Are children's shoes a rip off? Do you buy clarks or cheaper?

primowino

My 12 year old daughter is already in a size 8 1/2, she has not been in kids size shoes since she was about 9, and as she is 6 foot tall the last thing I want for her is adult high heels. I tried to buy her shoes yesterday, Clarks said they had some styles in a 9, but when you ask an assistant they cannot say which styles come in a 9, so we went though about 20 styles before I gave up as none of the styles we chose came in a 9. It is such a stupid system, and not just because we needed the larger size, how many times do you go to Clarks and they do not have the size you need.

Anyway, I also have 2 DS and the younger one only ever got his big brothers hand me down shoes. John Lewis are great as you just go and ask for the child's feed to be checked, they will tell you if they are ok or not. If not you have a quick look at the styles, and say there is nothing you like, then armed with the correct measurements you can go off to a cheaper shop.

Also, my mum was from a family of 5 girls, and they had no money, all they had were plimsoles, and all 5 of them have perfect feet. The most important things are not to put kids in shoes too early, too small or with heels that are too high.

shazrobo

geekgirl wrote: »

TKMaxx are really good for larger sizes, and of course cheaper as well.

thanks for that info, we have one in our town i shall take a look on monday

bagby

always bought from clarks for my daughter up until aged about 7- but I would buy the D.M.s from clarks but I dont think they were really fitted like a 'proper' clarks shoe. My son had them up until about aged 3 and then he would wear trainers. I dont think his feet have suffered. At one point I was going through school shoes every week for my son and then I realised he was deliberately wrecking them in order to wear trainers like all the other kids. The little tinker.

thriftmonster

I did buy Clarks for the first few years but then I looked at how they fit them - please, round here it's a quick pinch heel and toe (apologies to any proper fitters) So now I take them to Dunnes or M&S - both of whom have a foot gauge lying around in the footwear dept - measure them myself and then go for it wherever. Both inherit trainers (branded expensive ones ) from friends, hiking boots from Dunnes - £11 - £14 a pair ( good socks from Millets in the sale), sandals from whereever and school shoes from wherever I think fits best - M&S, Clarks (occasionally), Barratts, Dunnes, Tesco - I fit them carefully - and I can take longer than some of the hard pressed girls in Clarks. I did start out on the accepted route but over 12 years have got a bit iconoclastic. Ds1 now needs school shoes, 2 pairs of trainers for school (in and outdoors), rugby boots, golf shoes, hiking boots, sandals and a pair of trainers for everyday and wellies. If I had to buy all these at Clarks, I'd be bankrupt.

Leilasmum

try shoesforkids.co.uk
Customer service and packaging excellent, and a LOT less than the shops even with p & p on top!

Gale_10

Hello,

This is something I actually feel really strongly about.

I used to buy clarks shoes for DD until her feet got too wide for clarks then I went to independent shoe fitters and paid a fortune.

Then I saw a programme on tv where some mums were taught how to fit children's shoes and sent out to buy shoes for their children's feet, they came back with beautifully fitting shoes without clarks prices. This programme was on ages ago now and I don't remember the name of it, incidentally.

My mum always bought clarks shoes for us, and so I have been watching fitters fit shoes forever, and frankly I can only see that the standards have dropped dramatically.

I would say that I have enough knowledge and spend enough time looking, checking my children's shoes to know what fits and what doesn't. Plus I do actually care about my children's feet, which the staff at clarks do not seem to at all.

So now, I buy where I think the best value and the best fit is, which can be anything from Asda to John Lewis.

Gale

owsaboutthatthen

Clarks for me! Both my children had their first pairs of shoes from Clarks. My son has tried other shoes and they have been a terrible fit on him. I only use Clarks shoes now (whether they are bought for them by my mum or bought second hand on ebay or somewhere like that). They have quite wide feet but Clarks do them just fine - its easy to say they are in and out of them but I find for the time they are wearing Clarks I hear of no complaints about them hurting their feet!

However can anyone tell me where my nearest outlet is? I live in Manchester and must have had my eyes shut if i've missed one and it is round the corner or something!

dizzy_lizzie

We always bought Clarkes for our children from their first pair of shoes until they got to the age where they said 'No way, I'm not wearing them' With three of our own and two SC this used to cost us a fortune, but I always thought well worth it. Saying that I never had clarkes shoes and my feet are fine. x

Strapped

This is a handy link:

http://www.shoefitters-uk.org/Register_of_Members_2007.htm

For anyone in Devon, I recommend Ridgeway's in Newton Abbot. Not very money-saving but real good quality brands, and all sizes however wierd your feet are I agree with the other posters re. the cheap clothes/hand-me downs but good shoes every time.

rainee

shazrobo wrote: »

When my sons were really tiny i used to buy their shoes from clarkes, but as there feet grew and grew, incredibly fast it just became so expensive, plus they now choose just to wear trainers. incidentally took 12 year old son for new trainers, he only had the last pair 2 months, and his feet have grown again, he is now an adult size 12:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: starting to wonder where i can buy bigger trainers and socks from

good place to look for trainers is sports world they normally have loads in the sales in sizes up to 14 or 15 hubby is 13 1/2 son is 10 1/2
also have a look on clifford james for formal shoes
foolishly i bought my son a pair in clarks full price over £50!!!!