Don't buy if you want your stroller to go straight
Written: Jan 16 '02 (Updated Jan 16 '02)
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Pros: Inexpensive, looks nice, folds down to small size, good customer service
Cons: Doesn't steer straight -- which will drive you nuts!!!
The Bottom Line: If you don't mind going left when you want to go straight, this is the stroller for you!!
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| Studley's Full Review: Baby Jogger Twinkle |
I just bought this stroller from Overstock.com for $85. When I received it (it's new, was in an unopened box and isn't supposed to be a factory second or anything like that), it came missing a major part -- the whole seat. Well I called the manufacturer and they quickly sent one to me via Priority Mail, so their service was very good. However, Baby Jogger's packing of the boxes could be better.
Assembly takes about 20 minutes. Certain parts like the 3 wheels have already been assembled on their axles at the factory. You just have to bolt the wheel axles into the stroller's aluminum frame.
One problem on the factory assembly though: the front wheel on mine was sliding to much on its axle, making it wobbly. I was able to fix it once I took the time to figure it out. However, that wasn't supposed to be part of the assembly process and, in my opinion, shows poor quality control by the manufacturer.
Once I got the stroller assembled, I noticed that the stroller tended to go left when I pushed it straight.
Before I go on, I should mention that on a "jogging" type of stroller such as the Twinkle, the front wheel does not pivot like on a conventional stroller. It always should point straight. You turn the stroller by leaning the stroller slightly back, so the front wheel goes off the ground, turning the stroller in the desired direction, then letting down the front wheel. This takes some getting used to, and it's definitely not as maneuverable as a regular stroller -- which some people (like my wife) may not like.
OK, back to my newly assembled stroller, which veers left when it should be going straight. There are really no adjustments you can make to fix this and get the wheel properly aligned. The only fix I could figure out was to manually try to bend the aluminum frame that serves as the front fork, so each side that holds the front wheel is even with the other side.
By bending the frame, I made it slightly better, but the stroller still didn't go straight, and I was worried I'd break the frame by bending it anymore.
Next thing I did was email the manufacturer. They emailed me back and acknowledged the problem. The customer service rep at Baby Jogger said:
"I am so sorry you are having a tracking problem. Unfortunately because the Twinkle is not designed for jogging but just for malls etc. and is our lower-end model, tracking could be a problem. However you mentioned pushing the frame back a little, and that has been done to success. Use caution in the amount of pressure you use though."
Well, as I mentioned, I couldn't fix it by bending it any further, and even when you're just walking in a mall, trying to go straight, it's kind of annoying to have to readjust and straighten the stroller out every 25 feet.
As you probably guessed, I'm sending my Twinkle stroller back for a refund.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 85
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months
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Epinions.com ID:
Studley
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Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
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