A pair of shoes that fell apart

It's happened to me with two pairs of Clark's shoes. I threw out one pair but the soles of a second disintegrated, rather dangerously, while I was walking round London. My local shop (in the UK) at first said they'd never heard of the problem but then admitted it was the phenomenon of 'hydrolysis.' They offered me a ten pound voucher but I'll now follow up with the firm itself or the Small Claims Court.

I have 6 pair of Clark Springer sandals. 4 of them look brand new and on every single pair, the bottom is rotting off, breaking into huge chunks. I have never in my life had a pair of shoes do this and here are 6 pair of the same brand. They don't even look as if they have been worn and they can't be worn. These were not inexpensive. I think a class action law suit should be started against them. These shoes are like throwing money down the drain because they cannot be worn. I will never EVER buy another pair of Clark Springers.

I have the similar issue, bout 2 years ago, I bought a pair of clarks shoes, its sole fall apart in such a way that it cannot be even repaired. I filed the complaint to Clarks company but they gave me excues such as; if the shoes is not used frequently, its sole fall apart just like the car tire get cracked if it is standing for a long time, I dont agree with Clarks for the excues they gave me in favor of their products. I had Dr. Marten shoes, believe or not, its 17 years old and still its in the same orgional shape.
After having couple of email exchanges with Clarks I just gave up and decided never to buy Clarks shoes again as they are not comfortable and durable compare to other shoes like Rockport, Dr. Marten etc.

I just had one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life yesterday.
I wore my clarks sandals to a barbeque where we stood around on a beautiful deck
made of light colored stone. A half hour after I arrived everyone started noticing what looked
like black pieces of dirt all over the deck floor. You can imagine how I felt when I realized
that the "dirt" actually was the soles of my sandals decomposing right under my feet.
Have never had this happen to any shoes I've had. The sandals were about five years old
and in perfect condition, showing no signs of what was going to happen momentarily.

I have worked in the footwear trade for many years and seen this on numerous occasions with many brands of shoes. This problem is called hydrolysis and is caused by the breakdown of the chemical material used to make polyurethane sole units. The risk of it happening is increased by keeping the shoes in humid conditions for example in the back of a wardrobe for extended periods. It can be reduced by wearing the shoes on a regular basis and allowing air to the sole units. If shoe soles didn't breakdown at some point in their life, we would all have been buried under them by now!

ditto same deal-- shoes that were 3-4 years old just self destructed--top of soles where leather was sewn on just split releasing the shoe top--stitches were just loops attached to leather. found this site and called number ans was told they would send me a shipping label. Only problem is I have already thrown three pairs away. too bad so sad, but will try to figure out style number and send them that tool

I called Clark Shoes 800-624-7463 and they were wonderful about sending me replacement shoes!

I have a pair of Clarks black rubber soled shoes, little used and both with NEGLIGIBLE wear and near perfect uppers that have lived with my other shoes in my wardrobe for a few years
I went out for a walk in the garden last week and I experienced a sudden stabbing pain in my right sole. The underside of the sole was lacerated and split across, and a gap had opened up exposing the inner liner. The left shoe shows similarly developing damage and a heel in an earlier but similar state of breakdown.
Not necessarily relevant but a closer inspection under both tongues reveals that the shoes were made in Bosnia.
For me, this severely damages the reputation for quality that Clarks shoes was renown for.

I recently purchased a pair of patent shoes from Clarkes and whitin two hours of wearing them I had fallen twice. The problem is that when the two shoes rub together then the patent material sticks and you are unable to move you feet. Did anyone have the same experience?

I have many pairs of Clarks slingers and one of them just came apart at the seams and the rubber sole cracked.
The woman at Takkens Shoe Store said that this happens once in awhile when the shoes are not worn in awhile and tried to sell me some shoe glue. Shoe glue cannot fix this.
WHAT IS THE PHONE NUMBER used by CB_NewShoes 11-Mar-2010 please?

I received a pair of Clark Slingers from my mom that she hardly wore. I put them on and was at work and thought who has dirt on there shoes. I picked it up and it turned out to be part of my shoe. I looked at the heel and it also is falling apart. The soles are all cracked in about 3 places. Thank goodness I recevied them from mom and did not buy them myself.

I have just googled this problem and found your post. I pulled out a pair of Clarks shoes to wear yesterday which are probably about 3 years old but I have only worn about 3 times. As I was walking around the town they just started to completely disintegrate!!! The heels are nearly completely gone!! I slung them in the bin last night but have removed them now and am thinking of taking them back. I do not live in the UK but when I return next I think I may try a return - even though they are a few years old - none of my other shoes have done this, some of which I have had longer.... am going to continue searching for this problem to see if anyone has had any luck in the return