There once there was a girl who didn't care much about schuhs... (Schuh)

Member Name: Renza_e

Product:	Schuh
Date:	13/01/09 (179 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good quality, various different styles and types to suit everyone, student discount, great website

Disadvantages: Some may find quite pricey, find that stock can be less interesting at certain times of the year.

I'm not one of those shoes-fanatic type girls and up until the past few years had a limited number of shoes in my possession...Then 'Schuh' emerged as a prominent high street shoe shop with stores in many towns and cities. So what has brought about this sudden passion about what I wear on my feet?

*~Quirky, imaginative shoes are not just for rich people~*

Schuh made me realise that quirky, good quality footwear need not be confined to posh, expensive designer shops and the catwalk. Whilst the shop caters for mainstream tastes the shop pools together various brilliant shoe designers that I had not been aware of previously. Some of the brands they stock for women include:

~Irregular Choice~
I absolutely adore Irregular Choice, a company who produce shows that one could imagine Katy Perry donning on her feet. Whilst a few of the designs are outlandish beyond belief and would certainly take a brave person to wear them, some of them are just just like nothing you see in other high street shops, but in a good way. I am currently eyeing up the 'Cortesan Snake' high heels in the purple version.

~Red or Dead~

Whilst some of the Red or Dead shoes are pretty common fare, I did buy a completely gorgeous pair worth £90 (probably the most I have ever spent on shoes even with the 10% student discount) which tie at the back and made from a luxurious soft material. These were definitely worth the money particularly as these are the comfiest party shoes I have ever owned. I find I can dance and walk about in them for ages and the quality is retained. Red or Dead heels are often sophisticated and a perfect set of shoes to buy for a special occasion or a classy night out.

~Dr Martens~

My purple Doc Martins were the first shoes I ever bought at schuh and lasted me several years despite frequent use. They are still in rather good condition today and only need one tiny hole mendled in the heel. I am a bit disappointed, however, at the recent range of Doc Martins. The colour and variety seems to be less interesting and vibrant in comparison to past stock, although this may be down to the shoemakers themselves. Despite this, Doc Martins are great for those who enjoy alternative styles. Such shoes are often quite painful to break in but with good leather softener and frequent wear, these are the comfiest shoes ever.

There are a wide range of fantastic, good quality shoes for most people, whether they wish to follow current fashion or prefer more unique styles. There are many brands and I have only really noted my favourites here.

*~Worth the cost?~*

The prices at Schuh vary. I would not define it as cheap but the prices you pay are pretty standard for many of the brands they sell. Moreover, bargains can be found in items in the sale section of shops. I would also recommend the shop for the fact that the shoes are often cost effective in the long term as the excellent quality of many brands means they last for a long time. I might also add that many of the shoes are absolutely gorgeous! In addition to this, students like myself can receive a 10% student discount in-store which is very useful.

*~Customer Service~*

My experience of customer service has been positive in pretty much every store I've been in. Employees are always willing to give you a hand and to ask you if you need assistance. The services in place for customers are generally very helpful and willing to allow you to order shoes if the specific type or size is not in stock in that particular store.

*~Store Layout~*

Store layout is very much the same everywhere with stands in the middle and shelves along the sides with their most stylish shoes featured in the shop window. There seems to be adequate areas of seating in most shops so hoping on one leg to try to put on a pair of shoes has never really been the case for me.

*~Criticism of recent catalogue stock~*

My one big criticism of Schuh beyond the fact it can be quite pricey is the recent stock of shoes. I feel that Schuh has gone rather more mainstream in the types of shoes it stocks and have found that my usual wander around the store has not created the same urge to buy as it once did before. I only hope they will stock in some interesting new shoes for the spring/summer as I really need some casual ones.

*~The Website~*

As a result of the student discount they offer in-store I never really use the online store. I usually use it as a reference point for future shopping trips and pick out possible purchases from there. The website is very well laid out and easy to use. My mum has also used to website to purchase Rocket Dogs for my sister in the past and she described it as a fairly positive fuss-free experience with the goods delivered in good time and found it rather easy to exchange for a bigger size.

*~Overall view~*

I generally love 'Schuh' for the diverse range of shoes that they stock. It may be pricey but the quality and attractiveness of the shoes is worth it -Not that I shop there too often as that would kill my student finances. I tend to limit it to no more than 2 or 3 purchases in a year. Schuh is a shop that is largely aimed at adults and I have not seen (or noticed) a kids range at all. This is probably a good thing as sometimes the last thing you want to deal with is noisy kids when out shopping (If any of us can remember our visits to Clarks as a child or other shoe shops before school started).

I have largely focused on female shoes but when I say you can find shoes for everybody, I mean everybody (who's not a child of course). The shop is divided so that one can also find male styles too. I would thoroughly recommend that men try this shop out too.

Summary: Splurge on schuh if you wish for quality and shoes to suit you!