clarks adults/childs school shoes?

[Guest k@lsb]

would really like to have a honest debate about this subject.

 

 

 

this week i have had the 4th customer in, with young girls black(slip on flat threw soled shoes,the ones all the teenagers 15 and under wear walking to and from school) all one unit about 15mm thick,made out of (clarks normal ,dont glue and stck very well and no one really has a proven 100% way of securly stcking all the time units) subject been covered on the forum lol...anyway first two customers paid 35.00 a pair size 4s for these shoes..3 weeks wear before totally -hagged!1 this is the 4th week of term now ,and yesterday i had two pairs size 6 clarks again customers paid 40.00 a pair totally -shagged on the heels as well..as a parent of a 7 year and 10 months and 5 days 14 hrs 23 minutes and 15 second year old daughter(ok guys yes the hours and days and mins are important to a seven nearly eight year old) i think as a customer not just as a cobbler..a company LIKE clarks should be named and shamed for selling such very very very poor quality shoes now.AS a child i remember my mum dragging me round to clarks to buy there shoes(the northern sole polyvelts etc panda print shoes the ones that left a paw print in the snow..and yes when i was a lad we still had snow!)

 

i dont mind tacking the customers money to repair the shoes ..but it just infuriates me how a company like clarks can seem to get away with this ,and im sure all you guys must have had annoyed parents in with similer childs/young girls school shoes in..i ascked the lady yesterday if she had tacken them back to clarks,she replied yes i did THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AS THEY WERE NOT SOLD AS SCHOOL SHOES!!)

 

CLARKS IF YOU ARE READING THIS WHAT A LOAD OF BULL-HIT!!!

 

what the hell is that meant to mean as a statement from a company of youre stature in england.

 

so you can now buy the shoes but youre kids cant wear them to school.........PLEASE someone put some light on this subject for me....and please someone start a website up so all the angry mums and dads can club together and highlite this massive problem for parents across england...WISH I OWENED CLARKS THEY MUST BE MAKING A KILLING......NOT FROM ME.....there importing cheap foreign quality crap shoes..and shame on them as a retailor....minimum effort maximum profit..same old story in england now....i only have the 1 child..i pitty those with 2,3,4, kids the credit crunch and clarks are going to kill you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(DO CLARKS DO LOANS FOR CHILDS SHOES?LOL)))

[Lee]

I have emailed Clarks with your concerns & await their response.

 

Lee

[Auto Key Wizard]

Clarks Commandos (with the compass under the heel seat)in the early seventies were the dog's for boy's shoes.

 

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

A golden rule here... ask if the shoes are suitable for the purpose purchased and get them to sign the receipt as such.

Running..Football..Hill Walking..Climbing etc etc..all have to be fit for the purpose but the assistant must be made aware of what the shoes are meant to be used for.

Are they just casuals or are they substantial for school use,,eg; climbing walls, playing football, using as brakes on bikes etc.

Some reputable retailers stock shoes that are tested by SATRA for scuff resistant uppers and abrasion resistant soles, but school shoes are school shoes not ffotball boots or bike brakes.

Close examination will show what the cause of the faliure is as there will be deep scuff marks around the area.

 

If you want your kids shoes to last the full term there is a solution... buy your wife a Merc 4x4 and sent them to school in that, All the kids in our area seem to be arriving in monster trucks disguised as family cars.

[Iain]

K@lsb,

 

I fully agree with your comments. I have repaired a pair this week exactly like those you describe. The girl wears them to school each day. They are terribly thin and the upper quickly becomes damaged at is scuffs againts the floor.

 

As a businessman, i'm happy to get the work.

 

As a dad, I'm appalled at the quality of them. They are obviously sold as school shoes, regardless of the company's intentions. They know exactly what purpose their customers buy them for. I would never consider buying such tat for my daughter.

 

A point has been well made and it will be interesting to see if a response is forthcoming.

 

Iain

[Guest k@lsb]

http://www.shoesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/i ... 608SD.html

 

heres a link to a pair of clarks shoes with identical soles on as this subject is about?

 

also i noticed under clarks description of childs shoes under description of soles and what they are made out of they put RUBBER.......we all no that this product they put on there soles of shoes is not rubber...or we would all be able to use 6092 to stick the -loody stuff!!!! are they allowed to sell as rubber under sales of goods act...come on hugh hit me please with some of youre wisdom and straight talking mate..would love to no the answer..I HONESTLY BELIAVE CLARKS ARE HAVING ALL THE MUMS AND DADS OVER NOW......lee thxs for sending to clarks lets see what happens...would love to get this story drawn to the national press as i am sure there must be at least a million angry mums and dads out there..and yet are un aware this is a all of our contry problem not just restrictaed to certain areas..........i no i type alot of bull some of the time(well most) but i do think this is a PRESIDANT setting case for CLARKS to stand up and be caught guilty of using a supplier who is using very very very poor products on some of there range of shoes thus TRASHING years of good hard earnt customer loyality in one season................SOMEONE IS ACOUNTABLE FOR THIS WITHIN THERE COMPANY...pps ..or do none of the clarks employess have children who wear there shoes????????????

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

Had a look at the web link and can confirm that these are not sold as School Shoes.

As the ad states... Ladies Casuals with Manmade soles. Casuals are not suitable for School use.

 

As for "Rubber Soles", there are many additives that can be mixed with Rubber granuals, both natural and synthetic rubber can be enhanced to give wear properties that the manufacturer is looking for in a production run. The mix can be for heavy wear or for pure profit and a mixture of both.

Some of these additives are very difficult to stick anything to and the manufacturers will have the chemists at the adhesive plant make the adhesive specifically for the sole unit.

 

If that Ad is typical of the type of footwear purchased for school then I'm afraid that I have to question the ability of the purchaser to choose suitable footwear for the purpose. Being coersed into a purchase by a young female more intent on the fashion stakes that the practicality does not render the purchase suitable for school use.

Now I'm sorry if anyone takes offence on how this is worded but you should have known better, as you are the experts.

[Iain]

Hugh,

 

While similar, those aren't the type I am used to seeing. We do see those from time to time but they are mainly ones which are much much thinner across the whole sole and without any tread or grip.

 

 

I'll have a nosey around to see if I can get a pic to upload.

 

 

Iain

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

I understand and sympathise with your concern Iain over these shoes and I am aware that the shoes are only similiar.

 

But, if as you say, the soles are even thinner then this only adds fuel to my statement about the suitability for School use and the guilability of the purchaser to be led by fashion requests.

In essence, they are Casuals.In manufacturing terms the could be Pumps I believe.

Similiar in construction to Bag Lasted and Ballet shoes, just beefed up a little.

[Iain]

You may have a point with Ballet shoes there Hugh. They do appear to be a stiffer version of them.

 

While I do not in any way wish to deviate from K@lsb's post. Regardless of wether they are intended for school shoes, I believe they are not built to last with regard to the price paid for them.

 

Casuals is definitely the term for them, and while gullability is definitely a valid point, I can't help but see a vision of a schoolgirl at 3.30 on a weekday, fresh from school with her uniform on in a Clarke's shop with her mum. They are there for her to try on her new 'school' shoes and the assistant probably knows that she will be wearing those shoes for school.

 

I wonder if those assistants would point out that the shoes are not of the best quality to be wearing 5 days a week.

 

Why would they?

 

The problem is, as I see it, neither the kids nor the parents help the matter. A lot of them bow to their kids requests for footwear even if they know better. They then complain that they need repairing so soon!

 

Who wins?

[Auto Key Wizard]

Clarks No School BL (Black) Style: School Shoe

[Iain]

Those are the buggers!!!

[Dean]

I can't help but see a vision of a schoolgirl

 

[Auto Key Wizard]

I can't help but see a vision of a schoolgirl

Iain ...chasing young chix at your age.

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

A lot of them bow to their kids requests for footwear even if they know better. They then complain that they need repairing so soon!

Who wins?

 

Therein lies the problem, the purchasers know better but dont want a stand up row (well everyone else has them mum, do you want me to look stupid and have everyone laugh at me?).

 

As Tel has posted "Clarks NO School Shoes".

 

I blame the Government for stopping punishment in the schools and home.

I blame the Teachers for not being able to uphold school uniform disipline.

I blame the Parents for bowing to kids pressure.

I blame the Human Rights for taking away our ability to control our kids.

I blame the Civil Liberties for allowing Anarchy.

 

Clark's Footwear has to bear the brunt of all that has gone wrong

[Guest k@lsb]

A lot of them bow to their kids requests for footwear even if they know better. They then complain that they need repairing so soon!

Who wins?

 

Therein lies the problem, the purchasers know better but dont want a stand up row (well everyone else has them mum, do you want me to look stupid and have everyone laugh at me?).

 

As Tel has posted "Clarks NO School Shoes".

 

I blame the Government for stopping punishment in the schools and home.

I blame the Teachers for not being able to uphold school uniform disipline.

I blame the Parents for bowing to kids pressure.

I blame the Human Rights for taking away our ability to control our kids.

I blame the Civil Liberties for allowing Anarchy.

 

 

QUALITY POST HUGH MADE ME CHUCKLE lol

Clark's Footwear has to bear the brunt of all that has gone wrong

[Iain]

I really could have worded that better couldn't I Tel?

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

After sticking my neck on the chopping block to save Clarks name I wonder if the postman will deliver my free sample Pensioners shoes...or Captain Sensible shoes as my pal calls them.

Very comfy for tired aching feet.

Size 10s by the way Mr Clark. Any colour will do.

[Lee]

Mr Clark couldn't supply me with shoes, as they wouldn't be suitable for purpose (thanks hugh), why because I am over sixteen & they don't make size 5 gents shoes!

 

But send me an extra pair of size 10's & I'll forward them to Hugh

 

Lee

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

Thanks Lee I need um....any style any colour as long as they are 10s

Are you realy in a size 5 Lee..no VAT, you must be saving a fortune

[Auto Key Wizard]

Are you really in a size 5 Lee..

He is, & as the saying goes...."Small feet, Small .....!!

[Lee]

Are you really in a size 5 Lee..

He is, & as the saying goes...."Small feet, Small .....!!

it's not what you've got but what you do with it that counts. With 3 kids & a wife of 12 years I must be doing something OK.

 

Hugh having size 5's is a nightmare, its alright having VAT free shoes if you want to look like a kid.

But to get a pair of size 5 GENTS shoes means a handful of makers for off the shelf shoes. Loakes being one, but no one ever stocks them so you have to buy blind.

Other than that its endless trawls along the shelves of shops looking for a shoe that looks grown up!

Rhiannon has it down to a fine art and often comes home with shoes for me.

 

Lee

PS, I'm actually a 4.5 but I've only ever found 1 pair of those, that fitted nicely

[Auto Key Wizard]

Are you really in a size 5 Lee..

He is, & as the saying goes...."Small feet, Small .....!!

it's not what you've got but what you do with it that counts. With 3 kids & a wife of 12 years I must be doing something OK.

Lee I guess you've misunderstood the saying.........."Small feet, Small hands, what the hell were you thinking?

[Lee]

why what are you talking about? I have earned a living using these hands for years.

 

Lee

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

I heard that the saying goes like this... Small Feet=Small Socks.