Clarks..

Kazzajr

I have bought ds his school shoes in Clarks this year and last and haven't been asked his size so maybe it really is just younger children they ask?

I am very pleased with Clarks, ds pair for last year lasted really well after wearing them everyday for the whole school year including after care where he usually played football. By the end of the year the only wear showing on them was the sole grip starting to wear away the actual shoes are still in great condition. Luckily his feet don't grow too quickly so I didn't need to buy another pair and they were great value for money imo.

I have bought Clarks again this year and he has gone up one size but the width remains the same hopefully these last as long, I think I will only need to buy a new pair if his feet grow. The assistant was great with ds and spent a lot of time with us even though the shop was really busy was also pleased there was no hard sell for any of their overpriced 'care products'.

emzig123

As someone who worked in Clarks for 4years (5 back to School seasons) and left last year hopefully I can reassure you on some points.

Assistants ask to question about current sizes for a number of reasons, firstly if your child has feet around the 8-10 size range it helps us determine which machine to use. Trying to measure a size 8 child on the machine will often mean you end up with no reading, or a very inaccurate one so we like to get it right! Secondly, it is useful for us to know what width you were last time, many children have 'f' width feet but need a 'g' because they have a high instep, this sort of information helps us not only get the right size but select styles we know will fit. Thirdly, it means that if your child hasnt grown we can check them in their current shoes. If you dont think they have grown, take the olds ones along and get them checked. Especially if they are newish!

With regards to styles, Clarks make shoes for all different shapes and sizes of feet and an experienced asisstant uses this information and their experience of the styles to find the right shoes for your child. Unfortunately you may not always have a choice of loads of styles because some styles just fit your childs type of foot better. The assistants aren't just trying to be annoying I promise (unless the customer is rude in which case it is tempting !) Above all, the measurement is only a guide and is a starting point for the assistant, it is unusual for a customer to go out with the size they were measured because of the style of shoe, instep, narrow ankles, extra toe..........all sorts of reasons!

With regards to targets, things changed a lot between when I started in 2003 and when I left in 2007, the business is very target driven and an incredible amount of pressure is put on staff to hit targets. I hated it and Im so glad I havnt had to go back there this summer.

I hope that makes sense!!

PS. Carmina, you are so right about the trainers, so many kids would complain the shoes were too tight when they had loads of space because they were used to wearing sloppy trainers or sandals!

mrcow

I've always used Clarks up until this year.

The measuring is inconsisent from one visit to the next (according to Clarks my son went from an F fitting to an H fitting within two days - what a bunch of idiots). I've been given the wrong shoes in the box before so have had to return them to the shop (or send my son to school in bright pink flowery pumps). They've not fitted shoes correctly. The queues are ridiculous and I can usually tell whether a shoe fit better than the assistant most of the time.

What's more, the choice is so limited. Particularly with the girls selections. They never seem to have anything new in (I'm talking from season to season).

I now go to Startrite. It may be more pricey, but I'd rather pay more for a pair of shoes that were fitted correctly than buy a pair of badly fitted shoes that were exactly the same style as last year.

jackieb

I also stopped buying Clarks a couple of years ago. My daughter was about 10yo last time we went, and has quite long, narrow feet (size 7). The only shoes we could get to fit her had huge, clumpy heels. My daughter has a slight problem with her co-ordination and balance, and I felt she'd be falling off the shoes. There was nothing flat to fit her at all.

mrcow

Just wanted to add - it's the Clarks Bluewater store I'm referring to.

They are terrible.

I'm sure that there are lots of Clarks shops around the country that do a decent job. Unfortunately, this store isn't one of them.

Quackers

mrcow wrote: »

Just wanted to add - it's the Clarks Bluewater store I'm referring to.

They are terrible.

I'm sure that there are lots of Clarks shops around the country that do a decent job. Unfortunately, this store isn't one of them.

That'll be mine

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Carmina_Piranha_3

hey quackers, I hear you need nagging into sorting out an EMA thing? :rotfl:

The only time I've been annoyed at clarks staff is when a young girl didn't seem to have a clue but was too stubborn to take advice or ask colleagues. It was her personality, rather than Clarks in general that was the problem.

Last year my sloppy-trainered boy really hated his new school shoes, so I let him wear his old nasty ones for the first few weeks, while making him wear his new shoes for an hour or two at home each night to soften them and get him used to them.

This year I expect to do the same :rolleyes: he swears his old shoes still fit, but even a non-expert eye can see that they are getting tight and he needs new ones.
Clarks measured him at a size bigger than last year, but they said to take him while wearing his school shoes and they will see if the old shoes are okay. They often tell me the old shoes are fine, and I've never felt any pressure to buy new shoes.

Last time with my 2 year old was embarrassing though, he went up 2 whole sizes, within 3 weeks :rotfl: but because he's always in puddles etc. his shoes looked like they were 6 months old, not 3 weeks and I looked like a negligent mum

demonicangel

I am no longer using Clarks for dd2 anymore because when I went last week to get both my dd's new shoes (5 and 2 years ) the guy that measured them measured dd2 at a 7E then promptly changed his mind that infact she was a 6.5E. As usual only one style in her size so tried it on her. Said they were ok, although I thought they didnt have much growth room, about three quarters that she normally has. Put them on her a week later and either she had a huge growth spurt or they didnt have much growth room to start with. A friend and I could both feel her toe about 3mm from the end.

Go back to ask advice, they tell me that nope she does have enough room and that they are supposed to last 4-6 weeks only, they werent exchanging them as I just wanted more growth room. Explained to them I could feel her toes near the end, they reckoned it was because they werent tight enough. I shall remember next time that shoes must be so tight they cut the blood supply off! Also mentioned that she has been having a huge growth spurt, going from a 5 to a 6.5 in 2 months!

A friend took her dd to be measured there last week as well, putting her on the machine at 2 years old, measured her a 7 when theres no way thats her size, she has size 8 Clarks that fit her!

Quackers

Carmina_Piranha wrote: »

hey quackers, I hear you need nagging into sorting out an EMA thing? :rotfl:

OMG - that bl00dy Firefly :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

And I really DO need nagging cos I still haven't applied

I'll do it NOW I think

Clarks is like every other retailer in the country - good and bad every where.

But I'm all GOOD - obviously

Welshlassie

We took our DS in to be measured for hisfirst pair of shoes a couple of months ago and were really disappointed. The girl measured him (he was about 10 and half months at the time) and said because he has wide feet they were limited on styles so she would just get what they had. She came back with one pair which when she tried to fit wouldn't go anywhere near, she the tried to blame his thick socks. I suggested maybe they were too small so she offered grudgingly to get a bigger size. She came back emptyhanded saying they didn't have any. We asked about ordering said they didn't and when asked when their next stock in was she couldn't tell us. Half way through serving us she disappeared to serve someone else before coming back to us.

We were so disappointed we went to a local independent shop that stocks several makes, clarks and startrite included. We ended up getting some startrite in 1 and half sizes bigger than she originally measured.