Baby Universe: Definitely the Most Choices!
Written: Aug 31 '05 (Updated Jul 23 '07)
| Ease of Ordering: |
 |
|
| Customer Service: |
|
|
| Selection: |
|
|
| On-Time Delivery: |
|
|
|
| Full Review |
There's nothing like procrastination, so leave it to me to still not have anywhere for the baby to sleep when I have three weeks at most until she arrives. I finally realized I had put off my decision far too long and went to order the Arm's Reach Original Co-Sleeper. A quick search found me not only the pattern I wanted, but it was at an online store that participated in Upromise: Baby Universe.
::: Navigating Around :::
The Baby Universe web site doesn't exactly have the most professional-looking web site, which can be a bit off-putting when you first see the site. Regular underlined links along the top of the splash page take you to your cart, order status, help, and, a refreshing option, a Spanish-language option. Directly below these links are tabs to the main sections of the site: Baby, Toddler, Youth, Maternity, Boutique, and a registry option for those who'd like to create their registry online.
The left side features a menu bar with more detailed departments; the right side features a column of boxes featuring a help number, information about the flat rate shipping fee, registry information, and other site features. The middle section feature two large graphics for featured items (like a sale and free shipping on Britax car seats, and below that, thumbnail pictures with links to the most popularly ordered items, like strollers and nursery furniture.
The bottom has a whole section of small print, basic web site information like contact information warranty information, and buying guides, and something that's becoming more and more popular with online stores: security verification and ratings. The Baby Universe features Verisign Secured, Visa and MasterCard Zero Liability, American Express Fraud Protection Guaranteed, PayPal verified, BizRate customer certified, and also displays their Shopping.com rating (which includes Epinions ratings).
Methods of payment accepted are MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Diner's Club, Discover, BillMe Later, electronic checks, and PayPal. Baby Universe also features $6.95 flat rate ground shipping (even on large items!), with express options available.
::: Finally Ordering :::
I was searching for a particular pattern for the Arm's Reach Original Co-Sleeper I wanted, and I was having a hard time finding it. Baby Universe was a bit more expensive than the lowest price that I found, but at the same time, it had the coveted Fern Star pattern that I wanted to match my new bedding (I know... too much obsessing there). I was able to quickly find the Co-Sleepers using the search link on Upromise, but was also able to find them easily using the search box on the splash page.
Baby Universe had the largest selection of patterns for this product that I'd seen in my searches, offering every pattern available in the Original, Universal, and Mini sizes. If you wanted a pink one, that was easy to find, and I hadn't seen that option on other sites. Thumbnails are provided for every item,l with the option to view larger images on the individual item pages.
Adding it to my shopping cart was a breeze, and it was also on sale for $40.00 off the usual price. The sheets were also on sale for $2.00 off each sheet. I was offered the choice of buying the item now or adding it to a registry, and once I added it to my cart, I was also offered other items. the one thing that was annoying was that it didn't offer RELATED items, for example, the extra sheets I needed to get for the Co-Sleeper.
I placed my order a little after midnight on a Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. I received email confirmation of my order almost immediately, and by 9:00 AM the next business day, I received confirmation that my order was shipped (and had actually been received by FedEx the previous day! FedEx Ground delivered the Co-Sleeper the following Tuesday, and the sheets arrived on Wednesday. The Co-Sleeper was shipped in its original box, and arrived in perfect condition, and the sheets were well- (and not over-) packed in a Tyvek envelope.
I had a very positive experience using Baby Universe, and wouldn't hesitate to shop with them again. I'll round up to 5 stars, but if we could ding a half star, I'd do that for the unrelated item suggestions and the cluttered splash page.
::: Update - August 2007 :::
Well, since I wrote this review, a lot has changed. BabyUniverse has updated its web site and looks like an actual online store now.
My mother often looks to us for suggestions for my kids' birthdays, and since Bug is actually coming up on four years old, he's ready for a big-boy belt-positioning booster (and his car seat is ready to be retired! It's on it's third kid!). He's a huge University of Georgia fan like his daddy and grand-dad, and when I spotted the UGA-themed Britax Parkway, I knew that would be a great gift my mom could get him.
I ordered the seat for her using my email address since her work account frowns upon use for things like this. Not only did I receive quick order confirmation, but I also received an email letting me know that the seat had shipped... in plenty of time to make it here for his birthday, and about three weeks earlier than anticipated!
In addition, even after the seat arrived in great condition, an email popped up in my inbox this evening from the president of Baby Universe thanking me for the order, and giving me a $10 coupon for my next Baby Universe. Our most recent experience has pushed a "Very Good" online store to a "Great!"
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Arm''s Reach Co-Sleeper and Sheets, Britax Booster
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
pippadaisy
|
 - Top 50 |
|
Reviews written: 1086
Trusted by: 177 members
About Me:
Divorce seriously cuts into the amount of time for reviewing.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.