Reader Sara S. writes in today with a story about her experience with Crib & Teen City in NJ:
Hello,
We’ve used your book constantly ever since being introduced to it by another pregnant couple and have been happy with every recommendation that you have offered. That is why I would like to inform you of great difficulties that we have had in purchasing a Baby’s Dream crib through their retailer, Crib and Teen City, in New Jersey. I hope that you will review our story below and warn your future readers about the issues with this manufacturer and retailer. I particularly want to notify you of our experience because Crib and Teen City posts large signs in their store windows bragging that the cribs that they sell are “A” rated by Baby Bargains book. Based on out experience dealing with Crib and Teen City, they should not be able to associate themselves with your “A” rating, especially because during all this, I found a website dedicated to postings of other consumers’ issues with this retailer. If you ever contact manufacturers/retailers regarding complaints that you receive, and decide to do so in this case, I would be very interested to know what they tell you.
Here’s our story:
On April 30, 2008, I placed an order for a Baby’s Dream Infinity crib in Cherry finish with the East Brunswick, NJ location of Crib and Teen City. I was also charged in full for the crib when I placed the order on this date. The salesperson at Crib and Teen City told me that it would take between 4-6 weeks for the crib to be delivered. Today is July 30, 2008, over 12 weeks after I ordered the crib, and I have yet to receive the crib. According to Crib and Teen City, the crib was delivered to their warehouse 8 weeks after I placed the order, already two weeks late based on the delivery time that I was told. However, they informed me that the crib was damaged during shipping and that a replacement crib would be ordered from the manufacturer and would arrive “in two weeks or less”. It is now over 4 weeks after I was given this two-week delivery time for the replacement crib and I was just informed by Crib and Teen City that Baby’s Dream failed to ship our crib in their latest shipment to the retailer. The next possible ship date is two weeks from now. Therefore, IF the crib is shipped on the next shipment, it will arrive 14 weeks after it was ordered (between 8-10 weeks later than I was told when we ordered the crib).
Crib and Teen City blames the problem on Baby’s Dream, stating that they have had fires in their warehouses and they have not performed well ever since. I suspect that part of the delay can be attributed to Crib and Teen City not placing the order in a timely manner (that’s just a hunch based on the behavior of the salesperson when I first called to check the status of my order after 5 weeks).
We are the parents of twins and this is the second Infinity crib that we are purchasing from Crib and Teen City. The first was an Infinity crib in Chestnut finish that Crib and Teen City had in stock and we were able to pick up from them within one week of when we ordered. When we assembled the first crib, we found that a bolt was missing from the contents of the box. When I contacted Baby’s Dream, I received a prompt reply and the missing bolt was received within a matter of days. We were very pleased with the quality of the crib and Baby’s Dream’s prompt response to our request for the missing hardware, which is why we chose to order a second Infinity crib when our twins outgrew sharing the first crib. However, after this experience, I would not recommend that anyone purchase a Baby’s Dream crib, nor should they purchase from Crib and Teen City. This matter has taken constant follow up on my part with Crib and Teen City – I have to leave several voicemails before I receive a phone call back. I also sent an email to Baby’s Dream, but have received no response. Neither Baby’s Dream nor Crib and Teen City have offered so much as an apology let alone any other kind of compensation.
I feel very strongly that cribs should be delivered within the time frame that is quoted. Parents rely on a salesperson’s information to plan for their new arrival and it is very difficult to make do while waiting for a crib.
Thank you for your time and I hope that our story can benefit your future readers.
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This sounds like a retailer issue, frankly. I ordered a Baby’s Dream Infinity from Baby’s 1st Furniture in Houston, and it showed up in 3 weeks, even though they stated 4-6. Unless they’ve had ANOTHER huge warehouse between the beginning of March and end of April.
In my opinion, a retailer that wants payment in full before placing the order is a huge warning claxon.
This sounds like a retailer issue, frankly. I ordered a Baby’s Dream Infinity from Baby’s 1st Furniture in Houston, and it showed up in 3 weeks, even though they stated 4-6. Unless they’ve had ANOTHER huge warehouse between the beginning of March and end of April.
In my opinion, a retailer that wants payment in full before placing the order is a huge warning claxon.
So sorry that you have had this problem. I browsed the Springfield, NJ location of this retailer around the same time as your order. However, I was unimpressed with the sales floor and condition of the store, not to mention the sales staff (one grumpy man on a cell phone w/ an overflowing dirty ashtray on the sales counter!) I have since noticed that the store seems vacant (as many funiture stores on this particular strip of highway become).
I do hope that you are able to rectify the situation through the retailer as that is where you have invested your monies for promised product. In the meantime, I would reccommend trying the BBB of NJ- perhaps they can be of assistance.
So sorry that you have had this problem. I browsed the Springfield, NJ location of this retailer around the same time as your order. However, I was unimpressed with the sales floor and condition of the store, not to mention the sales staff (one grumpy man on a cell phone w/ an overflowing dirty ashtray on the sales counter!) I have since noticed that the store seems vacant (as many funiture stores on this particular strip of highway become).
I do hope that you are able to rectify the situation through the retailer as that is where you have invested your monies for promised product. In the meantime, I would reccommend trying the BBB of NJ- perhaps they can be of assistance.
i had a terrible experience with the springfield, nj location as well…i called before i went and asked if they had a FULL selection of baby’s dream and they assured me they did. they did not and once i got there tried to push some other line on me. instead i went to buy buy baby and ordered it..it came on time and in perfect condition and one year later has stayed that way. please don’t let the retailer discourage you from the product.
i had a terrible experience with the springfield, nj location as well…i called before i went and asked if they had a FULL selection of baby’s dream and they assured me they did. they did not and once i got there tried to push some other line on me. instead i went to buy buy baby and ordered it..it came on time and in perfect condition and one year later has stayed that way. please don’t let the retailer discourage you from the product.
I, too, believe that this is a problem with your retailer and not the manufacturer, Baby’s Dream. We purchased our Baby’s Dream crib and dresser from USA Baby in California and both pieces were completed within the quoted time. We love our crib, as well as my many friends who also have Baby’s Dream cribs purchased from various retailers, and not had any problems.
I, too, believe that this is a problem with your retailer and not the manufacturer, Baby’s Dream. We purchased our Baby’s Dream crib and dresser from USA Baby in California and both pieces were completed within the quoted time. We love our crib, as well as my many friends who also have Baby’s Dream cribs purchased from various retailers, and not had any problems.
I purchased a the Baby’s Dream Infinity crib in Cherry finish in Jan 2007. I bought it at USA Baby in Wisconsin. The crib arrived in the 4 week window they promised. We also purchased the matching dresser and both are of good quality and we are purchasing another crib now that we are having twins.
I purchased a the Baby’s Dream Infinity crib in Cherry finish in Jan 2007. I bought it at USA Baby in Wisconsin. The crib arrived in the 4 week window they promised. We also purchased the matching dresser and both are of good quality and we are purchasing another crib now that we are having twins.
Once you run into problems with your furniture, Crib and Teen City’s customer service department is horrible. They will not pick up the phone and they do not return calls till days later. Even the owner of the company is rude to customer’s. He does not even offer up an apology. You can’t receive a refund and it takes a long time to receive replacements. Avoid!!! Research and visit another retailer.
Once you run into problems with your furniture, Crib and Teen City’s customer service department is horrible. They will not pick up the phone and they do not return calls till days later. Even the owner of the company is rude to customer’s. He does not even offer up an apology. You can’t receive a refund and it takes a long time to receive replacements. Avoid!!! Research and visit another retailer.
I agree with the other posts saying this is a retailer issue. We purchased a Baby’s Dream crib and changing table from a retailer here in Los Angeles. The items were received in a timely manner (definitely within the 4-6 week window) and were of excellent quality with no defects. I suggest people avoid your specific retailer, but not Baby’s Dream.
I agree with the other posts saying this is a retailer issue. We purchased a Baby’s Dream crib and changing table from a retailer here in Los Angeles. The items were received in a timely manner (definitely within the 4-6 week window) and were of excellent quality with no defects. I suggest people avoid your specific retailer, but not Baby’s Dream.
“staff (one grumpy man on a cell phone w/ an overflowing dirty ashtray on the sales counter!)”
What kind of baby store allows staff to SMOKE inside the store? OMG. The minute I noticed something like that I would leave the store, no matter what I needed to buy. That is just ridiculous.
“staff (one grumpy man on a cell phone w/ an overflowing dirty ashtray on the sales counter!)”
What kind of baby store allows staff to SMOKE inside the store? OMG. The minute I noticed something like that I would leave the store, no matter what I needed to buy. That is just ridiculous.
I also purchased 2 complete Generation Next (bed, armoire, and changing tables) room sets for my boys 2.5 years apart in age. My retailer was in Orlando, FL. and provided wonderful service, delivery, assembly, and follow-up. We love our Baby’s Dream furniture, and recommend to friends whenever the need arises.
Hope you’ve been able to resolve your difficulty with this retailer favorably.
I also purchased 2 complete Generation Next (bed, armoire, and changing tables) room sets for my boys 2.5 years apart in age. My retailer was in Orlando, FL. and provided wonderful service, delivery, assembly, and follow-up. We love our Baby’s Dream furniture, and recommend to friends whenever the need arises.
Hope you’ve been able to resolve your difficulty with this retailer favorably.