I had a rather traumatic experience at Clarks, Nottingham, Victoria Centre today: I've moved recently over from the continent to Notts and so I am never fully sure if I am 6.1/2 or 7, it seems to vary from shoe shop to shoe shop. Clarks had plenty nice shoes out, but when I wanted to try them, they were all in size 4 or 5. Standing around a bit forlorn, I looked around if there were someone to help me. 3 girls with headphones were running around, very busy, very much bellowing orders into the air (headphones), looking around rather annoyed. I dared to ask one of them for help, not sure if she were helping a customer or not. She hasted over to me, I asked if she could help me as I wanted to try a few. I explained, that I need wider fitting shoes in 6.1/2 or 7, she picked with seemingly disgust a pair which I really didn't like but she said: these are wider fitting. Then she left me in a hurry. Usually I would have gone out of the shop again but I was in the need of some business shoes and was looking around in other shops already and couldn't find anything fitting, and Clarks was told me has a very good reputation. I looked at the shoe, checked the bottom and found: size 5 .... ehm .. didn't I say "6.5 or 7"? She must have not heard me. I approached her again, asking again, if she could let me try 6.5 or 7 please. She bellowed into her headphone something about the shoes name and 6.5. I was told to wait. Well, sure I waited. And looked around for other shoes, if there were anything nice. I found some which were on sale. Also wider fitting and really beautiful. Looking around to ask for my size I saw her busy at the tilt. Anotherone spotted me and actually asked me if I need help. I asked for 6.5 or 7. The first one shot around the corner a little later, giving me the first (ugly) pair of shoes in size 6.5 and left me again. I tried them. They didn't fit very well. In the meantime the second woman came back, she had also a pair for me, also only the 6.5 ones. No1 barked at her, that she brought the wrong shoes. I intervened and said that those shoes were right. I tried them, they didn't fit either, so now I know I am rather a 7 here. Again I tried my luck asking for both pairs in 7. I was told to wait again. After a while I got both pairs in 7. Sadly the ugly one fitted rather well, the beautiful one needs a bit of preparing and wearing. I didn't dare to ask for any other shoes to try. So I decided against my feet for the more beautiful ones (leather shoes will stretch a little, then they will fit perfectly). When I've paid the shoes they suddenly became 20 pounds more expensive. But I was so baffled from the entire experience, that I didn't take much notice of it. The shoes are still worth it. But the shop is a total nightmare and I hope I have not to visit it for a looooooooooong time again. I really should have fled it in the beginning, before I've seen the nice shoes. read more