Clarks shoes

scrimpingbadger

Here's the thing. Went to Clarks on Sat. and got DS (3yrs) measured and fitted for some new shoes. Fine. £26 *cough* (more than I spend on my own). He wears them on Monday. This morning (Tuesday) he cries when I put them on him and then proceeds to hobble about (his speech is poor so he couldn't say what the problem was). Took the shoes off and the sides of the tongue are rucked up and clearly rubbing (although there's no marks on his feet). Am I entitled to take these back? (depsite him scuffing them up). There's obviously a design fault here (well, I think) as the tongues won't sit flat. Not fit for purpose?

Ishtar

Personally, I'd go back and have a word with them. The shoes are obviously causing discomfort, which Clarks should have checked for when they fitted him. When they fit DD's they have a really good look...perhaps they didn't double-check the top of the shoe?

Definitely worth letting them know.

D.

Badger_Lady

As an ex-Clarks-child-shoe-fitter, I'd chime in with the above. The important thing is a comfortable, supportive fit for your child, so anything that's causing problems should be returned and replaced. It may not have been a manufacturing / design fault (because all feet are different), or a fitting fault (they may have been a good size, but you can't always predict fine detail), but they should still sort you out with a new pair.

Nicki

I've had this happen with my ASD child. She can't say if shoes are comfortable or not, and more than once Clarks have fitted shoes which they have said fit well, but which rub her feet after a few days/week or so wear. They have always refunded them with no quibbles for us.

I am however fed up to learn that Clark's head office have apparently withdrawn all the manual measuring equipment for older children, so that the only equipment they have to measure older (6 year old in my case) children's feet is the electronic machine you stand on. As my child can't understand instructions as to where to place her feet and can't stand still, she can't have her feet measured (and nor obviously can children in wheelchairs), so it is a real question of guesswork as to which shoes are the right size for her. Anyone have any ideas why Clarks have done this, given that the manual machines take up no more room than a couple of shoe boxes in their store room, and all businesses are supposed to cater for the needs of the disabled?

floss2

Nicki wrote: »

I am however fed up to learn that Clark's head office have apparently withdrawn all the manual measuring equipment for older children, so that the only equipment they have to measure older (6 year old in my case) children's feet is the electronic machine you stand on. As my child can't understand instructions as to where to place her feet and can't stand still, she can't have her feet measured (and nor obviously can children in wheelchairs), so it is a real question of guesswork as to which shoes are the right size for her. Anyone have any ideas why Clarks have done this, given that the manual machines take up no more room than a couple of shoe boxes in their store room, and all businesses are supposed to cater for the needs of the disabled?

Not sure of the why's & wherfore's, but have you written to Clark's to ask why? And maybe point out the error of their ways, as a parent of an ASD child? You never know, they may change their minds if the problems you face are pointed out.

Wouldn't be suprised if it was the idea of some marketing graduate who has no kids & has never spent an August Saturday in a shoe store!

wotnext

I had this happen once. Bought a pair of shoes for my daughter and within a day they had rubbed her foot so badly she got a blister. I took them back and got her refitted and a brand new pair as a replacement - as well as an apology. Clarks are normally very good and remedying mistakes.

ailuro2

Same here- my DD's boots started hurting her a couple of MONTHS after she got them, but Clarks replaced them for free- they were in the sale by that time, so because I didn't have the receipt she had to choose another pair from the sale rack, or I would have had to pay the difference- so keep the receipt till the shoes are too small- you never know?

lilac_lady

Go into the shop and ask for your son's feet to be measured without saying why. Chances are they'll come up with a different size. MY DIL did this when same thing happened to DGS's new shoes. The sales assistant (not the original one) apologised and he got a new pair immediately.

Badger_Lady

lilac_lady wrote: »

Chances are they'll come up with a different size.

I'd be very surprised if this is often effective - the measuring devices are pretty much idiot-proof but don't mean a thing until the child tries on the various shoes and you check the fit. Just like adult shoes, styles do vary and, as previously mentioned, some children's feet are just odd shapes.

I once had some parents complain to my manager in this way - the boy measured as a size (I don't remember now but let's call it a 2G). However, every pair of trainers came up tight on him because he had quite an unusual shape foot - very "deep". So I ended up selling him a pair of 3H's that were more comfortable and provided that all-important bit of growing room.

The parents looked more and more cross while I spent time trying the various sizes - they'd obviously lost trust in me and, as soon as they left, they went into a rival shoe shop and got him measured there.

They came back and complained to the Manager that I had sold them a pair of 3H's when the rival shop measured him as 2G. I.e the same size I'd measured him as! The manager apologised to the parents and refunded etc, but actually I hadn't done anything wrong at all - the important part is not the sizing, it's the fitting.

setmefree2

Hi,

I had one of the worst shopping experiences of my life in my local Clarks.:mad: I took my quite old son - 12 - to Clarks to get fitted for school -shoes, £40. Within a week the back of one his heels was red raw:eek:. Well went back to Clarks with both my sons....not for one minute expecting them to refuse to give son new shoes. I couldn't believe it when the manager refused to change them - I was so angry I started to shake and talk very loudly.:mad: Eventually I got the shop manager to give me his name and only then did he get scared. They are trained to never give their name and once he knew I had it - he was scared. I said I was going to send photos of sons heels in with the complaint. Then he backed down and refitted son for a pair of shoes - which is what he should have done in the first place. Dreadful Experience - sons were mortified and I thought they'd never come shopping with me again.:o I thought it was a disgrace on every level and have never been into the shop again and I probably never will....see just thinking about stil makes me angry:rotfl:

Badger_Lady

setmefree2 wrote: »

They are trained to never give their name and once he knew I had it - he was scared.

My manager's name was Mr Foot. Seriously.

I didn't know that... when I was working there, we all had proudly displayed name tags!