School Shoes

shoehelp

I recently bought my child a new pair of Clarks leather school shoes. On the first wear it happened to be raining and when they took the shoes off their feet were wet. I went to the store and asked for an exchange. They refused saying there was nothing wrong and it was not their policy. I should not expect them to be ‘waterproof’ I tried contacting online support and got the same message.

I believe they are not fit for purpose. Surely you can expect your child’s feet to remain dry in a pair of school shoes?!

Am I wrong?

MSE_ForumTeam5

We've moved this to a more suitable part of the Forum

Ergates

That would depend, quite a lot, on the details of what happened, and the details of the shoes in question.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6657824/school-shoes

Leather shoes are not inherently waterproof. Had the shoes been treated to make them so? Were there any claims made about the shoes being waterproof?

Even if the shoes are "waterproof", the lace-eyelets will not be so any splashing about in puddles will have water find an entry point. School shoes do not typically have the tongue design in the same manner as hiking boots where the tongue is folded in to help inhibit water flow into the shoes.

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6657824/school-shoes

Which model/style of shoes were they?

pinkshoes

It would depend massively on the style and the child.

The entire sock is soaking? Or just the toes? How is the water getting in?

Okell

@shoehelp - "… I should not expect them to be ‘waterproof’ I tried contacting online support and got the same message.

I believe they are not fit for purpose. Surely you can expect your child’s feet to remain dry in a pair of school shoes?!

Am I wrong?"

Unless those particular shoes are advertised as being waterproof then they don't have to be waterproof.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81907832#Comment_81907832

If a shoe is supposed to be waterproof then they should have bellow tongue making the eyelets only being on the outside of the upper and so not an entry point for water.

To the OP, do you have a link to the shoes on their website so we can see any claims they make about being waterproof? Leather is water resistant not water proof as standard. If they have a stitched rather than cemented sole then thats also another route for water ingress but you can again do a storm welt to reduce this without moving to glued soles.

Ergates

I think we're getting caught up in the wording of "waterproof" here - which is why I (perhaps too subtly) asked the OP for further details.

e.g.: I wouldn't expect school shoes to be waterproof in the sense of a pair of wellies - i.e. if you go splashing in puddles (as kids like to do) then you're going to get wet feet.

But, I'd also not expect to get wet feet from just walking outside whilst raining - e.g. soaking water through the soles from wet ground.

Emmia

Looking at the Clarks website school shoes come in a variety of styles, some of which are obviously less waterproof/water-resistant than others.

A search for "waterproof" on the Clarks site, also only throws up adult shoes. There seems to be no kids or school shoes described in this way.

Skiddaw1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81908706#Comment_81908706

I agree with @Ergates