Where Do You Buy New Shoes?
Image via WikipediaI think this discussion is going to need two parts to it:
1. Children’s Shoes
2. Adult’s Shoes
Children’s Shoes
I think the biggest debate over children’s shoes is getting them fitted properly. Feet that are growing and developing NEED shoes that are well-fitted. Finding the balance between a good fit and leaving enough room to grow can be quite a challenge.
Some people use this as a reason to purchase the more expensive shoes for their children.
We tried taking our first child to several shoe stores when he started wearing shoes. We figured this was the “right” thing to do. I was appalled by the lack of knowledge and proper fitting that the shoe stores seemed to be offering.
I had seen my mother do a better job of fitting shoes. So, we gathered her up and took HER shoe shopping with us. In Kmart.
Personally, I have found Kmart to be a good source of children’s shoes. I particularly like the Grosby brand of shoe that they carry.
Unfortunately (for our hip pocket that is), our 10 year old has long and narrow feet, so we’re going to need to advance to a much more expensive shoe for his main shoe. Most of the “lower price” ranges seem to cater for a more “average” foot.
Still, this method has saved us a few $$ over the years.
Enough about MY opinion. What does Amy D say in The Complete Tightwad Gazette?
“Just out of curiosity, we called a couple of shoe stores to inquire about the training procedure for clerks. The longest training course we found is two hours. A friend of mine, who was a shoe clerk for Sears, says her training lasted 60 seconds”. The Complete Tightwad Gazette pg 371
Sadly, it would seem that along with customer service, well-trained staff may have gone out the window. No longer can we assume that a “specialist” store will provide anything more than selling a single line of product.
Have you had good or bad experiences with shoe store staff and their expertise when it comes to fitting children’s shoes?
Adult Shoes
As adult feet are generally not changing huge amounts in size from year to year, another factor comes into play. That of “cost per wear”.
Cost per wear is simply the cost of the shoes divided by how many times you wear them.
In some cases, higher quality will end up giving you a lower “cost per wear”. Of course, that is not ALWAYS the case.
There are other factors that come into play with shoes as well. I recently spent nearly $200 on a pair of netball shoes (and gel inserts). This is the MOST EXPENSIVE pair of shoes I have EVER bought. BUT, I had to weigh up the cost of the shoes against the cost of something like knee surgery if I don’t have the cushioning in the soles. And of course the HEALTH BENEFITS of being able to exercise comfortably.
In general though, I’m not a “spend big money on shoes” type person. The only shoes I really seem to ever wear out are my sneakers.
A Few Links You Might Find Helpful
How To Make Sure High Heels Fit Correctly
Over to You
What sort of factors come into play when you go shoe shopping?
Are you brand loyal? Do you prefer specialist shoe stores to the larger department style stores?
Do you have any strategies for saving money on shoes?
What kinds of experiences have you had with getting children’s shoes fitted?
Feel free to add any other comments or suggestions to the discussion.
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I think I bought my boys the Clarks type, properly fitted shoes as their first pairs, then went to Target and KMart once they began to grow out of them so quickly. Unfortunately, the hip pocket rules our choices more than we want it too.
I am the same with my own shoes. I’d rather spend $30 odd on a pair from Target that last me 12 months, than $300 on some trendy pair that I’ll be sick of, but feel obliged to wear, until I am 70 and tottering to Bingo on my Jimmy Choo stilettos
Yep, Clarks were our first choice for all of the kids’ first walkers and then we moved on to the cheaper brands as they grew. I love Betts Kids, they seem to know their stuff.
I try and get shoes on sale, usually at a shoe store. And I have paid close to 300$ on a pair of winter boots that were ’supposedly’ water proof. ha! but aside from that they are quite warm, so long as I am not walking through slushy snow.
I think the other issue to keep in mind is socks. For instance, I want my winter boots to be slighter larger so that there’s room to wear heavy wool socks. But dainty summer shoes that only require room for stockings can be a more snug fit.
The last time I bought shoes of any variety was October 2006. And i have purchased shoes over the years at Aldos, Payless, and other shoe specialist places.
I’m on my feet four to five hours at a time at the checkout so I buy properly fitted and supportive shoes from Athlete’s Foot. Also a pair of arch support insoles to go in them. I get a new pair once a year when my tax refund comes in. I take my shoes off as soon as I get home and just walk around the house in a pair of thick socks for winter and bare feet for summer. For weekends I have a pair of sneakers, again from Athlete’s Foot, that I wear to go shopping or just out and about generally and I take them off too as soon as I’m home. I used to buy cheaper shoes but had to get the proper fit and extra support because of the extra pain I was having in my feet, knees and shins. I find the weekend sneakers last for two years since I only wear them briefly.
I hate buying shoes for the kids! Up until just recently we have remained loyal to runners from Williams or Mathers ~ they both sell the Lynx brand and we find them to wear very well. My 12yo daughter is in ladies sizes now and I balked at the $70/pair, so took her to Kmart and went for leather uppers and hopefully they will last. I feel much better about spending $40, considering they’re both leather upper! We will also be buying blundstone style boots for our 8yo son again this year for school. I know all the shoe fitters will cringe, but he needs easy on/off shoes to take off in class, that will wear really well and be waterproof. We live in a semi rural area and the kids are in a bush setting at school. Sometimes wear just has to come before anything else. Course, he could go barefoot for lack of budget resources!
For myself, I have a pair of Rivers which are old and now sad looking, but still wear VERY well and really comfortable. I have a few other odds and sodds which have been bought for whatever reason and I usually go for price, comfort and the style, rather than quality.
I have gone for Clarks for the kids early shoes but I always baulk at the price. $70 for a pair that will only fit for a few months! When they’re little they usually just have one pair of good shoes that they wear everyday (and only when out and about) I try to keep my kids barefoot at home and as much as possible particularly when they’re learning to walk - I think its much better for their foot development and walking skills. I agree with Tiff - Betts Kids have always had great staff who fit the shoes well. I think if you find someone who does a good job fitting shoes its worth going back to them again and again. Now that Guerita’s older and wants to have a selection of shoes (and needs school shoes, sneakers etc) I tend to go for something a bit cheaper - even she is still growing out of them every 6 months or so. I have always liked Target shoes for kids.
For me, I tend to have one or two good pairs (as in about $80-$100 a pair) that I wear non-stop until they fall apart. I just can’t seem to justify spending hundreds on shoes. My feet are really sensitive too so I don’t like getting new shoes - I hobble around with blisters for weeks afterwards. I have bought Target and Kmart shoes before but I’ve generally found the cheaper shoes are really poor quality and not worth even the smaller amount of money you’ve spent.
I am lucky enough to have a Clarks Factory Outlet only about a 20 minute drive from me, so I shop there a lot. My eldest however has just gotten orthotics, so I bought a more expensive ($110 ouch!) shoe for him. It looks like a traditional black school shoe, but has the dynamics and support of a runner. They have been great and have really helped him.
Shoes shoes shoes! Since becoming a mum, my own shoes have tended to be more practical and value for money than stunning!
I have never been able to wear really high shoes due to back problems and on your feet jobs!
I used to go shoe shopping when I am showered and have fresh soft feet in the morning but have learnt to go when its afternoon so the shoes really fit and feel like slippers that comfort sore feet!
I have found a nice personal shop down at Glenelg, that has a wide range of practical but nice shoes - leather, arch supports etc and nicest of all is the help one gets from a mature honest sales assistant! I pay for them pocket wise but always come away confident that I will love wearing my shoes to death!
As for boys, my eldest is a shoe freak and is slowly learning after spending his Christmas $ on some Globes, that they dont give support for general walking…. so he sadly wears them to impress! I have learnt that he will only wear shoes he likes! Like me too! It took me a while to sink that into my thick skull. Dah!
My youngest at 9.5yrs is happy with most shoes but starting to get jealous of his big bro! He is far easier to please though!
I do buy both boys their black school shoes at BigW generally as I find I get value and dont feel so bad if I need several pairs in graduating sizes - which I often purchase in January each year. Did you know that most shoe shops only get one delivery of school type shoes a year? So it can be very frustrating trying to find shoes half way through the year! It may become easier as our boys grow into men sizes!
As for hubby he generally gets sick of his shoes before they wear out as he is very steady walker! (less stressed than me). He like a GOOD pair of leather work shoes as he has to walk a way and is also on his feet alot; and a GOOD pair of sports ones, plus a pair of Assie sheepskin slipons and he’s a happy chappy.
From my limited 41 years experience, I have a policy that if I see and like AND will wear a pair of shoes , then I buy them on the spot, because they are never available when you return a few days later. A bit like clothes too. It also feels like a real treat when this happens rather then thinking ” oh dear I need to go and try on clothes/shoes and I feel like a blob today but I am desperate”
Hope this is helpful! A great idea to blog about.
I used to buy my boys shoes from a wonderful small shoe shop. The owner would spend up to an hour & a half with us to ensure that DS8’s shoes fitted properly. It was well worth the cost - she also advised when it was time to start seeing a podiatrist. The shop was sold & I knew I was in trouble when we went there & they said they could measure DS8’s feet while he was sitting. Well we haven’t been back.
On the advice of the podiatrist I buy my boys shoes from Athletes Foot. We have a really good one with great fitters at the second closest big shopping centre. The one closest isn’t so good. I also tried Footlocker & was very unimpressed with the staff. The podiatrist also recommended a particular lady at David Jones. Both my boys have orthotics so good shoes are a must. I tend to buy one good pair of joggers for them & they wear them for 6 months. I have just bought some shoes from Payless Shoes for DS8 as he really wanted a certain style - they quality clearly isn’t there and they are pretty rubbishy shoes - but are ok for DS8 to wear occasionally.
I tend to buy Sandler or Diana Ferrari for me - mainly for work shoes as I am on my feet for a long time. I also buy a good pair of joggers from Athletes Foot every few years. I have also started buying casual shoes from Target, which aren’t all day everyday shoes. I have bought some from FSW too & found them a bit hit & miss.
I guess my philosophy is that you only get one pair of feet & they need to be looked after - your life can be pretty miserable with sore feet!
I spend thousands on shoes for me and my kids get a bit of hessian tied with rope. Maybe a plastic shopping bag over the top if I can be bothered when it is raining…
Love it Kelley! You have your priorities sorted!
And Lynette, I’m heading to Adelaide soon, where is this shop in Glenelg exactly?
Sorry Lightening! I’m taking over your job here!
My daughter is a shoe junkie. I’ve no idea where she got this fetish!
My son has just decided that he MUST have Globe skate shoes. I guess he got to 13 before he decided he NEEDED these name brands so I should count my blessings. But I hate skate shoes, wide, no support…..
As for where, footy boots for my son are from our local shop at $140, netball shoes from the same shop for $170. Pretty much everything else comes from Kmart, Spendless or Target. Except for my wonderful winter boots which I had to mortgage the farm for and came from David Jones.
That’s okay Sharon. Talk away. I tend to hang back a bit myself on these “discussion” posts to allow you guys to “discuss”. I’ll post a more detailed response in the next day or two when most people have had the chance to have their say.
I certainly have Imelda tendancies… However, I have awkward feet (one slightly fallen arch) and a very peculiar walk (I walk on the side of a hill - inside of one foot, and outside of the other), and as someone very knowledgeable explained to me “just THINK about what you make them do” so now I think…
And you know that whole foot bone’s connected to the leg bone rubbish… Well, it aint rubbish. Because of the strange things I do with my feet, I have issues with my hip. So my days of buying a pair of shoes because they’re cute are over (insert heartfelt sobbing) and now, I look for arch support, cushioning and hope like hell there’s a teensy bit of style. Of the last two pairs of shoes I bought for me; one was VERY expensive (close to $200 - Keen brand) but seeing as I have worn them at least four days a week for the 14mo I have had them… I think I am way ahead (particularly as the Sandler pair they replaced cost me $80 and lasted less than six months). The second pair were on sale, I paid about $60 for another $200+ pair of shoes (Ecco brand) Got them on eBay!!! I have only just started wearing them as they’re “lady” shoes and I bought them for work!
Sneakers for me, I get fitted properly at Athletes Foot. Although the poor bloke had a struggle determining which aspect of my walk he should cater to!
For the kids, I buy them one pair of good shoes which they wear to death, then I buy them another pair of good shoes… H has a pair of elastic sided boots, and a pair of sneakers and a pair of crocs (don’t tell Kelley…) and H2 has a couple of pairs of sneakers and crocs (you have no idea just how cute LITTLE crocs are, lol)
In the past, I’ve tended to get the kids fitted at Betts Kids, then gone to Kmart to buy Grosby’s in the past… This winter, though; Betts Kids had a deal so I bought them a pair each there.
Man I’ve gone on a bit…
Bilby Shoes for my kids - http://www.bilbyshoes.com/bilby/Page?PageName=home
They do specialty shoes, including the ones to stop Heidi toe walking.
or K-mart if we are short on cash.
Bilby Shoes also for my hubby as he is a size 16.
I buy my shoes mostly from KMart. Cheap, easy to replace and simple.
Maybe when I have kids I might put more effort into it. My parents used to fit the shoes nicely but I always found the leather shoes really painful to wear. I guess it’s comfort and price which is important over brand for me.
Haven’t had to buy kid’s shoes since the munchkin isn’t walking yet. But, for my shoes, I am terribly loyal. I found a certain style of tennis shoes (oh my gosh, ten years ago!) while in high school that fit me beautifully. And I’ve been buying those same shoes ever since. But, I do try to buy them from an outlet store whenever I can (we don’t have one in my city) to save money.
Hmm, well, you’ve seen my shoe obsession - not quite Kelley’s, but I’m working on it. I have my fancy shoes that look fabulous that i don’t pay too much for because I don’t wear them much. And I have shoes that i pay a heap for that are comfortable and can be worn anywhere. I will spend up to $100 for me on those shoes, and they tend to last a few years. In fact when I was pregnant with Kiki (4 years ago now) I spent $110 on a pair of shoes. I still wear them at least 4 days a week in summer. This year I spent $60 on a pair of winter shoes (last years of course) in the same brand and I hope they last as long.
As for kids. Well, we went to a shoe shop to get our kids fitted. They fit them but didn’t have ANY in their sizes. So we went to k-mart. And Payless. Up here we have one specialty shop, which doesn’t stock kids shoes. Payless, Target and Big W. I try and get them one good pair each, but the rest I get from Big W, because they need something to wear to and from daycare (since they take their shoes off the second they walk in the door) and for a few dollars I don’t care if they get paint on them, dirty or lost. I would make a point of getting better shoes if they were in them all day.
For those who shop in Adelaide , Sth Australia - a great shop is called JJJ’s at 107 Jetty Road Glenelg. There are a wonderful array of shoe shops along this road, most on the northern side … towards the cinema end of the long road!
Have fun shopping Sharon and others!
Lynette
For anybody living in Melbourne, I buy my kids casual and sports shoes, footy boots etc in Smith St Collingwood. The Nike Outlet shop there has fantastic deals (nike footy boots 40% off regularly etc). The New Balance shop 4 doors down is great as well. I regularly get my kids leather cross trainers there for $40 - $50 a pair and New Balance running shoes a bit more.
I’m looking for Globes for my 11 yo at the moment. DFO in cheltenham has Clarks school shoes for about $85. They have shop attendants to do the fitting.