Not happy with Fisher Price, re: Laugh n Learn Learning Home

[Clarity]

I know a lot of people have the LnL Learning Home and have been pretty happy with it but I'm currently not, nor am I satisfied with Fisher Price's customer service. I posted recently that the LnL Learning Home that I bought for dd1 about 2 years ago has stopped working. The sound is gone. We've replaced the batteries twice, didn't help.

So I finally realize it is truly broke and get on the phone with Fisher Price customer service. They say "take apart the clock and reconnect the cables". I hang up and try that. Still nothing. I called F.P. again to let them know that didn't work and the answer was pretty much, "I'm sorry you paid almost $70 for a product that stopped working after just 2 years. We only offer a 1 year warrenty. There's nothing we can do for you."

I am actually pretty disgusted that 1) a $70 dollar toy only lasts 2 years, and 2) that Fisher Price does not stand behind their product and offer some sort of solution or replacement.

I won't be recommending the toy anymore.

[happymom]

I would try calling back and talking to someone else. I had an experience with Fisher Price too- I received a Fisher Price bouncer as a baby gift and beforre I even opened it, I read reviews online about it. Everyone hated it because it had hard plastic toys hanging from the bar that would detach and hit the babies in the face. I called Fisher Price on a whim to see what they would offer. The first person I spoke to basically said "sorry, nothing we can do." I called back. The second person offered to send me a voucher for the value of the bouncer. I was very happy with that.

Try calling back.

[NewfieNat]

The same thing happened to me. I replaced the batteries, took the whole thing apart, etc. Finally called FP who gave me simple instructions to reset it. It worked! I'm sorry I don't remember the instructions, it had something to do with the light switch. I'd call FP back and ask for specific steps.

Natalie

[vonfirmath]

I guess I don't see it as that weird that you spend $70 on a baby toy that doesn't last forever. I'd be upset too. But you did get 2 years of use out of it. I've got a toy I spent that much on that didn't last that long. But it was out of warranty so I figured it lasted as long as the company expected it to.

If they expected it to last 5 years, they'd put a 5 year warranty on it.

[Clarity]

Originally Posted by vonfirmath

If they expected it to last 5 years, they'd put a 5 year warranty on it.

I don't agree with this assessment. To extrapolate, this would mean that auto dealers only expect their cars to last 3 years because they warrenty them for 3 years. We ALL expect our vehicles to last longer than 3years.

In this case, if I thought that FP only gave a 1 year warrenty because that's how long they expected their toy to last, I certainly would never have purchased it. I'm disappointed because I do expect a toy to last longer than 2 years. Well cared for, I expect it to last until my child grows out of it.

[DrSally]

I would try calling back too, maybe you'll get someone who knows how to "reset" it or a more satisfactory solution. I called about a spring that broke on our highchair tray. It was out of warranty, but she left the phone briefly and came back and said they were sending a brand new tray, no charge. Also, I believe the ball popper I bought at Once Upon a child didn't have any balls and I really wanted it for DS. I called and they sent me a pack of balls, free of charge. I agree that just b/c the warranty is 1 year, doesn't mean the product should only last a year. That's silly. Ours is still fine at 3.5 years.

[KrisM]

Our first one died in less than a year. That was 4 years ago now. They sent a new one for free. But, it was under warranty.

I would call back and if the person can't help, ask to speak to someone else. See if they'll give you a voucher or something.

I would expect it to last well over 2 years, regardless of the cost.

[vonfirmath]

Originally Posted by Clarity

I don't agree with this assessment. To extrapolate, this would mean that auto dealers only expect their cars to last 3 years because they warrenty them for 3 years. We ALL expect our vehicles to last longer than 3years.

Actually, an awful lot of cars that I've bought have 10 year/100,000 mile warranties on them. And I have noticed that cars start breaking down after that.

[Clarity]

The fact remains that yes, I do expect my purchases to last longer than the period for which they are warrantied.

[Piglet]

I do too, but I can not expect the manufacturer to help me out past a certain point or there would be no point in limiting the warranty at all. They would have to have a lifetime warranty and the cost would be higher for the product to account for all the repair work that everyone requires. I don't see how F-P is a bad company in this regard. They are very good about fixing things within the warranty period and will sometimes go above and beyond (for which I am grateful). If you buy something with a 1 year warranty you can expect it to last for a long time (which is may or may not do), but you can not expect the company to repair it after that warranty expires.