Is anyone else fed up with Clarks?

Caroline73_2

What I wonder is why Clarks always ask what size shoe the child is in now? Why is it relevant?

I lied last time and said two sizes smaller than my son was and the measured him one size smaller than he really was. So they were wrong at least once!

I haven't been back since.

Quackers

Caroline73 wrote: »

What I wonder is why Clarks always ask what size shoe the child is in now? Why is it relevant?

I lied last time and said two sizes smaller than my son was and the measured him one size smaller than he really was. So they were wrong at least once!

I haven't been back since.

And the point of lying is?

Most of the younger staff ask as an opening question...its as innocent as that.

Also, if its a smaller child then its to know whether they are big enough for the machine.

I ask so that if you tell me the child is a 4 and I measure just over a 4 then I know that his current size 4's are going to be ok. But if you'd have said a 3.5 then I'd have said 'he's in between a 4 and a 4.5 so we'll see how we get on once we start trying and hopefully the 4.5 will be ok so they'll last longer'

Maybe people go in with a negative attitude....suspicious....and get what they are looking for....

Caroline73_2

Quackers wrote: »

And the point of lying is?

Most of the younger staff ask as an opening question...its as innocent as that.

Also, if its a smaller child then its to know whether they are big enough for the machine.

I ask so that if you tell me the child is a 4 and I measure just over a 4 then I know that his current size 4's are going to be ok. But if you'd have said a 3.5 then I'd have said 'he's in between a 4 and a 4.5 so we'll see how we get on once we start trying and hopefully the 4.5 will be ok so they'll last longer'

Maybe people go in with a negative attitude....suspicious....and get what they are looking for....

The point of lying was to test my theory, to prove that most of the staff working in there don't have a clue and are not highly trained, or else they wouldn't have made my son a size 8 and then a size 7 six weeks later.

I don't make a point of looking for the negative.

aliasojo

Quacks....there seems to be a fairly quick turnover of staff in Clarks these days and the vast majority ( I actually think all) are very young. Is there some particular reason for this, do Clarks prefer short contract workers? Is it just cheaper for them to employ younger people?

Over the last 2 years the two branches closest to me are staffed almost exclusively by very young people who dont seem to stay longer than 4 - 6 months. I've had conversations with friends in other areas and they say they have noticed this in the branches near them too. Seems a bit much to be co-incidental, or is that really all it is? I haven't been served by anyone experienced for quite some time now and as much as the young people obviously get some training, they're just as not as good at fitting as their older more experienced counterparts, imo.

Quackers

aliasojo wrote: »

Quacks....there seems to be a fairly quick turnover of staff in Clarks these days and the vast majority ( I actually think all) are very young. Is there some particular reason for this, do Clarks prefer short contract workers? Is it just cheaper for them to employ younger people?

Over the last 2 years the two branches closest to me are staffed almost exclusively by very young people who dont seem to stay longer than 4 - 6 months. I've had conversations with friends in other areas and they say they have noticed this in the branches near them too. Seems a bit much to be co-incidental, or is that really all it is? I haven't been served by anyone experienced for quite some time now and as much as the young people obviously get some training, they're just as not as good at fitting as their older more experienced counterparts, imo.

No...its not cheaper as they all get paid the same once they reach 18

It really is just one of those jobs that you either stick at and stay there forever (:rolleyes:) or leave after a few months. Its a lot harder than it looks - there is so much more to it than just getting shoes out of boxes - promise

Its difficult...and I've said this before....

We have a 21yr old saturday boy who has been fitting kids shoes since he was 16. He works every saturday and between 20-30hrs during all school/Uni holidays. I'd class him as a very experienced trained fitter.

We have a lady in her 50's who has worked for us for just over a year. Works a set 12hrs a week...mostly during the week when its not so busy on kids...

90% of the time the customer would be preferred to be served by her just because she is older. She has no children and little experience of how to interact with children but a parents natural instinct is to presume that she is going to be a better, more experienced fitter than the male uni student who is extremely knowledgeable on our products and fits well and has the ability to interact with children of all ages because he is from a large family and has the confidence to chat to all the kids who come into our store.

I appreciate that you know that the staff turnover in your local store is high so you know that they are less experienced....Maybe its just bad luck? We've not employed anyone new for over 12months...maybe your store just has a bad recruitment process

I'm hot...I dont know the answer :rotfl:

We are wearing bright red T-shirts with 'SALE' on them....huge great SALE posters in the window...sale stickers all over the bloody shoes....woman buys a pair of SALE shoes and asks me as she is paying for them 'Has your sale started?' :rotfl:Its hard work I tell ya....hard work....:D

mrcow

I just go straight to Russell and Bromley these days.

They stock Clarks if I really want a particular pair, but I find the staff aren't so wet & useless as in Clarks Bluewater.

Quackers

Caroline73 wrote: »

The point of lying was to test my theory, to prove that most of the staff working in there don't have a clue and are not highly trained, or else they wouldn't have made my son a size 8 and then a size 7 six weeks later.

I don't make a point of looking for the negative.

Did they actually fit him in a pair of shoes a whole size too small?

See, often a child can be measured incorrectly....which is why we try to explain that the 'measure is only a guide'....but its really is the actual fitting of the shoes that counts.

An incorrect foot measurement isn't important as long as the shoes that you buy fit correctly.

Ok, an incorrect measurement will slow the fitting process up but it really isn't the end of the world and really doesn't matter as long as fit of the shoes you buy is correct. Thats all that counts.

Quackers

mrcow wrote: »

I just go straight to Russell and Bromley these days.

They stock Clarks if I really want a particular pair, but I find the staff aren't so wet & useless as in Clarks Bluewater.

:rotfl:

Dont work @ Bluewater thankfully :D:D

mrcow

Quackers wrote: »

:rotfl:

Dont work @ Bluewater thankfully :D:D

Do you work for Clarks Quackers?! :rotfl:

If you do, have a word with the blond haired manager at the Bluewater store if you're ever on a company jolly......twice (yes, twice!) she's sent me out the shop with the wrong box of shoes after I'd paid for them. (I'm talking bright pink girls shoes for my 6 year old son here!)

The second time, she tried to imply that it was my fault (yes right - she handed me the bag over the counter.......totally my fault! :rolleyes:)

The last time I went in there to get shoes, I saw her lurking near the doorway and just swerved out the shop in time :cool: Not been back since.

ethelsmum

I've always bought my 2 kids clarks shoes and have never had a problem - my son takes a G fitting and my daughter a F fitting. We have been in today and bought my daughter some new shoes in the sale and was very pleased with the service.