As a mom one thing that will turn a good day bad fast is a toy that stops working, especially a new toy!! They are playing and laughing, then upset and fighting over who broke it.
"Mommy fit, broke". ugggg. Its just heart breaking and frustrating. These things are expensive!! We have a small fortune in toys here.
There are companies that actually stand by their products and who are extremely helpful.
My first experience was with Melissa and Doug. The triplets got monster bowling set for their second birthday. They loved the little monster pins and carry them around as babies instead of bowling pins. They are happy, I'm happy. About a week after getting it, Emerson brings me the bowling ball, says broke and walks away. It is a little cloth ball, simple. The stitch to close it came undone no big deal I sew and can easily fix it. I though, I wonder if they know about this. (The company). Maybe it is a thread defect? So I found their contact info and sent them an e-mail. Just a friendly just so you know and can fix this in the future e-mail. I got a e-mail reply quickly asking if I could call. "Wow" I though. This big toy company wants me to call. So I did. Turns out they are not this mega giant toy company I was envisioning. They re a little company with all hand made toys. She was really sweet, asked a few questions and that was it. She said we will send you a new one out today."Really?!? I can fix the one we have so its no need". I assured her. " Please don't we want you to send it back to us when you receive the new one for quality control". That makes sense. A few weeks later I got the new ball but there were no return instructions. I sent her an e-mail asking where to send it. She said not to worry about it. Ok, Thanks! I love their products and I love the way they handle their business.
However not all companies are this good. Vtech, I am not a fan of and will not be purchasing any other products they make. We have the Tiny Talk Light-Up Phone. Once again my kids loved this toy for the month that it worked. Then it started making weird noises and sounded like it was shorting out. Then it just quit. I took the batteries out and contacted the company. I did it by their web site customer service area.I e-mailed them all what was going on, serial and model #s, all that jazz. The reply was not what I was expecting. Because it was a gift I did not have the receipt and I did not know where it came from they could not help me. WHAT!!?? Ok I replied "then can you tell me how to fix it. I am handy and could probably do it". " We can not divulge how our toys work" was the reply I got. So basically sorry sucker. As I started to write this I decided to give them another chance and Called them. They were a little more helpful. The toy is now discontinued and pulled from stores. I said because you know it is defective he said correct, I mean. .... Got you!!! He first offered half off a toy from their online store. Really you want me to pay for you to replace a defective toy. He put me on hold and came back with a counter offer. The toy is only worth $11.99 (even though it retails for at least $15.99) so I can pick a replacement from the online store for $11.99. Said to pick it out and call back. So I did. I called back 15 mins later and got the same person. Now he says that I will get an e-mail telling me how to order it from the store and how to return the defective one. I will have to pay for shipping. Wait What?! So now I have a toy that you said was recalled, I get less that what was paid and I have to pay for shipping??? Ill get back to you on this one. Not happy and will never buy another one of their products.
Back to the great! Imperial Bubble. LOVE them. Replaced our Bubble fantasia bubble machine that the motor went out on. Quick and friendly.
Kids II aka Baby Einstein Great, quick and friendly.
So when you buy as many toys as we do DO YOUR RESEARCH!!. Vtech even has a I hate Vtech facebook!! Apparently they are known for electrical problems in their toys. So if you get the kids a toy from them sorry but I will be exchanging it.
Sorry for the long post/rant. I pray it helps others and keeps possibly dangerous toys away from our kids.
