KBToys

Full review


Shopping for toys is one of my favorite things to do. As you might know from my previous reviews I’m a Lego junkie and my boys are following on my footsteps. There are only a few KB Toy Stores in my area and we try to hit them about once a week to clean up on sale items. From time to time I check out the clearance section of the KB website to see what they have to offer and most of the time they have the same variety as the stores. The prices at the website are a little slower to fall than those of the retail outlets and stores – but make no mistake about it – there are plenty of bargains to be had at the website.

Site Navigation

As a whole the site is pretty easy to use but from time to time you might experience slow page loads or pages that just seem the hang there. When you first hit the site you might get a pop up offering you the chance to sign up for the newsletter. This is a great thing to subscribe to since you’ll be notified of new toys, sales, clearance items and updates to the site. So far I haven’t gotten any spam from the site and as per their customer privacy policy – they won’t sell your name, information or email address to anyone. The tabs at the top of the page direct you to the main sections of the site and the first one I always check out is the “clearance” area. Once you go to any main area you can redefine your search by age, type of toy or price. A really nice perk of the site is the wish list that you can create to keep track of items you want to purchase or you can sent it to relatives as a shopping guide.

Physical Vs. Retail

When you are dealing with a company that has both a physical and internet based storefront you have to know what you are looking for, the suggested retail price, sales that may be going on at other sites and stores and if it really is a bargain. Let’s face it, the KB Toy stores are cluttered, lack any stock and are often crammed into a tight space making it difficult to navigate or shop. I pity the parents that have to endure this store with a stroller because I have trouble getting around on my own two feet. The up side to shopping at a physical store is the hidden bargains that aren’t often featured at the site. Dented boxes, missing instructions and my personal favorite – old overstock – are just a few of the reasons you’ll see those lovely neon orange clearance stickers on products.

Shopping the site lets you look at the product, get the basics about, age recommendations, shipping information and price. If you aren’t a savvy internet shopper you might want to do some research first before you add something to your cart – even if it is on sale. In the old “dot com” days there used to be a multitude of internet coupons for free items, $5.00 off or free shipping. Sadly, these perks have come and gone and when they do surface – you should snap them up and be grateful for them. As much as I loathe shopping at the physical stores during the holidays there are great bargains to be found – but shopping at the internet site can be fruitful as well – providing that you are an informed shopper that knows a bargain when they see one.

Prices

Occasionally you’ll be able to pickup some great deals at the site. Since the majority of the products I purchase at the site are Lego related I pretty much know the standard prices and can pick out the deals. On average the prices are between one to three dollars more at the site than at other, larger chain stores. Example: A majority of the Lego Bionicle sets are on clearance at Wal-Mart [physical stores] for $3.00 however the KB Kids site still has them listed at $7.99 and $8.99. Knowing what is hot, what is being phased out and who has the best deals is all part of the game when it comes to picking up toys. However from time to time you’ll find a deal like this … The Lego Adventurers series River Raft was on sale for $1.74 – since this is an older set you’d be hard pressed to find it anywhere at that price. I really regret not placing my order earlier today since it’s now no longer listed at the site [sold out]. The site updates frequently so you’ll never have to play a waiting game to see if something is really in stock. So far I’ve only had one item listed as unavailable when my order was completed and this was something that older, on sale and in demand [a Lego castle set].

Overall the prices at the site are comparable to other toy sites and physical retail toy stores but they aren’t as good as Wal-Mart or Target. The real advantage to shopping on line rather than at a KB Toy Store is that you don’t have to navigate through unorganized aisles, deal with a limited inventory and have to wait for someone to see if a product is in stock.

Return Policy

You have thirty days from the date your order is received to return any items that you do not wish to keep. Items should be in the original package, unopened and in an acceptable condition for resale. If you have a defective item, call the customer service department about an exchange or refund and how you can go about starting the process. If you have a KB Toys in your area, you can return your item within thirty days for a refund or exchange however those KB Toys located inside Sears stores will not participate in this refund program. I’ve never seen a KB Toys inside a Sears so I don’t know how many of them there are around the country.

Unless KB made a mistake packing the order, the shipping fees are not refundable. To get a refund for shipping you have to return the item to KB via mail – not at a retail store. If you don’t have your packing slip from your order your refund will be given to you in the form of a KB Gift Card. It really pays to hold on to the packing slip because if an item is on sale in the store but you paid full price for it from the website – they will only be able to refund you the price that they are offering it for at the store.

Video games, cassettes and computer software must be returned sealed or you will not receive a refund. If there is a defect in the game, tape or software you can return it for an even exchange of the same title. If you plan on purchasing a video game system or have already purchased one, please read the important information regarding warranties and replacements of defective units at the site. For more information regarding returns or for more information, please use this link: http://www.kbtoys.com/help/returnEmail.html to fill out a form for more help or to return an oversized item.

Payment Options

If you want to shop at the site, you can use your MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover card. Like most other sites, you can also use your bank debit card for purchases however you should be made aware of how the site charges your card. Purchases are only drawn [or posted] to your credit or debit card when the order is filled. The total amount of the order is processed to make sure that there are enough funds available or that you are not over your limit. If you are running on a tight budget you should read about the billing procedures before you place an order. If you aren’t a credit card person and prefer to do things with money orders or checks, you are out of luck because the site doesn’t offer these types of payment options.

I’ve only used my MasterCard at the site and have never had any trouble with over billing, double billing or being charged an amount other than what was quoted during the check out process. This is a major credit card, not a bank issued debit card. Please, if you are using a bank issued debit card that is attached to your checking account please read the information at the site about how your card is charged to avoid any insufficient funds fees or bounced checks.

Contact Information

KBtoys.com [Online Headquarters]
1099 18th Street
Suite 1800
Denver, CO 80202

customerservice@shop.kbtoys.com

[877] 452-5437 – toll free customer assistance available from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday and from 10 am to 6 pm Saturday [eastern standard time]. If you have any questions about a product, availability of an item, shipping fees or credit card processing feel free to call the great people at the customer service center for more assistance.

Customer Service

The few times that I have had to call about a product to get further information or check on the status of an order my calls were answered in a quick manner – most times less than three minutes. The customer service operators seemed like they knew what they were talking about and were extremely courteous. One of them even started grilling me about the older Star Wars Lego sets that were on clearance at one of the physical stores – he wanted to know how much they were, how many were left and if there were any others in the series that were marked down. It’s this kind of customer interaction that often makes or breaks an internet business. Who wants to call and talk to someone that is a dry as burnt toast and treats you like a number?

Shipping Fees & Options

You can have your order delivered in several different ways – but the faster you want it – the more you will end up paying. You are zapped with a base flat rate for shipping then a price per pound fee. Example: If you order several Lego sets that are priced at $2.97 [sale] this is what the shipping fees and destination times will look like:

Standard 5 – 10 days - $8.15
Premium 4 – 5 days - $17.35
Express 3 – 4 days - $28.55

These delivery time are only for business / delivery carrier operational days and do not include Sundays. So for an order that cost $14.85 you are looking at a pretty steep shipping fee for anything outside the Standard shipping option. When I order I try to make the most of it and see exactly how much I can squeeze into an order. Sometimes I end up getting zapped and other times I make out like a bandit – as I said earlier – knowing the prices of the items you are ordering and taking into consideration the shipping fees – you can determine exactly how great a deal you are getting.

The Bottom Line

I’d be hard pressed to have to pick the internet site over the retail store since there are plusses and minuses to both of them. If you are pressed for time and know what you want to buy them the website is probably your best bet. If you are looking for a great deal and don’t mind rummaging through a war zone then the retail stores are best for you. I won’t be giving up either one of these options any time soon, the customer service via telephone and email is exceptions and I really wish the stores the same type of friendly treatment. Know what you are shopping for, current prices and factor in the shipping fees [and sales tax if applicable] to see if you are getting a great deal or not.



As always, thanks for the visit …

^V^ Freak ^V^

© 2003 Freak369


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