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Original poster

OMG I just nearly fell over when the shop assistant told me the price of my daughter's new boots!

128 replies

petalpower · 26/09/2009 14:23

Just been to buy my 7 year old daughter some winter boots (leather knee high type). We went to our normal shoe shop (StartRite or whatever they call themselves now) as she has tricky shaped feet - wide feet and high instep. Finally found a pair that fitted. Went to the till to pay and they were £74.99!! Don't think I will be telling DH the price. How can they justify this?

OP posts:
Original poster
petalpower · 27/09/2009 18:17

Thank you happilyeverafter for saying that you would have paid that too if your DD had funny sized feet. They are brown nubuck so should go with most outfits. DD is not getting any other boots or shoes so they had better go with most things!!

OP posts:
hanaflowerhatestheDM · 27/09/2009 18:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
petalpower · 27/09/2009 18:23

Because I just wanted something that would fit her feet properly. The assistant measured her feet then brought out the boots that they had in her size. Because she has such tricky shaped feet it's the only thing I won't scrimp on. Probably sounds completely stupid but it's through bitter experience - I certainly wouldn't do it with anything else that I buy.

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Romanarama · 27/09/2009 18:28

To make you feel better, Petal, I paid 50 Euro for Geox trainers for ds2 yesterday. He had tried them on and they had dragons! and flashing lights! and I'm afraid I couldn't face not buying them. They should label them more clearly with the price imo, it's really not fair on mums.

VerityBrulee · 27/09/2009 18:36

Petalpower, you seem to be getting a hard time about this, but I always end up spending between 50 and 80 euro on shoes for my dc, and wouldn't be a bit surprised at boots for dd costing as much as your dds boots, in fact I've budgeted that much to buy her boots next month.

My 3 dc obviously grow v slowly as they always get 6 months out of their shoes, so it doesn't seem extortionate to me.

If she likes them, they fit her, will keep her warm until next sping then job well done

FabBakerGirlIsBack · 27/09/2009 18:43

And sometimes you don't have a choice about what shoes you buy for your child if you want decent footwear. There has been plenty of times when there has only been one part of shoes that fit right in the shop with mine.

bibbitybobbityhat · 27/09/2009 18:47

My 8 year old dd has never had a pair of boots. She's fine and dandy.

Original poster
petalpower · 27/09/2009 18:47

Thank you for your kind words Romanarama and VerityBrulee. Makes me feel a bit better! I just really feel for DD. Her feet are big as well as wide with a high instep (I blame her father's dodgy genes as he has them too!) and all her delicate little friends have pretty delicate little thin strapped school shoes. Just not suitable for DD. So when we had the trauma of the school shoe shopping expedition in the summer holidays and she cried in the shop (not I'll get my own way sort of tantrumming just sad) I had a soft moment and promised that we'd try really hard to get pretty boots if she was brave and wore the chunky well fitting school shoes. So really I made a rod for my own back...

OP posts:
Original poster
petalpower · 27/09/2009 18:49

Cross posts FabBakerGirl. What do you do if there is only one pair of shoes in the shop that fit?

OP posts:
Romanarama · 27/09/2009 18:51

Perhaps next time you could go in and say to the assistant: 'don't show us anything that's more than 45 quid' or whatever. Just to be sure.

FabBakerGirlIsBack · 27/09/2009 18:51

I buy them.

Tidey · 27/09/2009 18:54

Bleepin' nora. I was annoyed enough to see that the pair of boots I pretty much lived in last winter were in the shops again but they'd gone up by a fiver. I'll probably buy them again cos they're loooovely and comfy and go with everything.

But 75 quid for children's shoes?? I couldn't do it.

PrincessToadstool · 27/09/2009 19:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wonderingwondering · 27/09/2009 19:08

I've just had real difficulty finding winter shoes (i.e. closed shoes, not sandals) for my two year old DD. I tried several Clarkes' shops and John Lewis and between them they had ONE pair of (bright, bright pink) shoes that fitted her. So Russell & Bromley was the last option. But they only had that pair that was suitable - £36. But she can't walk around in too-small sandals any more.

I think the shops have reduced their ordering this year, so there's a shortage of stock. I've found lots of new season clothes have sold out of my (pretty standard) size, too. And prices are definitely higher.

nickytwotimes · 27/09/2009 19:13

75 vquid is ridiculous. Jesus, I'd have said no thanks and left.

I used to buy into all the nonsense about getting kids' feet properly measured, but most of the assistants doing it are clueless adn you can manage better yourself. Also, friend is a podiatrist and says it is a racket and puts her kids in Asda trainers.

Ds is currently the owner of leather trainer things, a pair of wellies and a pair of sandals. 30 quid altogether.

Original poster
petalpower · 27/09/2009 19:52

But if your childs feet don't actually fit into the shoe (ie:sole of foot to top rather than length) what do you do NickyTwoTimes? Also if you only have sons it's a differnet kettle of fish from daughters (I have a son and a daughter). Boys can get away with trainers, school shoes and sandals/wellies and be covered for any occasion. It's also OK to get Asda shoes if your children have standard (width etc) feet but if they don't it's no good.

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brimfull · 27/09/2009 20:03

madness

did you not ask for the price

nickytwotimes · 27/09/2009 20:11

It's a matter of trying on tonnes of pairs tbh.
It was the same with 'fitted' shoes too, tbh.
NONE of Clarks fitted ds at all. The 'advisor' was basically forcing his foot into shoes which were too narrow and too low for him.
He has VERY wide feet - H plus and a high instep. We manage to find stuff.
No idea what it is like if you have girls, but it is up to you in the end really. If you don't want to waste your money then say no.

Original poster
petalpower · 27/09/2009 20:18

No - see my post of 18.47

OP posts:
Original poster
petalpower · 27/09/2009 20:19

That post was to ggirl by the way.

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brimfull · 27/09/2009 20:20

sorry didn't read thread

ah well if they make her happy...

she will remember these boots forever

nickytwotimes · 27/09/2009 20:21

Yeah. Guessed that!

Seriously though, it is up to you if you end up forking out 75 quid on a pair of boots.

FabBakerGirlIsBack · 27/09/2009 20:22

You don't always have a choice though.

happilyeverafter · 27/09/2009 20:25

Petal I know plenty of people who would pay this much for kids boots, it's different strokes for different folks.

I always think if I want need it and can afford it then so what? Yes it's more than you expected/planned but they do what you wanted them to do and I presume you had the £££s so why worry.

My Mum bought DD some boots this week (hence why she ended up with so many) and declared them a bargain at £30 as when she used to buy my winter boots they were £30+ going back a few decades.

I know people who buy new cars every couple of years but buy all the kids clothes from charity shops and wouldn't dream of paying £30 for a pair of kids shoes. I refuse to buy cars brand new but happily shell out for kids stuff and will continue to do so for as long as I have the spare cash.

nickytwotimes · 27/09/2009 20:27

There is a choice.
No one needs winter boots unless they work on a farm.
They are a fashion choice.