Anyone else thinks M&S shoes are now crap?

[Sidebeforeself]

Just so disappointed with the quality ( and shocked at the price!) .They were my go to for shoes but I cannot belive how crap they have got. Trainers are fine ,but their sandal range is just awful. The leather looks and feels like plastic .Lots of wispy little sandals but nothing substantial and comfortable.

A few years ago they had leather plain ballet style shoes. Well made, beautifully soft. I bought two pairs. This year they need replacing and their option is a hard, plasticky ugly square toed monstrosity.

I know exactly which ones you mean @BananagramBadger .I used to have to stop myself from buying lots of shoes from there.Noe I come away empty handed every time. It’s a good job I can try trainers for most of the time.

I’ve loved an M & S top and trousers since the eighties but I’ve always thought their shoes were very awkward, cheap looking, old fashioned square toed plastic monstrosities. Even when they weren’t plastic. I really don’t think they’ve changed.

They have a lot of trainers as well now though, and they look like they might be OK.

Yup cheap nasty plasticky crap. To optimise their profits along with linen and cotton 'mix'. They can get in the bin now. Food only.

I’ve never found shoes from M&S that have been any good. The fit has always been off for me and they mostly seem hard and unyielding.
I bought school shoes from there when mine were in primary seeing them recommended on here, they didn’t last long.

All shoes are crap these days. I bought Birkenstocks recently and the quality is nothing on the last pair I bought (10 years ago) but the price is 3x as much.

Yes! It’s been a couple of years since I bought any now. The last pair of boots I bought the zips kept catching my DH had to cut away at them to get them off my feet and the heal wore down so quickly. At the same time I bought a cheap pair of boots from Matalan which I’m still wearing in winter, I’ve probably got 1 winter left in them but my M&S boots went in the bin a long time ago.

As a contrast to most people's opinions I bought 5 pairs of shoes and sandals in one go when I went to M &S a couple of months ago, intending just to buy food. I bought 2 types of fisherman style, one woven loafers and 2 pairs of 2 strap platform type sandals.

All of them are extremely comfortable and I have had compliments on each pair. All leather uppers and around £50 each. I am delighted with them. They seem perfectly well made too.

I’m wearing a pair of the ballet trainers now. I have to admit the edges are hard on the skin

I really like the fact that they're moving away from using the skins of animals who suffer absolutely terribly in the leather industry.

No, it isn't a bi-product.
No, it isn't the 'circle of life'.
No, it isn't ok.

I understand your principles. Can’t help but think all that plastic isn’t too good for the planet either.

This can be an issue. If the plastic is recycled it's better. But then it doesn't last.

Perhaps traditional espadrilles or rubber wellies?

99% of it is a by-product of the meat industry.

We've lost such a large amount of shoe.manufacturers now. I listened to a really good radio programme about it. Its sad

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008k0r4

M&S shoes have to be the most uncomfortable in the world.
They have really disimproved in the last 15 years. Plastic, many styles made in China.
I can’t remember the last time I bought a pair there - I’ve gone in and tried them on but didn’t purchase.
TBF I haven’t tried their trainers.

They look cheap and nasty and are £50 to boot. I dont think so thank you Marks and Spencers.

Yes it IS a by product. Over 99% of commercially produced leather comes from animals that have gone into the food chain.

So yes, that IS the circle of life.

Whether it's 'okay' or not is up to the individual to decide. It's perfectly okay with me, but I suppose you are one of those people who prefer everything to be made of plastic while at the same time wringing your hands about an over-reliance on fossil fuels?

Everything has gone to shit in M&S. There are always a few exceptions in their more expensive Autograph and designer / celeb collab ranges but their general stuff has gone rapidly downhill in both styling and quality.

The shoes are useless for me because Im a 5.5 wide fit. They used to do lovely shoes in my size now there is nothing at all that fits my feet.
I occasionally find some of their precovid stock new on ebay that fits but nothing in the shop fits any more.

The shoes have always been crap. Sorry 🤷‍♀️

I got a pair of their daps (trainers) last year and only wore them once or twice because they were so HEAVY! There was nothing in the design to account for it. I felt like Frankenstein, clomping about, and so tiring...

I used to buy their sandals but the quality had gone down, same with the leather ankle boots, very comfortable but always scratch and mark do much more than leather boots from elsewhere.

No they haven’t. I’m not talking about styles necessarily. But there were always plenty of soft leather ones, ones either good quality soles etc.

Yes! I need a wide fit and for years they were my go too for reliable stylish and comfy shoes but I've not been able to buy anything decent there for the last couple of years now.

Yes thats my size too. Very common size but M&S seems to ignore that