Friday, 10 October 2014
You get what you pay for?
Just back from town.
My first port of call was the shoe shop.
A few days ago I went to Clarkes for my bi-annual shoes. The choice wasn't brilliant but I did find some that looked sturdy enough and at £55 the amount I would normally pay for my best going to town/ pub shoes. I have always thought that you get what you pay for with shoes and unless I get lucky at the charity shop I am happy to pay for shoes that last. I asked the guy in the shop why they didn't make shoes that could be cobbled any more. He looked at me in a pitying sort of way and said that cobbling was expensive. I replied that it was not as expensive as a new pair of shoes and that I like to mend and keep things going as long as possible and did not like the throwaway society I was forced to live in. ANYWAY off I set with my new shoes, which I expect to last for two years if I look after them. I polish our shoes each Sunday and do the odd stitching job and generally nuture them.
On Wednesday I wore them for the first time to the Memories afternoon at our village hall which is 50 yards away. It rained while we in the hall and when I got home and took my shoes off my socks were wet along the outer front left foot!
I took my shoes and receipt back to Clarkes. I explained that I had worn the shoes for first time and walked on 50 yards of wet pavement and had wet socks.
"Well they are not waterproof you know" he informed me
" I didn't jump up and down in puddles, I just walked along the pavement" I told him
"Shoes will let wet in" he imparted " These shoes I am wearing now (pointing) if I walk around in the wet for a few hours, I find my socks get wet"
"And if you wear them for 2 minutes"? I asked " I suggest you get your shoes from a reputable shoe shop" I advised
"Sometimes its the way they are"
"I have spent £55 on shoes to keep my feet warm and dry. That is the purpose of shoes, This is England. It WILL rain. maybe I should go to live in Spain to ensure my feet will be dry"(getting a trifle sarcastic now)
. Would you like your money back or a replacement?" he asked as though doing me a favour.
He then told me how his children often come in with wet shoes/ feet and he has to put newspaper in them to dry them. The inference being that maybe this is what I ought to have done rather than complain.
"As I need shoes, not being the sort of person to buy something I don't need, I will try a replacement" I replied.
So I looked at the shoes and found another pair that fit. These shoes are not made by Clarkes, but then neither were the first pair, they were £10 cheaper, hopefully not £10 less waterproof, We shall see... watch this space!
My next port of call was the printers to get a copy of a wonderful large photograph that was bought to the Memories afternoon. I finally found somewhere to park, walked back to the printers to find that they were closed and a notice telling me that to provide a good service they would now open from 8.30 until 12.30 Monday to Friday. So back on Monday morning then. Terrific!
A quick whizz around Lidl went pretty well and an even quicker whizz into Sainsburys to buy "One Particular Thing" for ED's birthday next Tuesday went according to plan too.
I then dropped some pamphlets off at a Society Committee members house for posting and my round trip was complete.
Time for a cup of tea methinks, but before I settle down I will collect the eggs. D.had been pressure washing the barn (chickens) and I slipped and crashed into the wall banging the arm that I had had my Pneumonia jab in this morning and bending my thumbnail back in a rather grotesque fashion. It is a now a very pretty colour and I am feeling a little shaken.
So here I sit in the safety of the room that houses my laptop amid the comfort of my bloggy world and I plan on staying for some time yet!
All for now
Gillx
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I bought myself a pair of Clarks' shoes when I was at uni. They lasted a week before they split, and the heel had worn down! I took them back and got my money back. Shoes don't seem to be made for walking in anymore. I am going to have to get myself a pair of trekking shoes/ boots for this Winter.
ReplyDeleteI've been looking on the internet too, with no luck. I have some good walking boots that are years old and still good. I just don't want to have to wear them with my winter skirts and best trousers
DeleteMy first pair of 'Duty' shoes where Clarkes', they last about 3yrs of almost constant wear, were comfortable and stood up to the task of working on the ward at the hospital and walking to an fro to work most of the time. They Cost £14.99 at the time and I got a student nurses' discount. I really struggle to find a pair of shoes these days that meet all the criteria and after 35yrs of nursing have flat feet, (My GP said last week, he'd never seen such FLAT feet!), which make buying standard or normal 'sensible' shoes harder to come by!
ReplyDeleteHope you recover well and soon from your slip.....did you have footwear 'suitable for purpose' on at the time?..........lol!
It used to annoy me when various parts of a city or towns had their half-day closing, now as for only being open for half a day mon-fri...........
Shoes used to last me years. I don't understand why it should be any different now... but it is
DeleteI usually buy Clarks boots in the end of season sale ready for the next winter and they last me the winter wearing them everyday. Last year I missed the sale and bought some cheaper boots elsewhere that didn't even last the winter! Leaked like a sieve!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your slip, It's so easily done
I bought some boots from Tescos about six or seven years ago and they are still okay. I just want some shoooooes!!
DeleteI always use to buy all the children Clarke's shoes and for years I was really happy with them. Unfortunately like everything their standards seem to have gone down. Recently I've stopped buying them as they don't last two minutes, they split, let water in, scuff really easily and are generally disappointing. Such a shame as they use to have such a good name.
ReplyDeleteI too used to buy my children's shoes from Clarkes because they had a good fitting service with variable widths. I don't know how it is for childrens shoes, but as you say, standards have gone down in aldult's shoes
DeleteAll in all not a particularly good time for you Gill. I usually buy Hotter shoes on line and the first thing I do when I get them is to waterproof them with special polish which I get at our local Hardware shop. Once a week I re-do it as it does polish them well too.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the slip and the black and blue arm.
Just been looking up Hotter shoes. I really need to go somewhere different don't I?
DeleteD and I have "working" shoes and boots which I treat with dubbin.
Ouch and ouch again. Hope everything improves. We've had a similar sort of day here.
ReplyDeleteJust read your post... Hope C.improves.. thinking of you
DeleteI'm so sick and tired of shoes made in China even if they are sold as brand names they are crappy shoes... now I buy online direct it's cheaper that from the local store even after customs/import fees. I did get some shoes and sandals from them and still have a pair bought about 14 years ago used everyday at home still in perfect condition. I like their professional shoes too, they are comfortable and last a long time.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.footshopping.com/birkenstock/wgID_100.html?MI=6
Just had a look. The sandals are awesome! and I reckon I might have some of their clogs.
DeleteI think you are right that the shoes are probably not made by the company you respect anymore
That's shocking; 55 quid for a air of shoes that don't even keep your feet dry for a few minutes. I had a good pair of leather boots that cost me £30 in a sale about 10 years ago. The zip broke on one and the only place to get then fixed was a 10 mile round-trip away and would cost £30 for the repair. I was going to get them done but as the lining was wearing away I decided to wait and see (this was last spring). Shortly after I found some similar ones for £30 or thereabouts. I was very sad to chuck them; they did go in a charity bag so I hope they ended being repaired somewhere. I couldn't have replaced the zip myself as my hands don't work that well. Sniff!
ReplyDeleteI know! not cheap are they? I suppose there are dearer shoes out there but I couldn't afford them. I wonder if I had bought some wellies they would have told me that they weren't waterproof!
DeleteLike you I have had shoes and boots last for years in the past
Lady Magnon recently bought a pair of 'walking boots' (clumpy, lace-up, serious looking). They were not Clarke's, but were a good make. The first time she wore them they leaked, and when she returned to the shop they were equally dismissive. "They're not supposed to be waterproof" etc. AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteAh those would be the desert walking boots then?!
DeleteUnbelievable
The name Clarkes used to be a sign of quality, now they are shoddy and uncomfortable. I buy Ecco; they are not as great as I would like but at least they dont fall apart in a week. I spend my days in Asic athletic as I never wear fashion shoes.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your fall - horrible at our age.
Another shoe maker for me to try
DeleteThanks Lizzie
I was told years ago by Clarks that shoes are not waterproof until they have a build up of wax polish on them! They should be fit for purpose when you walk out of the shop! My Clarks boots are 15 years old, they have been cobbled several times and are still going strong...long may they last.. Last year I paid good money for Hotter Sandalls, they faded quickly and the buckle snapped in two...waste of money!
ReplyDeleteIv'e never had a problem before and like you have had some shoes that have lasted years
DeleteI always bought the kids their shoes from Clarks and Eleanor's still wearing Clarks shoes for school now. She did try others but they never lasted her a term. My mum was the same, always bought our shoes from there when we were kids and this year, I bought my own sandals from there. They may be more expensive than some other shops but I've always found that they last and they're comfortable so it's money well spent. Perhaps the ones you bought were just faulty, I hope you have better luck with the replacement pair.
ReplyDeleteSo far so good with the replacement pair. Never had trouble before and always bought Clarkes for the children/
DeleteI struggle with getting comfy water resistant shoes too. I wear some Hotter walking boot type footwear most of the time but you can't wear them with decent trousers. They are waterproof Goretex but not sexy! I have a back problem which means I can't wear heels either. Oh for some decent shoes!!
ReplyDeleteBTW thanks for the question re the followers button. I think it's now on there :-)
These shoes were to wear with trousers.. I rarely wear heels and even then very low ones,
Deleteyes I have seen your follower bar and am now following. I think you may be a blogger to reckon with!