How to find discount shoes: Schuh Imperfects & Office Offcuts

Last updated: 05/03/2024

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Staying afoot of the latest shoe trends doesn’t have to be expensive. Schuh Imperfects and Office Offcuts feature minor flaws that equal major discounts, so you can enjoy cheap shoes that aren’t cheap.

These ex-display shoes were once displayed in store and have a little wear and tear as a result. Instead of going to landfill, they’re sold at a huge discount, which means big savings for savvy shoppers. It’s ideal if you’re not so fussy about buying pristine footwear or like to shop sustainably, and is especially great for cheap kids’ shoes.

Unsure what to expect? We’ve got all the details you need: what kinds of shoes you’ll find, how much of a discount you can expect, and what kind of condition the shoes are usually in.

Looking for other ways to find discount shoes? We’ve got a section on that, too, including brand outlets, discount retailers, and eBay outlets.

Just want the figures? Here's a quick rundown of the most salient stats for each brand. 


Schuh

Office

Average discount

30%–70%

30%–60%

Lowest discount seen

13% off

12% off

Highest discount seen 

92% off

91% off

Returns window

Within 365 days

Within 28 days

Odd pairs 

No

Yes: 50%–70% off

Eligible for cashback

Yes: 2.22%

No

What are Schuh Imperfects?

You’ll find Schuh Imperfects on the Ex-Display section of the main Schuh website. As the name suggests, these shoes were once used on display inside the shop. They may have been tried on or displayed in a window, so expect a little wear and tear or sometimes faded material.

Because of the nature of Schuh Imperfects, stock is limited for each item. Many times, you’ll find only one of each pair, meaning they can sell very quickly. 

schuh imperfects site
A screenshot of the schuh website.

Even so, we found 2,500+ ex-display shoes available in the Imperfects section of the Schuh website when we looked. These included men’s, women’s, and kids’ shoes from a range of brands like adidas, Birkenstock, Dr Martens, Ted Baker, Timberland, Vans, and UGG.

You can filter your preferences by size, brand, shoe type, colour, price, and more, so there’s still plenty of choice.

What kind of condition are they in?

Schuh ex-display shoes have imperfections such as light scuffs, scratches, discolouration or fading, and irremovable marks. While there is a variable scale to the condition the shoes are in, none of them are so damaged they’re unfit to wear.

The flaw is clearly described under the product listing, whether it’s a discolouration, damage to the uppers, or irremovable marks. There are also three images of the actual pair of shoes to display what condition they’re in, alongside a stock photo for comparison.

Aside from that, your Schuh Imperfects might not be in their original packaging.

How much of a discount can you get?

Schuh discounts usually start around the 30% mark, but we found plenty of shoes that were 50%–70% off, and even some examples of 80%+.

Prices vary depending on the condition, style, and size of the shoe. The less common the size or the more outdated the style, the bigger discount you’ll often find. Similarly, if the flaws are more noticeable, you’ll get a bigger price reduction.

Here are some examples we found from the Schuh ex-display collection.

Brand: Steve Madden Silver Vala-r high heels

Size: 4 (women’s)

Flaw: missing trim on the right shoe

Price: was £130, now £64.99

Discount: 50%

schuh imperfects steve madden heels

Brand: Dr Martens Grey Jadon boots

Size: 6 (women’s)

Flaw: discolouration on right shoe

Price: was £199, £83.99 

Discount: 58%

schuh imperfects dr marten

Brand: Timberland Navy classic 2 eye boat shoes

Size: 8.5 (men’s)

Flaw: damage to right shoe uppers

Price: was £130, now £44.99

Discount: 65%

schuh seconds timberland loafers

Brand: Lelli Kelly Black Colourissima girls junior

Size: 8 (kids’)

Flaw: discolouration on right shoe

Price: was £61, now £18.99

Discount: 68%

schuh seconds lelli kelly girls shoes

Can you return Schuh Imperfects?

You can return Schuh seconds if you’re unhappy with them, but only via post and within 365 days. Postal return options include InPost, Asda toyou, Evri, and Yodel. 

Because imperfect shoes are usually one-off products, there is no way to return to a store or exchange for another size or colour.

Bonus money-saving tip

Because Schuh sell ex-display shoes from their main site, and because we feature them as a cashback brand, you can earn money on top of your discount.

Cashback means you earn a percentage of your purchase through our referral link. It's completely free to join and earn!

Here's a quick example:

We currently offer 2.22% cashback* on sale items from the Schuh website. So if you click through to Schuh from us and spend £50 on a pair of discount shoes, you'll get £1.11 in your cashback account

*Correct at the time of writing

🎁 Get £15 cashback

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What is OFFCUTS by OFFICE?

Unlike Schuh, which features a page on their website for ex-display shoes, Offcuts is an entirely separate website. The official outlet store features ex-display shoes as well as exclusive last pairs of discontinued products.

They sell all the top brands you’d expect, like Dr Martens, Nike, Timberland, Reebok, K-Swiss, adidas, and many of their own-brand Office shoes. Most of the Office Offcuts you’ll find are one-of-a-kind, so you need to be quick if you see a pair you like.

offcuts by office website
offcuts by office website

What kind of condition are they in?

As with Schuh Imperfects, Offcuts have been used as display shoes in store, but some are also customer returns or last pairs of discontinued products. 

As a result, Offcuts will have some general wear and minor flaws including small marks, scratches, fading, discolouration, glue marks, and missing laces. Last pairs might not have any flaws at all.

The condition of these ex-display shoes is demonstrated by the discounted price and a rating. Rating grades start at P (totally perfect) to G4 (OK condition). Most of the shoes we looked at on-site sat around G2 (great condition). Sometimes, there is simply a rating, although noticeable flaws are detailed in the product description.

office offcuts condition chart
office offcuts condition chart

Each product is accompanied by a set of photographs that give you an idea of the type of faults you can expect, although they’re not the exact shoes you’ll get.

Odd Pairs

In addition to the usual minor flaws, Offcuts offer a collection of Odd Pairs. Each shoe within a pair is a slightly different size, meaning even bigger bargains. Most of the shoes we looked at in the collection were a full size different, although there were plenty that only differed by half a size.

office outlet odd paired shoes
office outlet odd paired shoes

This is ideal if you have one foot slightly bigger than the other – especially in kids. Not only are you getting a more comfortable fit, but a huge discount to boot.

How much of a discount can you get?

Most of the Offcuts discounts available hovered around 30%–40% when we looked, although we found many that were 50%–60% and some 60%+.

Discounts on Odd Pairs are much higher; the lowest we found was 50% off and the highest was 70% off.

Here are some examples we found on the Office Offcuts website.

Brand: adidas Gazelle 85 Scarlet White Gold Met 

Size: 7 (men’s)

Grade: G4 (OK condition); right shoe badly faded

Price: was £100, now £43

Discount: 57%

A pair of red and white adidas shoes on a website.

Brand: Birkenstock Papillio Gizeh Platform Black Vegan
Size:
7 (women’s)
Grade:
G3 (good condition); sticker damage on the insole of the right shoe
Price:
was £90, now £42
Discount:
53%

office offcuts birkenstock womens

Brand: Dr. Martens 2976 Junior Black
Size:
12 youth
Grade:
G2 (great condition)
Price:
was £79, now £56
Discount:
29%

Dr martins black chelsea junior.

Brand: Crocs Classic Lined Clog K Stucco Glitter
Size:
2 youth
Grade:
G2 (great condition)
Price:
was £50, now £34
Discount:
32%

Kids crocs classic lined glitter clogs.

Can you return Office Offcuts?

You can return Offcuts if you’re unhappy with them, but only via post and within 28 days of delivery. They must be unworn and in their delivered condition, including the box. 

You’ll be refunded the cost of the shoes but not for delivery, and if the original box is missing, the refund will be deducted by £3.50. If you buy a pair of Offcuts that you believe are not as described on site, you’ll be refunded the cost of the shoes plus postage.

Because of the nature of ex-display shoes, you can’t exchange Office Offcuts.

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Where else can you buy discount shoes?

Ex-display shoes can be limited in stock as they are usually one-of-a-kind, so we’ve compiled a list of alternative places for discount shoes.

USC Outlet

Up to 50% off brands like Converse, New Balance, UGG, Timberland, Steve Madden, Hunter, and Vans.

MandM Direct

Huge discounts available on branded footwear, with regular offers like 70% off trainers and 80% off clearance items.

Shoeaholics

Shoeaholics is the official outlet store for Kurt Geiger and Carvella, where you can get up to 75% off the retail price of designer shoes.

eBay outlets

Many designer shoe retailers have outlets on eBay, and you can find discounts of up to 70%.

I got a pair of Grey Classic Skate Plimsoll Vans a few years ago from an eBay outlet. They were ex-display shoes where one had been in the window, so there was a small difference in colour between the two, which was made clear in the listing. I won with a bid of £9.50 and, when I received them, put the darker shoe in a sunny conservatory for a couple of days until they were the same shade.

TK Maxx

Designer shoes at TK Maxx are available at up to 60% less than the RRP, with a wide range of men’s, women’s, and kids’ options.

ASOS Outlet

There are big designer names with discounts of up to 70% and sometimes more. You’ll find brands like Birkenstock, Love Moschino, Steve Madden, HUGO, and Calvin Klein.

Second-hand platforms

Sites like Vinted and Depop feature second-hand designer shoes at huge discounts. These platforms connect sellers with buyers looking for money-saving and sustainable shopping.

TopCashback staff member Alex said: "I’d been looking for a new pair of shoes for a while but couldn't stomach spending over £100 for the shoes I wanted. I found a pair on Vinted for £45 and they had only been worn twice with a slight scuff on one of the heels. One week later, they arrived and they were exactly as described. I've been wearing them ever since."

Next sales

There's a Next clearance sale each season, which means there are at least four times a year where you can bag yourself a bargain. Additionally, you can usually expect a Black Friday event at the end of November. If you have a Next account, you can book a VIP slot for the Next sale, which usually offers at least 50% off most sale items.

Put your best foot forward

If you love getting your hands – and feet – on a bargain, Schuh Imperfects and Office Offcuts may just be the shopping hack you’re looking for. 

Ex-display shoes are ideal if you don’t mind less-than-pristine footwear, you’re buying shoes for kids, or you have odd-sized feet. Not only can you save money, but you’re preventing unwanted items from going to landfill.

Are you a bargain hunter who's bought ex-display shoes or found an outlet for designer shoe bargains? Let us know in the comments what your experience has been and how much you’ve saved.


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