Is anyone else fed up with Clarks?

Counting_Pennies_2

money_saving_diva wrote: »

It has really put me off of clarks shoes for kids (especially toddlers that can not tell you how they feel). I would avoid because I think Clarks now have no competition on the high street their quality has gone down hill which is a real shame.

I agree, we should start up a campaign to stay clear of Clarks until they improve their offering.

My European friends are amazed at the monopoly Clarks have in the UK, in other European countries, shoes are mainly sold in independent shops and have a range of makes.

I am very certain that is my route from now on.

Isn't it funny, there is such propoganda out there to buy Clarks. All this guilt associated with making sure they have a width fitting, when in actual fact all you need is a good independent fitter and good quality shoes.

Flashdaisy

I agree we should start a campaign, lol.

I think Clarks have over the years with their marketing managed to convince people that they're the only brand that are any good. When I went to our local Clarks once they had literally nothing suitable for my eldest DD so I said I'd leave it for now and the very young salesgirl said "Well I strongly advise you NOT to buy shoes from anywhere other than Clarks". I suppose there are some customers that are taken in my that kind of talk and feel like they are doing their children a disservice if they buy shoes elsewhere.

withabix

It isn't Clarks' fault that there aren't many other shoe shops.

It's the fault of the other shoe shops for being cr4p at running a business.

Clarks didn't make them all go bust, they did that all by themselves, with the help of you, the customer!

You can't expect every Clarks shop to stock every style in every colour in every fitting...if they did that, they would go bust as well!

Feel free to take your business to other shoe shops. Nobody is stopping you.

angelicmary85

The clarks I shop in is ace!

The woman that fitted DD's 1st shoes remembered her when we went back for her next pair, she was considerate and took loads of time fitting her shoes.

Mollymop5

Can I just say I am very happy with Clarks for the 1st time in years.My DS is 15 and I've always had a problem with lack of choice/styles when choosing shoes.Our local shop is small and doesn't stock much.Last month I was browsing the clarks website and found that it is possible to choose up to 6 shoes to be delivered to your local shop to try before you buy.I took my 7 yr old daughter along and had her feet measured, came home where we chose 3 styles together then I ordered them in full and half sizes (as we no different styles can fit differently) then 2 days later I got a text to say they were in store.Yippee.We went along and DD tried them on and now has a lovely pair of doodles for the summer.The shop assistant was very excited too as they didn't stock the styles we ordered and they got to keep the ones we didn't buy in store to sell onto other people.i will definately be doing this in August when it's time for new school shoes.There is no obligation to buy and you pay instore when you have found a pair you like.Hope this helps.

Dustykitten

I too am a fan of independent shops. After many failed clarks trips with one child with H+ fitting, one who needs orthotics and one with a high instep we travelled to another town.

Amazing service, shoes that really fit, a loyalty scheme plus they lasted so much longer. They all ended up with Startrite but where happy. It was a bit more expensive but certainly worth it.

Francesanne

Flashdaisy wrote: »

Yes, I agree. In our town Clarks is really the only choice that we have for buying fitted shoes, but I got so fed up with general bad service, and shoes being poorly fitted (things such as being sold a bigger size for my eldest DD as they didn't have her size in stock and the sales assistant claiming that the size they are measured at doesn't mean anything), that I now travel 25 miles to the nearest independent shoe shop. The service is a lot better, and there is a much wider choice.

The service in my local store is dreadful but have found their online site 1st class.

Curlywurli

I wish there was an alternative shop, but unfortunately there's not one anywhere near me. Choice is a major issue, my little boy's got very wide feet- can't get a single pair of sandals to fit him. The last time I went to Clarks the sales assistant sold us a pair of shoes that I couldn't even get his feet into. We went back and it turned out that they were a size too small and a width too narrow. We double checked our little girl's shoes and the same assistant had sold us a pair a size too big!

*Louise*

I also have problems with Clarks - they never seem to have the wider fit shoes in stock. (DS2 has orthotic insoles which means he needs the widest fit) fair enough they offer to order them in, but when I go out for shoes with the kids, I want to go home with the shoes that day - not have another half hour each way trip in the car a week later. :rolleyes:

I have heard good things about Start-rite, I think I need to find a retailer near me who sells them.

maplegirl2011

clarks do a service where u order the shoes in online. a few days later they text or ring to say they are in . i tend to order all the h width styles in a couple of sizes for my son and take it from there. at least that way i know they have them in stock when i go and i have the choice of the full range. therefore i now make sure i plan ahead for my shoe buying and not go in on a whim