Not So Fancy Footwear At Fancy Prices (Clarks)

Member Name: cazkins

Product:	Clarks
Date:	27/11/08 (96 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Measuring for a more accurate fit, comfy shoes, good quality, safe & easy returns

Disadvantages: Limited range & rather pricey

I remember being taken to Clarks as a child for my school shoes, though rarely buy any shoes from there as an adult these days. It's a quality shop for comfy shoes and customer care but it seems somewhat limited and rather pricey for shoes you can buy elsewhere much cheaper!

Clarks have been designing, manufacturing and developing their shoe range since the 1980s initially and so have years of knowledge and experience. They've become very popular so it's easy to come by a store in cities and even most towns. Because they seem to be so popular, they must be doing something right though I wouldn't rate them at the best shoe store for price or variety.

The range of products depends on the size of the store you visit, though there's usually a reasonable selection of women's, men's and children's footwear, along with a smaller selection of accessories (such as bags and shoe care products). The stores themselves are usually well laid out so you can see exactly what you're looking at. I find this a good thing as you don't have to go through boxes trying to find the other shoe (just ask and they'll bring it out) and there's no faffing around with prices because shoes are labelled clearly. I've been in Clarks on occasions where it's been very busy and they've had to hand out tickets to get in queue for customer service; after waiting 20 minutes I gave up and left. That said, if you go in and there's not too many people in there the staff are usually quite helpful and friendly. They seem to know what they're doing and can point you in the right direction of what you're looking for or answer any queries you have. Parents can be satisfied knowing that a member of staff will measure their child's feet and find suitable shoes, though you will pay for this as the shoes aren't cheap. £30 for a pair of 7-8 years olds basic shoes seems rediculous to me as they'll grow out of them in no time, which is why I think they may put a little too much emphasis on the importance of getting shoes that fit "perfectly" that are "top quality".

Women's shoes have a range of comfy, fashion, work, casual, boots etc, though I still find the styles quite limited. There's nothing that grabs me as being 'special' and the same can be said for the men's range, though perhaps men may be a little less concerned by this. The prices start from a similar price to that of childrens shoes, so you'll be hard pushed to find basic shoes under £25. Generally shoes average £40, and boots can go up around £100 just for something that seems like a basic design. With that in mind, I wouldn't do my shoe shopping here. They do occasionally have some good sales though, so if you see a sale sign in the window it's worth having a look.

The footwear itself always seems to be a good quality and comfortable, so if you don't mind splashing out a bit for that then Clark's is a good place to go. Though I find the service a bit hit and miss depending on how busy the store is, you know you're in good hands so shouldn't have any problems with returns etc. All in all it's a "safe" shop; you should get quality, little hassle, be able to return the products and get shoes with a better fit. But the range isn't fantastic in my opinion and you'll be paying a lot of hard earned pennies for it. Overall, I would choose to go elsewhere. If I want comfy work shoes that I intend on keeping for a long time then I might splash out. Otherwise it's not really for me, but it may be more better suited for those willing to pay their prices or looking for better-fitting shoes.

Summary: My tootsies aren't too keen on Clarks' styles & neither's my purse