A
reader writes with this feedback on BRU’s new web site:

I was eager to tell you about the
new Babies R Us web site. I laughed when I read in the book your prediction
that the 2010 contract with Amazon would get voided long before then . . . ah –
you are clairvoyant. Well, they new BRU web site is horrid and your wonderful
readers should be warned as
follows….

1. Beware of Overcharges on
Shipping. We have found two occasions where the shipping on identical items
will be around 2X for one color/pattern versus another. For example, a certain
model of the Graco pay and play was $16.50 S&H for 4 of the 5 patterns
offered in for the same model. The fifth one (Sandollar) was $27 – however, a
month ago when my mother purchased it she got charged $31.31!!!! Same for the
Peg Perego Pliko P3 all colors were $15 S&H, except the Toffee which was
$27.

We spoke to two people who lacked
the intelligence to understand the error, the third, a manager credited us the
difference and did not discuss the issue (and we were too tired by then to
care).

2. Coupon codes expire before
they say they do. We have a coupon that says it expires Sep. 1, but it won’t
work today (Sep. 1). When I call they say the code is still valid, but it was
turned off this morning at midnight. They’ll honor it if we place the order by
phone. Great – but the web site so often requires phone call follow ups (see
above) it’s not worth it.

3. Same items,
different numbers. We registered for an activity center at the store, the same
item has a different item number on line, so to list in on our registry for
people to buy in store or on-line we have to select two different items and risk
getting two of the same thing (or risk scarring someone away with the overlong
list).

4. Items in store not available
online; Items online not available in store. Again, this causes registry
problems, your list becomes twice as long, you have two of everything in
different brands or models (for example we have two car seats, two changing
pads, two sets of wash clothes – etc. etc.) – you risk getting doubles and your
list is scary long and unmanageable.

5.
Poor web site design. When you’re in your registry you can’t click on the link
to the product, all you get is a mini-summary. Also, the field for grandparents
names is so short we can’t even fit “Ralph & Alice Smith” AND when
we try to fix any of the personal info. it wipes out everything in our whole
profile (including the short free text fields for nursery decor and special
message).

I wish I could warn everyone.
Maybe you can.

Thanks for your time and
you book!



Madeline T