Cheap Shoes - False Economy?

KittyKate

Hi all. I've recently started spending more money on shoes, and other than the initial outlay I'm far happier with them. I thought it was OS to 'make do and mend' but with the price of shoe repair (or even home repair) is it worth it?

For example. I spent £20 on a pair of New Look faux leather boots. The point of the shoe wore out in weeks creating a hole, letting in water. The heel wore out to a metal 'spike'. I walk a lot (to work, and shopping) and ruined them in 6 weeks!

I spent £45 on a pair of NEXT chunky brown 100% leather boots (in the sale, down from £95). I have had them since March and they are still like new, after being used to walk to work, shopping, in torrential rain, down the gravelly/muddy canal footpath etc.

Same with ballet pumps, which I wear a lot of as I am very tall. I spent £9 on a pair of Internacionale silver pumps which were full of holes, and made my feet rather sweaty & uncomfortable. 2 months later = bin! I spent £18 on some lookalikes from Baratts which are weeks old and as new, with even more use than usual.

My OH spent £15 getting his boots repaired at Timson's (I tried to get him to go to the market but oh no!) and they are still un-repairable 3 months later. It's not sensible to buy cheap shoes - clothes yes but shoes no!

badkitti

Completely agree, although I do but £10 cheap shoes for my use in school and they will stay smart enough for as long as I need them.

If I am lucky enough to have the money I will also spend more on a good winter coat. I also think the extra money spent on a well fitting bra is in valuable as it makes your cheaper clothes last longer.

Sarahsaver

It sounds like the first pair were heels? You needed to get them repaired sooner. The 'faux leather' is going to wear through because it is probably vinyl stuck onto a knitted or woven backing. At least with leather you can polish it and that helps the rain stop coming in.
M&S do basic ballet pumps for about £9 and my son's teacher has a pair still good after several months.
Now, how much will you consider spending on having your Next boots mended when the time comes? Even if it is £20 it is cheaper than replacing them and keeps them out of landfill;)

Never_Enough_Money

Hi, you are so right! I learnt the hard way with this one. I have always bought my dd's shoes from Clarks, but last September they didn't like the range in Clarks and it was going to cost me around 80 pounds for two pairs. So I gave in to presure from them and bought them some from a cheaper shop, can't remember the name, but a high street chain, they were those trendy ballet pumps type, still paid around 18 pounds each. They were completely trashed about 6 weeks later. So I ended up spending another 80 pounds on top of the 38 that I had originally spent! This September we went to a clarks outlet and bought them shoes, saved around 15 pounds total on the normal price and they will probably last all school year.

taplady

I agree that when it comes to shoes you get what you pay for, they last much longer and are much more comfy and as they are natural materials they let your feet breathe. I would never buy cheap shoes. The secret is to buy good quality ones in the sale!;)

nickiboop

It depends

COOLTRIKERCHICK

well i must admit the last pair of boots i bought for myself cost the sumly amount of £1. in a car boot sale about 7 years ago... they are a bit like doc martins and i wear them every day, and on bike rallies etc.... and they are still going strong.....apart from them i get my kids cast offs.. they grow out of their trainers before they get full wear out of them ...

but i totally agree when it comes to shoes and coats........allways buy the best you can afford........ and to get better value ...wait until the sales........and buy classic designs... so they will blend/go with anything.....so its not out of date fashion wise within 6 weeks :eek:

hilstep2000

My OH really believes this.
He had a pair of brogues handmade. They were so comfortable, (because they were made for his feet) and cost £220. :eek: However, they've lasted him 10 YEARS so far, and they are still going strong. They need very little looking after, only a good polish once a week. So if you work it out they've only cost him £22 a year!
Sometimes you DO get what you pay for!:T

MATH

Whether expensive or cheap, there are only two ways to stop heels wearing away within weeks:

1: Only wear them for sitting down in
or
2: Have them recapped with metal ends

My Mother always recaps her heels and merrily 'clacks' around and they last forever but Mrs MATH never feels safe with metal heels since she went base over apex on wet tiles at Kings Cross about 10 years ago and had to be stretchered out. LOL For her it is more cost effective to buy a £10/£15 pair and chuck away every 4-6 weeks as it costs £7 to get them cobbled.

heavenleigh

I couldn't agree more, all my friends moan about how quickly their boys wear out school shoes they have bought for under a tenner, and they have to replace them at least once a term.

I buy Ewans from TKMAXX this summer i got a pair of Ted Baker leather loafers originally priced at £95 for £25, and last year i did the same. We are a term into the school year now and even though he plays football every day in them they still look like brand new.

The one expense i do begrudge is the umpteen pairs of trainers and football boots we go through in this house in a year, both ds and dd play for local teams and they are forever needing new ones, i now make them use their birthday and christmas monies to buy new ones whenever they want them.

Leigh xx

Austin_Allegro

hilstep2000 wrote: »

My OH really believes this.
He had a pair of brogues handmade. They were so comfortable, (because they were made for his feet) and cost £220. :eek: However, they've lasted him 10 YEARS so far, and they are still going strong. They need very little looking after, only a good polish once a week. So if you work it out they've only cost him £22 a year!
Sometimes you DO get what you pay for!:T

Could you let me know where your OH got his shoes made? Was it in the UK - the cheapest quote for handmade I've seen is about £1000, and John Lobb (supposedly the best shoemaker in the world) charges about £2000! :eek:

Cheap shoes are definitely to be avoided. I'd advise the following:

Get shoes with a full leather lining. Cheap shoes have plastic or textile lining which makes your feet sweat and wears out quickly.

Avoid shoes with a composite (all in one) sole as these can't be repaired.

Avoid 'grain corrected' leather - this is the very shiney, plasticcy looking leather you get on cheaper shoes. This doesn't wear very well.

You can resole and heel your own shoes with kits from Woolworth's easily and cheaply.