Poor build quality. Indifferent customer care. Brand reputation shattered.

These Start-Rite 'Felicity Wonder' girls leather school shoes (for a 5-year-old) looked great online and combined with a third off the RRP of £39, they seemed good value.

However, within 2 weeks the poor build quality began to show. Firstly, one of the flashing units in the sole failed. After 6 weeks, the stitching began to fray - admittedly at a high-wear point on the toe. Finally, after only 9 weeks, the main fastening strap mounting broke - rendering one shoe a write-off.

Contacted Start-rite customer care by email, and the reply (which credit to them came within hours and not days), stated, "Send the shoes to our 'technical department' and we will reply within 28-days".
I remember when 'household name' UK companies would have replaced the shoes without question or at least offered to pay the postage (£5.50 via Parcel Farce - but that's another story). But no, just send the shoes to us,(at your expense), do without the shoes for 4 weeks and we'll be in touch.

On a positive note, the Start-Rite website is brilliant, offering free measuring guides & advice and wide range of in-stock products available.

So, my experiences echo other online reviews of Start-Rite products. Not the quality they once were, with poor build quality & durability. I accept kids hammer their shoes, but a pair 'designed' for school use should last more than 3 months. Obviously, I'm bitterly disappointed and will not be consuming from Start-Rite again.