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Clarks shoes fell apart, what happened to quality?

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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.

A pair of shoes 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 Clarks shoes?

By: Bouncer


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First Prev 1/26 Next Last

Kimberly

Kimberly

Yes I am having the same issue with my last two pairs. I will not be buying them anymore. Mine are the flip flop style and cost around $35 each. Last pair purchased last November.
13/04 Kimberly
-3
Oscar

Oscar

I've also noticed how poor quality Clarks shoes are these days, if I'm lucky a pair of boots will last me a year before it feels like I'm wearing two slippers !
28/01 Oscar
-1
Miffed

Miffed

Previous comment should read £100. Typing error.
11/01 Miffed
1
Miffed

Miffed

Same problem of soles suddenly falling off. Air Tec Boots with goretex cost over £200. Rarely worn since new with hardly any wear on sole. Suddenly whole rubber sole peeled away from insole. As previous comments indicated only glued and not stitched. Similar thing happened to previous pair of Clarks boots which admittedly were not all that new, but suddenly fell apart. I will also avoid Clarks in future as they are overpriced crap trading on previous reputation for quality
11/01 Miffed
1
MokaLaRoca

MokaLaRoca

I've had soles fall off or in one case break on three pairs of Clark shoes. I love them when I buy them, but soles disintegrate after they've been worn only a few times. This happens occasionally with other brands, but never so fast as with Clarks. I'm told Arizona is too hot for their type of soles. The brand should not be sold in warm climates. I'll never consider another pair of Clarks no matter how great the look of feel in the store.
16/12 MokaLaRoca
-1
rick the cobbler

rick the cobbler

i love clarks. the comments of people crying about their shoes breaking down are full of crap. they are karens
15/12 rick the cobbler
-7
Jaki

Jaki

I will never ever buy from Clarks again,i have bought two pairs of shoes for work,they fell apart after three months and two for my daughter,i don't normally complain,but the last pair i decided to as this was the last straw.I bought a pair of £70 school shoes,two weeks later the band on top of one shoe started to come away,took it back to the Chelmsford shop I had got it from,they wouldn't give me a refund as it was broken only on one shoe so not faulty ! Emailed the Clarks complaints department early October after showing proof,they said they would refund me,asked for the last four digits of my bank card on October 26th,didn't hear from them,so emailed it again on October31st,then an email from Clarks on November 6th asking for the rest of the bank details including address of bank ??? I call Clarks November 16th as still no refund,so they tell me to wait a couple of days,so I wait and still no refund.So I call them today,wait for 35 minutes and 56 seconds for someone to answer,they ask for my email address as I didn't have reference number ready to hand then I get cut off,so I call again which didn't take long for someone to answer thank god,after chatting to them and waiting for the woman to speak to the finance department,I am then told it will take another 10 to 15 days.... really ???? I am so angry and disguted at how i have been treated,you pay for expensive shoes that are third rate quality and to try and get a refund which I am totally entitled to is near on impossible,very bad service !
21/11 Jaki
1
Loving

Loving

My Clarks shoes heels wall apart right in my kitchen even before I walked outside! Artisians. HAHAHA! Not good company anymore, just ring on the old fame.
13/11 Loving
2
Jasmine

Jasmine

Will only buy Eastland and Keen shoes. Will never buy another pair of Clark shoes. Even Dr. Scholls or cheap Walmart shoes wear better than Clarks. Yes, Clarks is a scam company.
22/10 Jasmine
1
Jasmine

Jasmine

Every Clark mule I have is falling apart. Some I've only worn a few times. Will never buy another pair of Clark shoes. Problems started when Clarks were no longer manufactured in England. I'm still wearing a pair of Clarks made in England that are many, many years old. All others have completely fallen apart.
22/10 Jasmine
3
Brinkmann

Brinkmann

Clarks shoes are a scam company, we bought Christmas presents there, there was a mistake in one of the shoes, we sent them back and after a month and 30 emails they still have our money and shoes, we get a standard email every time in response , please be patient, we are working on the case
31/01/23 Brinkmann
2
patent crumbles

patent crumbles

Terrible! They just refused to make good on my request for a replacement pair of heels when mine disintegrated inside. I'll never buy another pair of Clark shoes!
02/01/23 patent crumbles
4
wiseup

wiseup

Sadly age of shoe means they will not refund/ replace. But yes, Clarks shoe quality is very poor these days. School shoes last a term max, sometimes less. No point taking the gamble anymore. So they lose not just one customer but the whole family. Daft.
24/12/22 wiseup
0
Bubbles

Bubbles

Horrendous. Was told unworn shoes fell apart first time on because I hadn't worn them! Always bought Clark's because soles had good grip. However several pairs have now fallen apart after only a few wears. Last pair looked to have stitched soles but this was an illusion as only glued. This company should be barred from trading. No customer consideration whatsoever.
20/09/22 Bubbles
4
Dad of 3

Dad of 3

Yes
I agree. This once great company has lost control of its quality (the reason for its earlier success)
Last 2 pairs of kids shoes have fallen apart before he outgrew them.
Stitching issues on both pairs.
Velcro fasteners falling apart. Rubbish
I wont buy another pair EVER
24/08/22 Dad of 3
1

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