Three, Three, Three Sites In One! SlinkyToys.com Is A Barrel of Fun!
Written: Jul 29 '04
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I am assuming that every person knows what a Slinky is; those coiled metal toys that walk down stairs alone or in pairs … Slinky. When I started to look for a particular Slinky toy – the Slinky Dog from the Toy Story films, I had a little trouble finding one online. The one that I had was destroyed when one of the dogs got a hold of it and mangled it – sort of ironic that a toy dog would get destroyed by a dog. In the midst of it all I came across SlinkyToys.com and assumed that it would have exactly what I needed. I was partially right; they do sell a variety of Slinky based items but I was totally blown away but the educational supplies and kits they carried. When I called in my youngest and showed him some of the kits they carry at the site he almost lost it – fingerprint kits, magnet kits, Amazing Earthquake series, Space Theater Planetarium and a ton of earth science kits. I was really shocked at the prices they were charging too; when I started to compare prices online, the site was the lowest around. That, to me, is a great sign – but with quick delivery, moderate shipping fees and their Book of The Month Club also factors – I have nothing but great things to say about this site and how they handle their customers.
Selection
The site is actually a branch off of the main Slinky site – from there you can access the Poof! Toys [foam toys], Slinky Science or the basic Slinky site filled with toys, pets and spring toys. I spend a majority of the time in the science section but have ordered from all three sections of the site – something that is easy to do because they are all linked together. If you are browsing the sites and want to order something from each of them, all the items are combined into one shopping cart to save you time, money on shipping and allow for an easier return process if you need to do an exchange or return. I really like the idea of all three main sites being linked together, it makes shopping easier and if you ever get lost, all you have to is go back to the main page of the online catalog to start over.
When I first came across the site I though it would be nothing more than a bunch of Slinky toys and maybe a few assorted oddities. What I didn’t expect to find was a plethora of awesome educational kits that they boys went crazy over. Their favorite part of the site is the Magic Science section that incorporates the elements of magic and science into an entertaining learning experience. Outside of that, there are basic activity kits, magnets, lab activities, standard science kits, add on workbooks / activity books and Fun Labs. A majority of the items they sell are education based but so much fun that kids forget they are learning. The Buki Book of The Month Club is also a great pick for younger kids – between the ages of three and seven – and a great little surprise for them to look forward to every month. We hit is section of the site the most and it is one of the boys favorite to visit and one of my favorites to purchase from.
The educational kits and stand alone products that we purchased at the online store have all been great picks. They combine entertainment and education into things like learning about volcano’s, building a waterfall, rock gardens, learning about fingerprints, assorted animals and their favorite pick – The Young Architect. I was a little leery about buying this due to the huge price tag but they assured me that it was something that they would use over and over again and not just for its intended purpose. That was over a year ago and it is something that they do use on a regular basis for science projects, working on their Lego designs and learning about the basics of architecture and building plans. All of the kits they wanted have been put to good use, are well worth the price and will help give your child a true advantage in the classroom. Another great item to check out is the Design Your Own Light Show Lamp ; for less than $20.00 your child can make his or her own lamp and if that doesn’t sound all that appealing … you have to see how incredible these look when they are finished.
Navigation
Getting around the site is easy – and the fact that all three of the main sites are linked together means that your order is combined to save on shipping fees and delivery time. Almost every single product listed at the site feature a color photo, detailed description and what age group it would be best for. I’ve never run across any dead links but there were a few times that I got error pages when adding things to the shopping cart. When I check it, the items I wanted were indeed in there even though the error message came up almost every single time. There’s no pop up advertising and the site is 100% smut and filth free so it’s great for kids to check out without having to worry about them coming across anything objectionable.
Shipping & Returns
The cost for shipping is determined by the dollar amount however you have to add something to your cart to see what they charge will be. Most of my orders have been in the $75.00 price range and cost about $9.00 to ship, not bad at all when you look at other sites and the prices that they charge. My orders have arrived via ground shipping and with in the quoted time frame, expertly packed and usually with a nice thank you note tucked inside. Returns can be made within 30 days for defects or standard returns, use the form provided at the site
Customer Service
Poof Slinky
45400 Helm Street
PO Box 701394
Plymouth, MI 48170-0964
[800] 329-TOYS
[734] 454-9552
[734] 454-9540
www.slinkytoys.com/customercare.asp
You can access all the firms you need to keep in touch with the site from one convenient page. Returns, customer concerns, comments, inquires and more can all be handled from one page. If you aren’t someone that likes to use forms or wait for a reply, you can call the toll free customer service number to speak with a representative. Anytime I have used any of the forms I got a quick reply, usually within a 12 hour period during the week.
The Bottom Line
I really enjoy checking out all three of the sites that are hosted at SlinkyToys.com and no matter what you are looking for, if it is Slinky related; chances are you will be able to find it at this great site. The prices are great, customer services is awesome, navigation is a snap and the quality of the goods is outstanding. If you are looking for a unique toy, something that’s educational yet entertaining or just trying to complete a collection, I have to highly recommend checking out this site! It is appropriate viewing for all ages and is a lot of fun. Barring a few minor issues with error messages, I’ve had nothing but great luck with this site and if you are a Slinky lover, this is definitely one to bookmark.
As always, thanks for the read!
~^V^~ Freak ~^V^~
© 2004 Freak369
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Recommended:
Yes
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