Online toy shoppers, beware!
I've mentioned it previously, but it's worth repeating: If you buy toys online from amazon.com, price compare with your local retailers, and with the manufacturer's online store (if they have one) before purchasing. You could save yourself 50% or more!
Just for kicks, I did a price check between Fisher-Price's online store and Amazon.com (new items only; not used). And for comparison I also checked the prices for the same items at toysrus.com, who is no longer affiliated with amazon.com (I think they "broke up" a couple of years ago). Ever since toysrus and amazon.com parted ways, the toy section of amazon.com in my opinion has gone down hill, mainly in terms of retailer reliability and prices. Aside from the price gouging that many of the toy retailers engage in, on the rare occasions when I do make a toy purchase from amazon.com, I've had two terrible experiences in getting the items shipped. In one case the item NEVER arrived; I had ordered it 3 months before christmas as a present for Bobbin, 2 weeks before christmas it still hadn't arrived after SEVERAL nasty email and phone calls to the retailer, and finally I cancelled my order, submitted a formal complaint to amazon.com regarding the retailer, and searched my local retailers for a similar item (which thankfully, I found).
Online shopping is convenient and I continue to do it, but compare prices and only do business with recognized names - toysrus.com has always been one of my favourites. Trustworthy, nation-wide, and as you can see from the price comparison below, comes closest to matching the Manufacturer's recommended retail price and/or the manufacturer's own retail price.
Little People Fun Sounds Playground
fisher-price.com: $15.00
amazon.com: $33.95
Little People Lil' Movers Airplane
fisher-price.com: $17.00
amazon.com: $39.99
toysrus.com: $16.99
Little People A to Z Learning Zoo Playset
fisher-price.com: $43.00
amazon.com: $52.99
Little People Time to Learn Preschool
fisher-price.com: $30.00
amazon.com: $34.99
toysrus.com: $34.99
Little People Sweet Sounds Home
fisher-price.com: $33.00
amazon.com: $62.99
toysrus.com: $29.99 (reg $32.99)
To be fair, you can find some deals on amazon.com. It depends on the retailer from whom you are purchasing. My personal experience, I've found "Toyzz" and "Mega Toyland" to be the priciest toy retailers on amazon.com. Often times, an item is available from more than one retailer. So even within amazon.com it pays to look at the price (AND the comments/reputation) of the retailer and compare with other retailers on amazon.com.
Comments
What happened to Bobbin's wish list? Didn't there used to be a link? I'm interested in seeing how/whether her tastes have changed. And I need inspiration to out-do the totally wicked awesome pool she got her last year.
Posted by Aunt Sarah on May 7, 2007 9:12 AM.