Thu - August 31, 2006
Tue - April 25, 2006
Mon - April 17, 2006
Fri - March 24, 2006
Wed - March 8, 2006
Fri - January 6, 2006
Wed - September 21, 2005
2006 preview: Strollers---PEG PEREGO
So what does stroller maker Peg Perego have planned
for 2006? Read it here.
Posted at 04:20 PM Read More
Fri - August 26, 2005
BRU insider source raps Evenflo, Cosco quality for strollers and car seats
A person who said he works as a sales
associate at a Babies R Us store sent us this email about Evenflo
strollers:
Evenflo should get a F- next time. They have made some improvements on the new line but it still lacks quality "big time." BRU issued a stop sale on the 1st edition of the new line.
When we asked what a "stop sale" was and which strollers, we got this response:
It was almost the entire new line they just put out about 6 months ago. The Ellipsa---everything except the Aura. When we got it in I looked at it and said "RECALL". The front tray was very shaky with the carseat attached. The plastic in the car seat was very thin and the padding was sparse. Everything about it was just cheap.
Stop sales don't happen very often. This was because of quality issues. The travel system and the double stroller were the ones effected.
Also any good BRU associate will tell you that Eddie Bauer is terrible. I personally know that 42 of the 3-n-1 Boosters had issues. I know because I broke them. When reclined, if you push down, sometimes lightly, the booster seat crashed to the up-right position. However it would not lock in any position after that. I called Safety 1st (haha) and they said that it was not a safety issue. BUT they would be sending 42 replacements to those stores, and picking up the broken ones. They came with their own truck to get them. If the seat breaks from correctly installing them....how is that not safety related?
On a final note, PLEASE inform your readers that they can not put a baby in a booster seat. No one wants to buy an expensive seat, no one wants to buy three seats. But putting a baby that is too big for its infant seat into a booster seat...well that just makes me hate my job! I see it all the time.
Evenflo should get a F- next time. They have made some improvements on the new line but it still lacks quality "big time." BRU issued a stop sale on the 1st edition of the new line.
When we asked what a "stop sale" was and which strollers, we got this response:
It was almost the entire new line they just put out about 6 months ago. The Ellipsa---everything except the Aura. When we got it in I looked at it and said "RECALL". The front tray was very shaky with the carseat attached. The plastic in the car seat was very thin and the padding was sparse. Everything about it was just cheap.
Stop sales don't happen very often. This was because of quality issues. The travel system and the double stroller were the ones effected.
Also any good BRU associate will tell you that Eddie Bauer is terrible. I personally know that 42 of the 3-n-1 Boosters had issues. I know because I broke them. When reclined, if you push down, sometimes lightly, the booster seat crashed to the up-right position. However it would not lock in any position after that. I called Safety 1st (haha) and they said that it was not a safety issue. BUT they would be sending 42 replacements to those stores, and picking up the broken ones. They came with their own truck to get them. If the seat breaks from correctly installing them....how is that not safety related?
On a final note, PLEASE inform your readers that they can not put a baby in a booster seat. No one wants to buy an expensive seat, no one wants to buy three seats. But putting a baby that is too big for its infant seat into a booster seat...well that just makes me hate my job! I see it all the time.
Posted at 01:44 PM Read More
Mon - August 22, 2005
Follow up to Peg Venezia wheel problem story
Dear Denise and
Alan:
I'm writing as a follow up to the email I sent you in May re: my Peg
Perego Venezia stroller. (See your blog entry).
As I indicated in my previous email, the wheels on my 2004 Venezia were
replaced. I was told that it would fix the problem of uneven wear. After
only two months of regular use, the problem returned. The back wheels
were again beginning to wear unevenly... the push was no longer smooth and
steering was off.
So, back I went (my warranty now expired!) to the authorized Peg repair
shop (also the place I bought the stroller). The technician was shocked.
She told me that of the wheels she'd replaced on other Venezia's, I was
the only one to return with the same problem. She took photos, sent them
off to Peg Perego Canada to see what they had to tell her. After *two
weeks* they phoned her back to say they were stumped and had placed a call
to Italy to see what they should do.
After two additional weeks (now a MONTH since I left my stroller there for
service), they had no word back. She told me that it often takes "several
weeks to hear back from the headquarters in Italy"... hunh?!
I was beyond annoyed !!! To make a very long story short, I twisted the
arm of the retailer to buy back my now piece of doo doo Venezia for 50% (a
very generous buy back considering the problems) and I immediately
purchased a 2005 Zooper Boogie. (Absolutely love it, BTW !)
So, the moral to this long story is: BEWARE OF THE VENEZIAs !!! While I
was waiting for word from Italy, I posted a thread about my wheel problems
on your stroller message board. I heard back from one owner who claimed
that her 2005 Venezia's wheels were doing the same thing after only two
months of use. If Perego made no change to the design from 2004-2005, I'm
not at all surprised by this.
I still plan to contact Perego and let them know how hugely unhappy I am
with the fact that I paid $400 for a stroller that was trashed in less
than a year of use. I have no idea what they will do for me, but I am
planning to contact them nevertheless.
I hope that you find this information useful !
Sincerely,
Amy J.
I'm writing as a follow up to the email I sent you in May re: my Peg
Perego Venezia stroller. (See your blog entry).
As I indicated in my previous email, the wheels on my 2004 Venezia were
replaced. I was told that it would fix the problem of uneven wear. After
only two months of regular use, the problem returned. The back wheels
were again beginning to wear unevenly... the push was no longer smooth and
steering was off.
So, back I went (my warranty now expired!) to the authorized Peg repair
shop (also the place I bought the stroller). The technician was shocked.
She told me that of the wheels she'd replaced on other Venezia's, I was
the only one to return with the same problem. She took photos, sent them
off to Peg Perego Canada to see what they had to tell her. After *two
weeks* they phoned her back to say they were stumped and had placed a call
to Italy to see what they should do.
After two additional weeks (now a MONTH since I left my stroller there for
service), they had no word back. She told me that it often takes "several
weeks to hear back from the headquarters in Italy"... hunh?!
I was beyond annoyed !!! To make a very long story short, I twisted the
arm of the retailer to buy back my now piece of doo doo Venezia for 50% (a
very generous buy back considering the problems) and I immediately
purchased a 2005 Zooper Boogie. (Absolutely love it, BTW !)
So, the moral to this long story is: BEWARE OF THE VENEZIAs !!! While I
was waiting for word from Italy, I posted a thread about my wheel problems
on your stroller message board. I heard back from one owner who claimed
that her 2005 Venezia's wheels were doing the same thing after only two
months of use. If Perego made no change to the design from 2004-2005, I'm
not at all surprised by this.
I still plan to contact Perego and let them know how hugely unhappy I am
with the fact that I paid $400 for a stroller that was trashed in less
than a year of use. I have no idea what they will do for me, but I am
planning to contact them nevertheless.
I hope that you find this information useful !
Sincerely,
Amy J.
Posted at 11:30 AM Read More
Bait & Switch at Big Lots?
A reader today points out a deceptive ad at Big
Lots for strollers:
Wondered if anyone else has had problems with bait and switch ads at Big
Lots.
I saw an ad for a $39.99 Caddy Stroller with the Safety 1st brand name,
but a picture of a Chicco Caddy Stroller in the Big Lots flyer for Aug
17-21. I was confused about the brand difference, but thought I might
get a deal. It was worth a trip out.
I went to Big Lots and they had a completely different Safety 1st stroller.
I asked management and apparently sometimes headquarters uses pictures
in the ads that don't represent the actual merchandise on sale! {Only
they phrased it as "sometimes they use different pictures"} Sounds like
this happpens regularly. It's definitely not ethical. Might even be
illegal?
I can snail mail you the flyer if you'd like. Here's the page of the ad:
Wondered if anyone else has had problems with bait and switch ads at Big
Lots.
I saw an ad for a $39.99 Caddy Stroller with the Safety 1st brand name,
but a picture of a Chicco Caddy Stroller in the Big Lots flyer for Aug
17-21. I was confused about the brand difference, but thought I might
get a deal. It was worth a trip out.
I went to Big Lots and they had a completely different Safety 1st stroller.
I asked management and apparently sometimes headquarters uses pictures
in the ads that don't represent the actual merchandise on sale! {Only
they phrased it as "sometimes they use different pictures"} Sounds like
this happpens regularly. It's definitely not ethical. Might even be
illegal?
I can snail mail you the flyer if you'd like. Here's the page of the ad:
Posted at 11:16 AM Read More
Thu - August 4, 2005
Silver Cross goes out of business
Add Silver Cross to the name of defunct stroller
makers. After a two year run (in the US), the stroller maker has pulled down its
web site and disconnected its phone lines. We couldn't reach anyone at Silver
Cross to confirm the closing, but the writing is on the
wall.
As readers of our book know, we weren't wild about these strollers. In a nutshell, the folks behind Silver Cross licensed the famous British name and slapped it on Chinese-made strollers that weren't much different than what was out there. Silver Cross recent US incarnation never really had a clear marketing strategy---they started out with bigger carriages and recently tried to offer some Maclaren-like lightweight strollers (Micro and Mini). While the reviews of these strollers on our web site were positive, the prices clearly were too high and the marketing too muddy.
As readers of our book know, we weren't wild about these strollers. In a nutshell, the folks behind Silver Cross licensed the famous British name and slapped it on Chinese-made strollers that weren't much different than what was out there. Silver Cross recent US incarnation never really had a clear marketing strategy---they started out with bigger carriages and recently tried to offer some Maclaren-like lightweight strollers (Micro and Mini). While the reviews of these strollers on our web site were positive, the prices clearly were too high and the marketing too muddy.
Posted at 05:18 PM Read More
Wed - July 6, 2005
Joovy takes aim at Baby Trend
A former VP of sales for Baby Trend plans to launch
his own stroller line, dubbed Joovy. It features bright colors and imported
strollers. Example: the Zoom, a $180 stroller with extended canopy, parent tray
and easy fold. We liked the bright looks, but didn’t see anything really
innovative here. Joovy is trying to line up distribution.
Posted at 04:31 PM Read More
Peg alters the AT4
Peg has decided to make the front wheels swivel
with the AT4; the fixed wheel version was a bomb.
Posted at 04:29 PM Read More
Kelty debuts new jogger
Kelty is chucking the two handle jogging stroller
for a new model dubbed the Speedster Deluxe. This 16” wheel jogger
features an easier fold and narrower footprint for $335. The height adjustable
handle is nice, but we found the foot rest WAY too small. Kelty needs to rethink
that. Shipping now.
Posted at 04:27 PM Read More
Compass to debut new tandem
The new S360 tandem stroller features a very wide
back seat and a low weight (22 lbs). Price: $180, out in July. It will be infant
car seat compatible and feature rubber wheels with a solid core (no inflated).
80 pounds total weight limit.
Posted at 04:25 PM Read More
Quick Links
Calendar
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
Categories
Archives
XML/RSS Feed
Statistics
Total entries in this blog:
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Mar 03, 2007 11:40 AM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Mar 03, 2007 11:40 AM