Clarks shoes fell apart, what happened to quality?
I have always bought Clarks shoes and 58 years after national service, I still stick to the "wear them - polish them" philosophy. I have quite a few pairs and wear them infrequently. Recently however, the sole and heel has started coming away from a virtually unworn pair and the welt just peeled away altogether.
They offered me £10 which I refused...
The manager of a Clarks shoe shop told me that they had had problems with some of the materials on that type of shoe and after speaking to Customer services, they offered me £10 which I refused. I returned the shoes to the Clarks shoe shop as requested and following complaints to the Chief Executive, they reluctantly increased the offer to £30. I am disinclined to accept this latest offer either as it would cost me at least £60 to get a new pair and that is virtually what they were.
They did initially have a moan about the age of the shoes, but they are only a few years old and as it happens totally unworn. I have much older, cheaper, leather shoes which are still perfect condition. After all this fiasco I doubt seriously if I will ever wear Clarks shoes again.
I have since asked them to keep the shoes so that they can be returned to me, but I doubt if they will, in which case I will take this to Trading Standards or the small claims court. I am as impressed with Clarks customer service as I am with the shoes. Has anyone else had a similar experience?
By: Bouncer
Comments from visitors
I have had the same issue with two pairs of Clark shoes now. The soles just crumble away. Both pairs had set in my closet for a couple of years and had hardly been worn but a few times. Obviously, some ingredient was missing from the rubber mix the soles are made of. I could understand this if they were made in China, but these said, "Made in England". So much for buying brand name products. I would have been better off buying junk shoes at Walmart and saved a lot of bucks.
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I have worn Clarks for years and had no problems. They were wonderful and fit my feet so well. But I have now thrown away 13 pairs and will never buy another pair. The soles and the leather upper just "separated" from the sole...some were a few years old, but 2 were virtually new and had on been worn once. No response as yet from customer service and I did supply the 5 digit number they requested.
-1
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My Clarks activ-air shoes are LETHAL when on a wet surface. I hurt my back in one shop as they just went from under me and I could hardly get back up. They were slippier than walking on ice! They have also called me to fall on tarmac which was just slightly wet from some drizzle. They are expensive shoes, generally extremely comfortable - but really dangerous. I am now actively looking for an alternative to Clarks before they land me in hospital!
+5
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I forgot to mention automotive brake linings & pads. Anybody out there importing these for profit needs have a close look at such products. There are other things with high safety issues, light switch's, lifting equipment etc that need to be looked at. Soon the lawyers will latch on, then the claims will start. At least that turn of events might put a brake on our importation of total rubbish.
+1
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It will take a few years for the penny to drop. The country at the root of our problems is China, they produce items that appear to do the job, but the materials they are using are of low quality the items look good & are cheap for our importers to import, then sell on at a massive profit. I bought 4 Lucas batteries for a boat they lasted 9 months they were replaced the replacements lasted 6mth, Lucas in the meanwhile had cut & run. All Chinese imports are substandard with a Quality label stuck on. We have just bought a carpet steamer & a breakfast tray both items are total crap. My mate has just bought a Ducillier battery for his car, I predict it will not last 6months.
-1
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Anonymous, return them and claim a refund. And, 'avoid' Clarks in the future - quite simply, do not purchase shoes from them again. They have sold-out and have sacrificed quality for cheap quantity from abroad. Clarks, sadly, is no longer a reputable company and it probably should go under.
+4
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miserablemoaninggit - 14-Nov-11 20:13
If you bought them fairly recently then return them for a refund as they are not "fit for the purpose" or "of merchantable quality" under the terms of the Sale of Goods act.
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Fed up Pedestrian - 14-Nov-11 17:21
I have had two pairs of Clark shoes fall apart in the last three weeks. What is going on? I need help. The first pair, I have thrown away, the second, I still have. HELP!!
+4
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I've walked on Clarks shoes half my life, but the Star Strides I bought revcently turned out to be very dangerous. The shoes are very comfortable and have a good grip on dry surfaces, but on wet surfaces they are extremely slippery. I had already a very nasty fall on a rainy day, entering a shop with my wet Strides. Perhaps the reason is that de soles are a bit more foamy than on my other Clarks shoes. I think strongly that Clarks should not sell shoes with these dangerous soles.
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i am very disapointed with clarks shoes. i recently bought a pair of clarks un liverpool shoes for £79.00 from the clarks shop.they are meant to be a casual active shoe. and they have only lasted for 3 weeks. a hole appeared in the heal and the inner lining under the insole had which was split into two had come apart and was digging into the sole of my foot.i took them back to the shop and they gave me an exchange on the basis that the shoe is faulty.i have looked in more detail of the construction of the new shoe and was shocked at how the shoe was put together and at how flimsey the sole was.i am not going to wear the new shoes as i dont want the same problem, im taking them back and going for another make.i am very light wearing on shoes and am going to stick to makes like timberland ,eco and merrel which last . this is one of the few clarks un shoes that i have not seen any one write a review on .i would be intrested if someone could prove me wrong.
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After my disastrous purchase from Clarks, I now do not waste any opportunity to warn people against purchasing shoes from Clarks. The poor quality of the shoes I purchased has already resulted in the loss of probably hundreds of pounds in sales to Clarks - I've warned that many people, even one bloke who was leaving work at lunchtime to go into town to purchase a pair of shoes from them; he didn't as a result of my warning. Many people are still under the impression that Clarks shoes are 'quality', if not always particularly 'fashionable' and that the trade-off is worth it. Of course, this impression is quite wrong - Clarks, like many companies with a previously good reputation, have 'sold-out' for even higher profits, moving the manufacturing abroad and losing the standard of quality that they previously had. To be fair, it is not only Clarks. Even Marks and Spencers are now selling a lot of cheap, 'Made in China' rubbish whilst maintaining high prices. We all need to insist on higher quality goods, rather than the rubbish being sold on the high street. Thank goodness for the internet - at least it gives us more choice.
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miserablemoaninggit - 25-Oct-11 17:45
I've always bought Clarks for the family. One day, the sole of one shoe simply "collapsed" causing me to limp back to the car. The shoe is one of a pair of black leather shoes that I wear occasionally. The welt sole just came apart!
I realise that it was bought around five years ago from a Clarks store. But, with occasional use, it is practically new and I do not understand how a Clarks shoe could go this way.
I have written to them and am awaiting reply. Incidentally, it appears they can be repaired for around £30.
I realise that it was bought around five years ago from a Clarks store. But, with occasional use, it is practically new and I do not understand how a Clarks shoe could go this way.
I have written to them and am awaiting reply. Incidentally, it appears they can be repaired for around £30.
+2
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Thatcherism. Buy the certificates & manuals proving your company's ability to manufacture products to a high standard, then don't bother producing anything. Import crap from China & sell it on under your banner. After a few years of massive profits. Generated from selling cheap Chinese crap at high prices, justified by historical high standards, your customer base shrinks, blame the odd worker left & go bust.
"Lucas" where one such company. Are Clarks similar? I only arsk
"Lucas" where one such company. Are Clarks similar? I only arsk
+2
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It is indeed a chinglish site, could be fakes or genuine items, after all they make these for less than a FIVER and expect idiots (joe public) to pay £100 plus
I will stick to my £20 trainers thank you even If they are not COOL.
I will stick to my £20 trainers thank you even If they are not COOL.
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Oh do go away will you; and stick your pathetic adverts where the sun don't shine.
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grumpyoldwoman - 3-Aug-11 06:46
I recently bought 2 pairs (different styles) of Clarks shoes and while they are waterproof (see gripe from Wetfoot), neither pair of my shoes had any grip in the wet. They are very dangerous in wet weather especially walking over metal surfaces such as manhole covers etc. and I have fallen over twice because of this. This experience will prevent me buying Clarks shoes again until I can be satisfied that wet grip resistance is restored by a change in the rubber formulation used for the soles
+4
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Hotter shoes are rubbish, I've had three pairs that in a short space of time and without wearing them much have just disintegrated into a black powder. The upper part of the shoe is fine, the sole is absolute crap. I can't believe these companies still have the gall to sell these products. Surely trading standards would stop them?
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I have had exactly the same happen to my springer sandals, twice. the first pair I threw away as I thought that I must have damaged them somehow as they had been worn several times. However the latest pair that have split have been worn only once or twice and still have a coloured name on sole that hasn't worn off. The soles look brand new , but one has cracked right across. Shop assistant said this was caused by hydrolysis and sole substance used then is not used any more because of this. I have not been offered any compensation.
-2
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I have been a customer of Clarks shoes for many years but the last three pairs of shoes I have bought have all broken up within a year of purchase. A complete collapse of the heel apparantly caused by "hydrolysis" on one expensive pair and the soles coming away from the upper on the other two. Its a pity because they are comfortable shoes and the quality of leather is good. From the look of resignationof the assistant mine would not be the first complaint
+1
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I recently bought some men's shoes from Clarks for the very first time - 2 pairs at once. On one pair, the laces quickly frayed and snapped and had to be replaced within a weak. Also, as one pair are boot/shoes, there are metal 'clasps'/'grabs', not sure what to call them, instead of some holes for the laces; they are clearly made from poor grade metal because they are quite 'soft', and they often bend upwards often when I pull the laces together. 'Made in China', I guess, thus ending my relationship with Clarks. I went there because I thought they had a reputation of producing good quality shoes, but apparently not. Very disappointing! I feel as if we are running out of places that sell good quality products because many of the well-known brands - NEXT, Clarks, Burtons, - are selling cheap quality crap!
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