Clark shoes - London
 

Are Clark shoes cheaper in London than in the US? IF so, can anyone recommend any particular place to buy them in London? Many thanks!

No - the 17.5 % VAT and other factors make them a little more expensive in the UK. If you buy them w/ other things - enough to make the minimum purchase requirement - you could get part of your VAT refunded. So they would be about the same. But I find a LOT more sales on Clarks in the States than I've seen in London.

Gosh, I don't think it will be cheaper in London judging by the magazine ads I saw a while back. Is there a particular reason other than cost that you wish to buy them in London because I don't know if they are still being made in England nowadays-unless those that are sold in England are made there. I got a pair in the US and its made in Brazil.

I bought my Clarks sandals for at least 20% or 25% off 2 years ago in Southern Calif. at Robinson's-May. Didn't look in London during the last two summers because I travel light and everything over there seems so expensive anyway.

Thanx for the info-think I'll get them on sale here!! I'll use my $$ on something Else!! Mo

Believe it or not, I have found Clark shoes for sale on Ebay. If you know what model and size you need, and what the average retail price of the shoes you want go for, you can do pretty well for yourself bidding on Ebay. You most likely could do better there than where they're made. There are several British products that sell cheaper elsewhere than in England, sad to say.

J.C. Penny's now selling Clark's. Big selection in store, in catalogue and online. Watch for sales, there is always one coming at JCP. Good prices: $50-85. Unfortunately, no more desert boots or chukka boots.

I'm just curious if the Clarks shoes in England are still made in England.

Other than the shoes I would suggest that if you might be buying ANY sort of clothing in Europe (that might also be available in the US) you could check prices here before you leave. I have always been interested in the cost difference between clothese there and clothes here. I've found, in particular, the brand names that are very familiar here, Dockers for example, are MUCH more expensive in Europe...suppose that makes sense even though a lot of the clothes are made overseas anyway.

We just returned from the UK 2 days ago. My husband is a big Clarks' fan and was able to purchase 2 pairs of Clarks for half the cost here--even with the VAT it was a tremendous savings. Good luck.

Do Clark's cost all that much in the first place--I've usually seen them for well under $100; often on sale in the $40-$60 price range. Would there be enough savings buying in the UK to justify using vacation time shopping for them and suitcase space to haul them around. I got a nice pair of Clarks dress shoes at K&G for $39.99 last month.

If there's a DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) near you, you can get Clarke's there for under $60.00 (most under $50.). I've been buying mine there for years.

It really depends on how much you love your Clarks. I bought four pair in April, on sale. There are Clarks' stores all over London, and outlet stores in Wimbledon (tiny) and Swindon, which has a nice outlet mall. My husband loves them after getting him pair at the outlet. Another advantage of buying there is that not all styles are imported to the US. I agree that most of the time you will pay a lot more for the same thing in the UK, I think Clarks are the exception that is worthwhile.

francophile03:
Most Clark's shoes are NOT made in England.
Both US and UK law should require this to be stated clearly on the product. Several companies like Clarks therefore have a dual policy: making stuff for the UK (where no-one cares about the country of manufacture) in, say, Romania while keeping a small production line for the US (where "English" has an irrational cachet)in the UK. I don't know whether that is Clark's policy, but you can check very easily by looking at the label on the product or the small print on the Web site.
One thing you can depend on: Clark's are obsessive about their reputation, and are very unlikely to lie or mislead you about this.

Believe it or not, you can find cheap Clark's shoes at the Clarks Village - very similary to our Outlet Malls. It's located right next to the Clarks shoe factory in the town of Street which is about 3 miles from Glastonbury. The Outlet has about 60 shops and 2 of them are Clarks shoe stores. One has seconds - I always manage to pick up a pair there. The other first quality. Here's the link: http://www.clarksvillage.co.uk/centreinfo.html

Good point, Mikej
There's also a Clarks factory outlet at Bicester Outlet Shopping Village, 10 miles north of Oxford. This mall has a number of English-y brands, and is a useful antidote to all that Oxford/Cotswold culture and taste.

My husband is also a big fan of Clarks. We actualy saw some reasonably proced ones in the shoe store in the Gatwick airport.

Yesterday I paid $20 for a pair of Clark sandals on sale at Ross Dept. Store. I realize I was lucky. Also recommend shoe shopping at Designer Shoe Warehouse.

Check out www.zappos.com.

I was disappointed when I was in Scotland last summer to find that even in the Clarks stores Clarks were more expensive than at my favorite Clarks source--TJ Maxx, which often has the same styles as the department stores for under 60.