or doddles in an H fitting.

MamaMaiasaura · 16/05/2006 00:35

ds wants 'sk8ter boy' style shoes but smallest i found is size 2 and he is 13 -1 . anyone got any ideas on that? :)

ButterflyInGlassMaze · 16/05/2006 08:04

I like Clarks.
I find the assistants are thorough in measuring and finding the right shoes for my son's feet. They fit well and are of good quality.
Clarks is the only shop I'll buy my son's school shoes from and have no problem paying 30-35 pounds for a pair.

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 16/05/2006 08:41

Im off to clarks today for Jess's doodles.... and no doubt another pair of proper shoes.... only had the ones she's got 8 weeks but seem a bit snug already

And I HATE girls shoes in clarks with a passion, but they are the only place in colchester I can get them because of her G width.

FrannyandZooey · 16/05/2006 08:44

JARMS, have you tried Stompers? They are very good for specialist widths.

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 16/05/2006 08:46

yep, went to stompers mate - NOTHING.... couldnt fit them round her fat ankles!!!

Sick of it really, even went to star-rite in Ipswich and couldnt get them there, she is currently in really nasty black patent ones which were the only ones we could get to fit - fingers crossed doodles will fit her!

FrannyandZooey · 16/05/2006 08:47

What a shame :(

My friend's dd has the same problem and they were able to help her out. Hope you find some somewhere.

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 16/05/2006 08:49

Thanks hun.

Will just have to keep looking!!!

Need more shoe shops in colchester, i swear i do!

Kidstrack · 16/05/2006 10:10

gingernut that was exactly like my ds he was an H fitting, but thanfully as he grew he slimmed a bit and he is now a G fitting, I think he was about 3 when he went to a G, very annoying i know, ds didn't have doodles till he was 4 and at nursery

Bozza · 16/05/2006 11:12

I have had the problem with Clarks not having the wider fitting in the past. I always go to Kids at Clinks which stock Clarks, Startrite and other brands for this reason. DS currently has Clarks trainers, blue sandals and school shoes and another brand of boots (these were his winter shoes but still fit so he wears them if wearing trousers at the w/e - usually wears shorts). DD has Startrite black patent shoes, white sandals and pink doodles.

BonyM · 16/05/2006 11:16

We usually go to Clarks and I find them ok, although dd1 often gets blisters the first couple of times of wearing a new pair (despite them having been "fitted" correctly).

Bought Startrite last time for a change and found them to be excellent - much better quality than Clarks, and no rubbing. Would get them all the time but the only shop near here that stocks them is a pain to get to.

BettySpaghetti · 16/05/2006 11:39

We tend to go to Clarks although have also been elsewhere that stocks Start-rite, Jones etc too. However I find that I just don't like any of the boys ones at the moment. DS is nearly 2 and is likely to need new shoes soon and I'm dreading it!

I got him measured in two different Clarks a month or so ago and one said he'd gone up a size the others said he was fine ! Who are you supposed to believe?! I went with the assistant I felt was more experienced and who talked me through the measuring, showing me how his current shoes still fitted.

The styles for boys are just not nice -can't quite put my finger on what it is but I do not like them (too "old-man" or too young, trendy teenager -hes nearly 2 FGS!)

Anyway, looks like I'm not the only one who's struggling with this

robin3 · 16/05/2006 12:02

The Geox shoes they advertise on TV are great for boys....really lovely soft leather, breathable, great designs, nice wide fitting. We get them at One Small Step, One Giant Leap but not sure where all their branches are.

gegs73 · 16/05/2006 12:32

We mostly go to Clarks or Startrite for ds shoes. What annoys me most about shoe shopping for him is that whenever you choose shoes which look OK, they invariably only have some really dodgy style in his size never the ones you want.

Also some shoes that can cost £35+ eg Ecco, Timberland etc do not have width sizes just a standard F!!! Might as well go to Woolies and fit them yourself for half the price!!

beety · 16/05/2006 12:36

Lh, what sort of shop are you going to? I bought ds1 some new shoes recently form Clarkes and they are good palin school shoes and really nice to.

I also bought myslef a PAIR OF shoes fromClarkes that coudl be prada. No one woudl know.

DD shoes also from clarkes are very sweet

bundle · 16/05/2006 12:39

bought dd2 some gorgeous sandals from clarks (I wanted some, but they didn't do a 39 Sad) and myself some lobster coloured flatties (nicer than they sound and soooo comfy). my girls have never had buckle my shoe et al as their high insteps/chunky feet mean they don't fit Sad

blueteddy · 16/05/2006 19:01

I tend to buy my DS's normal shoes from clarks, but often look elsewhere for sandles. I bought DS1 some sandles from clarks (reduced from £22-£5 last July) & was suprised when the women who fitted them said that all the clarks sandles just come in a G fitting, as that kind of goes against their "but our shoes are properly fitted" thing!
Bought DS2 some great red baseball boot doodles from clarks last summer, reduced from £13-£2!
I am probably going to get DS2 a nice pair of sand coloured sandles from Next this summer, for the reasonable price of £7.99!

puddingz · 17/05/2006 19:02

My ds has always had Clarks shoes because he has wide feet. The staff in the local branches are not helpful, lack training and give the distinct impression that they rather be somewhere else. In each branch they have either measured his foot/given me contradicting information/lost their measuring guage/given me inappropriate shoes/trainers. I always ask a manager to measure ds feet as a second opinion. The bopys' styles are dated, clumpy and naff. The only saving grace is that I live near a Clarks factory outlet shop so ds's shoes are not as expensive as they could have been. (Takes a deep breath) Rant over and out Wink

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