The price of kid's shoes

mrs_mix

I'm still angry
I went out todayto buy the kid's school shoes the eldest size 10 (he's a big lad) the middle one's shoes were ok so will last him another couple of months
and the youngest she needed shoes
Got most of what we needed in Asda the eldest shoes were £10.
they had two different styles for girls really flimsy and would have lasted a week
O.k we'll go to brantano's after here,
off we goes the only pair of school shoes they had in her size were £32.00
so I put them back and walk out I was absolutely disgusted that they can even try and charge this .
On the way back to the car I decided to look in Sports World on the off chance that they had something suitable, two pairs of L.A.Gear school shoes
for £15.00
So well done Sports World for saving me a trip to the town centre

Becles

I just bought some Clarks ones for £30 for my youngest today.

I was happy to pay that, as the lady in the local shop is a fantastic shoe fitter and I know they'll last a very long time. Sadly they didn't have any in stock to fit my eldest, but I'll be happy to pay a similar price for his.

They're both boys, so the shoes get seriously mistreat as they play football and stuff in the school yard. Despite the abuse, the shoes always polish up well. Last years shoes lasted the full school year and still have wear in them, just they don't fit anymore.

You can get shoes cheaper elsewhere such as Asda, but you don't get the fitting service and I've found that often the shoes are poor quality as you say.

It's your money, so shop around and buy something that suits your pocket and your expectations.

ts_aly2000

Hi OP,

Brantanos are an absolute rip off in my experience here. They're one of these places which drum on about what a wonderful discount they're offering, and then they turn out much more expensive than anywhere else.

Shop's similar to this are The Officer's Club, which list RRP as something like £150 reduced to £40 or alike. And then you go to M&S and they have the same shirts for 12quid!!

These kind of shops think consumers eyes are bigger than their bellies.

deanos

Dont forget that kids shoes have no VAT so in adult terms the £30 Clarks are £35.25

Is there a Clarks outlet near you by any chance ?

Smashing

You should always buy good shoes and a good bed, because if you're not in one, you're in the other.

mrs_mix

Yes there is a Clarks in town not somewhere I relish going (town that is ) but it's closing down.
What really annoyed me was that these shoes weren't Clarks and they were really flimsy and would have fallen apart inside a week. Had they been Clarks and sturdy school shoes I might have bought them.
As it was when I got into the shop despite members of staff standing around I had to get the foot measure and do it myself and I suffer from arthritis in my hands so that wasn't easy and I did ask for help but was fobbed off so that didn't help.
Anyway the shoes I did get her I made sure that they fitted well and she is happy and comfortable in them so in the end I guess thats all that matters
and I might add her nickname is imelda marcos she's a bit of a shoe freak she would rather have new shoes than toy's.

Astaroth

I have to say I was suprised with Sports World too with their recent 70% off sale (which later became 80%) as not only was a very large number of items on sale a high proportion of them did have the full 70% off rather than the normal 1 item which has been on the shelves since 1970 and never sold but allows them to make the up to % discount.

Obviously they didnt do to bad as I spent in the region of £150 (tennis rackets etc) but then again the RRP for it all was over £500 (the tennis racket alone is sold online for £156)

aeuerby

I unfotunately have to buy adult size shoes for my children.

My daughter is 9 and in an 8/9 shoe. Clarks to my knowledge don't cover this size in their childrens section and if they do they are usually chunky high heeled clod hoppers that are more suited to teenagers :mad:

My son is 14 and on last check was a size 12.

Why don't shops cater to tall children with very large feet - well more like boats than feet

Astaroth

Ok, very small kids shoes are clearly very different from adults (though you do see the occasional person walking around with Mr Men painted on their Docs etc) but certainly when kids get to age 8 and above I am not sure how the shoes would be different to those of an adults? (excluding obviously high heels for girls)

finc

Astaroth wrote:

Ok, very small kids shoes are clearly very different from adults (though you do see the occasional person walking around with Mr Men painted on their Docs etc) but certainly when kids get to age 8 and above I am not sure how the shoes would be different to those of an adults? (excluding obviously high heels for girls)

I think it's style as much as anything. My daughter is also 8 however only in a size 3. This apparently is big for her age and the styles that shops bring out in this size IMO aren't suited for an 8yo more like a teenager.

Bit like everything else, though, they're forced to grow up much too quickly, but that's a whole other thread. :rolleyes:

Quackers

Astaroth wrote:

Ok, very small kids shoes are clearly very different from adults (though you do see the occasional person walking around with Mr Men painted on their Docs etc) but certainly when kids get to age 8 and above I am not sure how the shoes would be different to those of an adults? (excluding obviously high heels for girls)

The kids shoes are made to be much more hardwearing. Kids of this age still play on the playground at school and adults shoes wouldn't wear as well.

Ok, some would maybe but the majority would wear really badly. The kids shoes are wear tested on a machine thingy (:o ) that bends and bashes them continuously to wear test them. I doubt that adults shoes are tested as harshly.

Finc - Clarks do a lot of the younger girls styles up to a size 4 now to cater for the little girl with big feet.
One of the teenage 'bootleg' styles is also very similar to the younger girls styles - its called Audit and is very plain and simple with a strap across and is totally flat.

aeuerbry - Clarks teenage bootleg shoes go up to a size 9 for girls and a 10 for boys. You are right though - the choice is limited - especially for girls. Hopefully they'll extend the range next year. The choice does get better each year.