BirthdayExpress.com -My favorite party supply store PLUS!
Written: Sep 23 '02
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BirthdayExpress.com is a business that offers party supplies, costumes, toys, party planning ideas, some shockwave games for fun, and interesting birthday gifts.
I have used their service 4 times – 2 for parties and 2 for Halloween costumes.
For the first party I ordered their “Deluxe pak plus give boxes” package in the “Zoo Party” theme. Included (for eight) were invitations, 8" plates, cups, forks, spoons, 16 napkins, a tablecover, 8 placemats with games printed on the back, a centerpiece, one mylar balloon, 8 balloons in three colors(24 total), three 81' rolls of crepe paper streamers, 50 yards of curling ribbon, candles, 3 flocked jungle animals, 2 sheets of gift wrap, and a party planning guide that included some recipes, some game ideas, and successful party tips. Additionally, there were 8 “gift boxes” that you fold up and fill with the toys provided.
All of the plates, cups, napkins, boxes, forks and spoons are very sturdy and high quality. There is nothing flimsy or weak about any of these items. The balloons are high quality latex and the colors are beautiful. We still have the mylar balloon with the gorgeous zoo picture on it...I hung it on my son’s wall after it lost its helium.
The invitations and “Thank you” cards are beautifully printed on heavy card stock. There was tons of crepe paper and ribbon - plenty to tie to balloons and decorate the picnic area where we had the party. The tablecloth was a little thin and wouldn’t stay on the table in soft breeze – we solved this problem the next time by bringing duct tape and making sure the overhang was securely taped to the underside of the picnic table.
Also, you need to provide your own helium if you want “floating” balloons!
For the price it seemed to me that the flocked animals for the centerpiece were a little “cheap” as well as the standard toys that come with the gift boxes. I ended up augmenting the boxes by adding some candy and other trinkets I picked up while grocery shopping. It didn’t bother my son though. He loved all the parts – especially helping to fill the boxes and label them for the kids.
I actually found BirthdayExpress.com through their catalog, which I received in the (snail) mail.
I was planning my son's 3rd birthday party and so we sat down together with this catalog to get ideas on what he thought would be fun.
After looking at EVERY page he decided on a "Zoo Party". The package looked great and the price was “ok” but for convenience sake I went for it. Of course, I had procrastinated like usual and was ordering the supplies only about 2 weeks in advance of the actual party. I noted there was a website and decided to order via the web instead of the phone.
A few days after I place my order I received a call from their customer service. She wanted to verify the party date, and clarify the items that would be arriving. We needed to substitute one of the toys in the gift box and she called to give me the options. I ended up “upgrading” one of the toys to the set of animal masks, which were a big hit. I also added thank you cards to my order and it was sent out the next day. We received the box of supplies in plenty of time for the party.
I was very pleased with the products, the customer service, and the offerings. So, we did it again for my son’s 5th birthday party. This year we had a “Lego racing car” theme and we essentially bought the same package. The party was a hit and my son was thrilled with the checkered flags centerpiece items, the extra themed candles, and the little trophies for the gift boxes.
Again, the plates, napkins, cups, placemats, forks and spoons were strong, heavyweight paper and plastic. The forks and spoons can be reused for a LONG time – they rival my silverware in solidity!
The website is very easy to navigate. The list of available parties is huge and includes popular current themes like “Spiderman” and “Monster’s Inc.” and timeless themes such as “Fire Trucks” and “Barbie”.
Each party page includes packages to purchase and a list of individual items which can be purchased separately. You save $$ when you buy the package – provided you wanted all that stuff in the first place. There are also links from that page to additional items (toys, games, favors) that relate to that theme. I looked hard to see if they sold anything additional that looked like a trophy – that was my sons favorite part of his Hot Wheels party – and they didn’t have much, but then again, neither did anyone else!! For instance, if you wanted a “bowling” theme for your party you can also purchase separately a bowling pin piñata or a “paint the pins” activity – fun stuff!
I have also purchased 2 of my son’s Halloween costumes though them. The most recent was a Pikachu costume “on sale” for $10.66! That was a bargain I couldn’t pass up. Now, why my son wanted Pokemon when there is a WAY cool (albeit expensive) Spiderman costume available I will never know. I ordered the costume and it arrived within 4 days. It’s the standard one piece, 100% polyester, bodysuit with a foam headpiece. Nothing special but exactly what my son wanted. I also liked the fact that the costumes were available on the site quite early in September. Nice to have that little detail out of the way!
This site really has something for everybody – I mean, who knew you could theme a party around gymnastics, butterflies, or N Sync!!
Check it out for your next party – or check that bargain bin this years Halloween costume – the prices really have a big range –some of them run about $60.00. I think I lucked out this year with Pikachu!
Some other nice details…
Live Help option – very nice if you have questions that are not answered on the site.
Order a hard copy catalog.
Secure online ordering.
Accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Discover
Carries the Bizrate.com customer certification and the BBBonline reliability seal.
Several shipping options are offered, including express and international. Pricing for shipping is fairly standard.
All my experiences with this company have been great. I will definitely shop with them again!
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest
Reviews written: 35
Trusted by: 33 members
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