Reader Jennifer H. provides an update the Child Craft outlets—the Indiana outlet has closed and the Kentucky outlet is no longer a deal:
Denise & Alan:
Hi! Thank you so much for writing the Baby Bargain book. I have poured over every page as it as greatly helped me to make informed purchases and feel better prepared to shop for our first baby due in October. It definitely cut down the registering time and kept us from feeling so overwhelmed.
I have the 6th edition, so if this has changed in the 7th, I apologize. In case you didn’t know, I did want to give you some updates on the Childcraft/Legacy outlet stores in Indiana (former at theTanger outlet in Seymour, IN) and the tiny Kiddie Kastle Outlet in Louisville, KY.
First of all, even though there is a huge billboard that still annouces the Childcraft outlet in Indiana at the former Tanger Outlet (I think the new outlet mall name is Seymour Shoppes) it has been closed. The Louisville Kiddie Kastle Warehouse outlet knows this, and I believe that is why their prices have drastically increased from the examples of cribs for $300 in your book.
When we went to the Louisville Warehouse, we were disappointed that there were only 4 cribs on display (2 convertible), one matching dresser/crib set and 1 dresser without matching pieces. I know it’s an outlet, but it is extremely small. Secondly, prices were quite high! The Legacy convertible crib was $600 plus $170 to convert to full size or an additional $170 to convert to queen size. Another legacy sleigh crib was $500 plus the $170 conversion rails. You were encouraged to buy a crib at the outlet store and then shop at their outrageously priced regular Kiddie Kastle store for matching pieces. The pieces in the regular store were extremely high. I remember one case piece listed regularly at $1,000 on sale for $900. They also had a sign advertising the Classica I Colgate foam mattress as being #1 recommended by your book, and were selling it for $140.
We didn’t realize these prices were so high until we shopped at the Baby’s Room store in Lexington (closer to where we live) and found that they also sold brand new (not scratch and dent as advertised at the outlet store) Legacy convertible cribs (this one even had solid wood paneling along the back) for $500, with conversion rails for $150! This wasn’t a sale price, so we were shocked it was cheaper than the supposed ‘outlet’ pricing. They also sold the Classica I mattress for $110.
While we were in Louisville we had looked at USA Baby which was having their once-a-trimester sale and decided the Baby’s Dream furniture would be more affordable for us anyway. We almost bought the Infinity stationary crib on sale for $350 there, but decided to wait until we had checked out Lexington. At the Baby’s Room, the same bed was regularly priced for $279! Not to mention the conversion rails were $90 as opposed to the $140 USA Baby price. Needless to say, we purchased all our necessary furniture at the Baby’s Room.
While we were at the Louisville outlet, a couple from Ohio had driven all the way because your book had talked about the awesome bargains at that outlet. The owners talked about how much you guys love them. Although the people there were very nice, I just didn’t think it was worth the high recommendations that were given it in the 6th Edition of your book. The cheapest furniture there was a tiny bookcase for $150.
Thanks again for writing your book. I just wanted to warn you in order to prevent future readers from driving long distances in search of nonexistent bargains.
Sincerely,
Jennifer H.
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The Baby’s Room has great deals but I caution readers who shop there as in the Chicago area that chain went bankrupt and hundreds of customers were left w/o their furniture and out thousands of dollars in some case. We had luckily already received our twins’ cribs and dresser but had ordered a glider later that we never received. We were only out $180 though as opposed to other customers who were out much more.
This chain also goes by the name My Child’s Room, which is what it was in the Chicagoland area. It had operated under the Baby’s Room name for many years and then went bankrupt and reopened under the new name.
Here is a link to the BBB showing the issues w/My Child’s Room:
‘s+room&add=&c=&st=IL&z=
And another from when they operated as Baby’s Room:
‘s+room&add=&c=&st=IL&z=
So be warned, I believe the reason we got such great deals on our furniture was because they were selling below cost which put them out of business. It was all over the news here when they went out of business b/c they were probably one of the biggest seller’s of baby furniture in the area.
The Baby’s Room has great deals but I caution readers who shop there as in the Chicago area that chain went bankrupt and hundreds of customers were left w/o their furniture and out thousands of dollars in some case. We had luckily already received our twins’ cribs and dresser but had ordered a glider later that we never received. We were only out $180 though as opposed to other customers who were out much more.
This chain also goes by the name My Child’s Room, which is what it was in the Chicagoland area. It had operated under the Baby’s Room name for many years and then went bankrupt and reopened under the new name.
Here is a link to the BBB showing the issues w/My Child’s Room:
‘s+room&add=&c=&st=IL&z=
And another from when they operated as Baby’s Room:
‘s+room&add=&c=&st=IL&z=
So be warned, I believe the reason we got such great deals on our furniture was because they were selling below cost which put them out of business. It was all over the news here when they went out of business b/c they were probably one of the biggest seller’s of baby furniture in the area.