Patent Pedant?

June 3, 2013 4:06 AM

I can't decide if I'm being unrealistic about my expectations for these shoes. Help me decide, should I try and return them or live with them? Pics of damage from one day of wear included.

I know my statutory rights as a UK consumer include that items are expected to be of reasonable quality but how robust are fashion shoes expected to be? I’ve returned shoes before for being ill fitting but never a pair this damaged.

They are Clarks Deva in nude, bought at a Clarks high street shop, £45 - not terribly expensive but not super cheap either. They are lovely, exactly the style, colour and heel height I wanted and super comfy -Ive had trouble finding a comparable pair (except for some £200+ designer pairs). But one day of wear has trashed the heels. There are a couple of deep scratches on the rear of the heel as If I had been drumming the heels against a rough surface. The patent is even torn in two places.

Pic 1 pic 2

My Deva day consisted of 30 minutes of driving (new car with dealer fitted deep pile mats that I let them sell me precisely to avoid trashing heels), about 30 minutes of walking on pavement and the rest of the time in a carpeted office.

So would you put up with these or take them back? I’d guess I could swop them for the white or black leather versions if they didn’t mark as badly as the patent.

posted by Ness to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (18 answers total)

You could try and plead your case (worth a shot), but I don't think they'll take them back once they've been street-worn.
posted by Koko at 4:16 AM on June 3, 2013

Hmm. I have a pair of Clarks heels with similar scratches on the back, which I think was down to scraping them when getting off the train. (Really annoying, as I want them to last as long as possible for weddings etc.) The leather on those is a glossy but not patent one. It's possible they will presume that you did somethign similar to the shoes.
posted by mippy at 4:22 AM on June 3, 2013

My motto is always "It never hurts to ask." I am having a hard time figuring out how your heels could look like that after a day -- unless you neglected to tell us you were dragging yourself down escalators. I would go to the store and explain you're disappointed -- say you would expect this wear after a few months, not a few hours. If they don't budge, I'd get in touch with Clark's to see if there's anything they can do for you. The worst thing that happens is that you have to wear a pair of (scuffed) shoes you love.
posted by Mrs. Rattery at 4:28 AM on June 3, 2013

I expected some issue that was clearly the shoe's, like something had fallen off/apart, but it's hard to see how they self-scuffed...?
posted by kmennie at 4:32 AM on June 3, 2013 [8 favorites]

Try taking them back where you bought them. If that doesn't work, write to Clarks, with pictures, and a copy of your receipt.

FWIW, a shoe repair can fix that problem, but it may just be that the leather is super sensitive and in that case, they'll never be right.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:51 AM on June 3, 2013

To be honest, this happens with patent and this looks like normal wear and tear for that material to me. I'm going to guess you scuffed the heels exiting the car or on the roller feet of an office chair. I don't think Clark's is going to replace them.
posted by DarlingBri at 5:29 AM on June 3, 2013 [8 favorites]

Best answer: OP: My Deva day consisted of 30 minutes of driving (new car with dealer fitted deep pile mats that I let them sell me precisely to avoid trashing heels), about 30 minutes of walking on pavement and the rest of the time in a carpeted office.

Mrs. Rattery: I am having a hard time figuring out how your heels could look like that after a day

It seems as though you've given the way you treat your shoes a lot of thought, but in case it does apply to you: I've seen colleagues damage the heels of shoes like these on their office or meeting chairs.
posted by Ms. Next at 5:52 AM on June 3, 2013 [2 favorites]

Heels sometimes get scuffed, especially if you drive in them. It's kinda the risk you take.
posted by tel3path at 6:04 AM on June 3, 2013

I would expect "premium natural patent leather" to not tear like that. Real leather should not be that thin.
posted by gjc at 6:07 AM on June 3, 2013

Response by poster: Aah yes, well spotted, I couldn't work out how they had got like that from a day in the office but it does seem that my office chair is the cause of the damage.

I do realise that heel damage will happen, I'm just bummed about how much has happened here in such a short space of time and am trying to figure out if this is a quality of the shoe issue or a dont buy those type of shoes if you clunk em issue.
posted by Ness at 6:09 AM on June 3, 2013

Hmmm... Theoretically, if they were a size 38 or 39, you know theoretically I might buy them from someone who'd worn them for only a day. Considering that I would have inflicted equivalent scuffing within three or four seconds.

If someone hypothetically wanted to MeMail me.
posted by tel3path at 6:13 AM on June 3, 2013 [4 favorites]

That happens to patent. You bumped the shoe on something, doesn't matter if it's the first day you wore it or the 50th, shiny shiny shoes show that sort of thing like crazy.

Don't buy patent if it bothers you.
posted by yohko at 7:05 AM on June 3, 2013

I'm just bummed about how much has happened here in such a short space of time and am trying to figure out if this is a quality of the shoe issue or a dont buy those type of shoes if you clunk em issue.

This is a "don't buy those type of shoes if you clunk 'em" issue. Patent is not a durable material and has basically zero resistance to scuffs, knocks or any kind of friction.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:24 AM on June 3, 2013

Best answer: Are these your first patent leather shoes? In my experience, patent leather shoes are for extra special occasions only, because they'll scratch if you look at them funny. I've even got a couple of pairs I carry where I'm going and put on when I get there, to minimize scuffing.

If you've had patent leather shoes before and not had scuffing issues after the same amount of activity, then I think you can make a case. Otherwise, I'd chalk it up to live and learn.
posted by Mchelly at 9:43 AM on June 3, 2013

I have had to consciously train myself to keep my feet flat on the floor and not tucked under my chair because I was damaging all my shoes like that.
posted by janey47 at 10:38 AM on June 3, 2013

I would take them back, and write to Clarks if the store says 'No.' You know how you treat your shoes, and that's a lot of wear for 1 day. Be cheerful and polite; it's more effective.
posted by theora55 at 12:44 PM on June 3, 2013

You could ask, but this is a common type of damage that occurs if you're not very mindful of your foot position. I know a number of women who take off their shoes under their desks and while driving and/or commuting by train just to avoid this type of damage.
posted by quince at 3:38 PM on June 3, 2013

Response by poster: Expectations fully calibrated, thanks for the insights folks, I am indeed a patent noob.

I'm going to chalk this one up to experience (big feet so the theoretical solution floated earlier wouldnt fly). It's also been useful to figure out exactly what caused the damage. My chair is now sporting some tape and foam bumpers over the castors.
posted by Ness at 12:50 AM on June 4, 2013