Extremely uncomfortable shoes from Clarks -- any consumer rights laws re. refunds?

maz_student

Hi all

I bought an extremely uncomfortable pair of shoes from Clarks about 10 days ago, and it's been uncomfortable since day 1. The back digs into the back of my leg (near my ankles), and I have to put cotton wool buds because even 2-3 plasters wont help ease the pain. It's inconvenient, because the cotton wool buds keep falling out aswell. At first, I thought it was like this because they were new, but it's because of the style.

I've deliberately gone to Clarks because of their reputation for being comfortable. I bought these shoes for work, and for the price I paid (£40) im not willing to shrug my shoulders and go buy another pair of shoes, because with £40 I could have bought something else from another shop. Also, these shoes are flat (not the ballerina type of flats), they have a good heel and a very good sole. They are just plain black leather loafers.

I dont know what to do. I want to do all my research before going back into the shop, asking for a refund. I want to get my money back. Is this at all possible? Does anyone know if there are any consumer's rights re. uncomfortable shoes. The pain is totally unbearable I was going to go today but thought i'd ask on here first to see if anyone could help me or give ideas as to what I can do.

Googlewhacker

maz_student wrote: »

Hi all

I bought an extremely uncomfortable pair of shoes from Clarks about 10 days ago, and it's been uncomfortable since day 1. The back digs into the back of my leg (near my ankles), and I have to put cotton wool buds because even 2-3 plasters wont help ease the pain. It's inconvenient, because the cotton wool buds keep falling out aswell. At first, I thought it was like this because they were new, but it's because of the style.

I've deliberately gone to Clarks because of their reputation for being comfortable. I bought these shoes for work, and for the price I paid (£40) im not willing to shrug my shoulders and go buy another pair of shoes, because with £40 I could have bought something else from another shop. Also, these shoes are flat (not the ballerina type of flats), they have a good heel and a very good sole. They are just plain black leather loafers.

I dont know what to do. I want to do all my research before going into the shop. I want to get my money back. Is this at all possible? Does anyone know if there are any consumer's rights re. uncomfortable shoes. The pain is totally unbearable

I would guess very little rights, the product is not faulty, they just don't fit your feet shape.

The only hope is that you didn't try them on in the store and the assistant said they would fit, if you did try them on or the assistant didn't say they would fit then again I don't think there is much more that you can do bar go back to Clarks and hope their reputation for being good stands by and they allow you to exchange for another pair (they are very unlikely to allow you to refund because they will not be able to resell the used shoes and will then lose the cost of those shoes)

NGlady

I don't think you've got any rights to be honest. I remember seeing on some shoe website, may have been Faith that they don't refund if the shoe is uncomfortable due to bad fit or style, as whats say comfortable for you may not be comfortable for me and vice versa. You have to look at it from a companyies POV I could easily wear a pair of shoes out for an occasion, then return the next day claiming of uncomfortable shoes. I think you will need to deal with this one, VERY well, not all guns blazing or anything, and hope the staff member you deal with is feeling very generous and willing to bend the rules/help you out.

lilac_lady

If they don't give a refund maybe you could donate them to a charity shop. They may fit someone else who doesn't have the money for new shoes.

SUESMITH_2

didnt they hurt when you tried them on in the shop? if they did why did you buy them?

i can't wear clarks or hush puppys as they just dont fit my feet.

Quackers

Googlewhacker wrote: »

I would guess very little rights, the product is not faulty, they just don't fit your feet shape.

The only hope is that you didn't try them on in the store and the assistant said they would fit, if you did try them on or the assistant didn't say they would fit then again I don't think there is much more that you can do bar go back to Clarks and hope their reputation for being good stands by and they allow you to exchange for another pair (they are very unlikely to allow you to refund because they will not be able to resell the used shoes and will then lose the cost of those shoes)

Correct on both counts

You do not have any rights.

But Clarks will exchange them as a goodwill gesture for another pair.

Please try on your new pair at home around the house for an hour before you wear them outside to make sure they are comfortable first

Clarks do have a reputation for comfortable shoes - but this doesn't mean every pair they sell is going to be comfortable for your feet. You really should try on shoes around the house before you wear them outside and then you always have the option of returning them if they are not suitable

maz_student

SUESMITH wrote: »

didnt they hurt when you tried them on in the shop? if they did why did you buy them?

i did try them on in the shop

SUESMITH wrote: »

i can't wear clarks or hush puppys as they just dont fit my feet.

these did fit perfectly. Even more so, they were the special 'wide-fitting', so Clarks can't say that it didnt fit my feet.

It all boils down to this:
It's the design of the actual footwear itself. The back of the shoe goes too far up and as a result digs in to the wearer's foot when worn for at least an hour. When testing the product in the shop, your foot is not in the shoe for an hour.Most people try out a shoe in a shop for 1-2 minutes. I made sure to wear the shoes for at least 10 minutes, and had it on and was walking around. I was in that shop for a good hour or so --- so it was definitely not a hurried decision.

I dont know how to say this in a professional way, because the moment you open your mouth to begin saying you want a refund, the store assistants will immediately get into their defensive mode, as the shoes have already been worn. Fair enough, but if the design is bad, then aren't my statutory rights being affected? I've bought a pair of shoes, and are being advertised as being comfortable. If the product which has been sold doesnt perform as it is being advertised, then that means your statutory rights are being affected (to the best of my knowledge). This is where I got my info re. statutory rights from:http://whatconsumer.co.uk/what-are-my-statutory-rights/

...:o...:(...

dmg24

Which shoes are they? I find it hard to believe that it is a design fault as you are implying, if it is they will have had lots of returns and you will have no problem changing them.

DCFC79

I had a pair of shoes that hurt by my ankles but i sorted it by just softening the backs, have you tried that, just soften them with your hands,

pmduk

Shoes fitting your feet is not just about the width of the shoe.

Googlewhacker

maz_student wrote: »

i did try them on in the shop

these did fit perfectly. Even more so, they were the special 'wide-fitting', so Clarks can't say that it didnt fit my feet.

It all boils down to this:
It's the design of the actual footwear itself. The back of the shoe goes too far up and as a result digs in to the wearer's foot when worn for at least an hour. When testing the product in the shop, your foot is not in the shoe for an hour.Most people try out a shoe in a shop for 1-2 minutes. I made sure to wear the shoes for at least 10 minutes, and had it on and was walking around. I was in that shop for a good hour or so --- so it was definitely not a hurried decision.

I dont know how to say this in a professional way, because the moment you open your mouth to begin saying you want a refund, the store assistants will immediately get into their defensive mode, as the shoes have already been worn. Fair enough, but if the design is bad, then aren't my statutory rights being affected? I've bought a pair of shoes, and are being advertised as being comfortable. If the product which has been sold doesnt perform as it is being advertised, then that means your statutory rights are being affected (to the best of my knowledge). This is where I got my info re. statutory rights from:http://whatconsumer.co.uk/what-are-my-statutory-rights/

...:o...:(...

See I would argue that you are wrong, the shoe is a shoe, it is not inherently faulty, it does not fall apart, it does the job on the tin.....you just have the problem in that your feet do not fit their shoes and ultimately this is your fault because you had time to try them and make sure they are suitable

The design maybe bad but it doesn't make them faulty, I could say the design of a BMW is bad but it does not make it faulty.