Move over Mothercare! (kiddicare.com)

Member Name: mrsgladwin

Product:	kiddicare.com
Date:	15/06/09 (116 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Low cost, great product range

Disadvantages: Expensive delivery

When I was pregnant with my now three month old, (three months already, how is that even possible?!), my husband and I went on a mission to find all the stuff we'd need for our little one. The choice was overwhelming. After mooching around Mothercare we had a vague idea of what we wanted so we set about the task of researching on t'internet, to try and find the best deals. I had a look on my trusted cash back website and came across Kiddicare. I have to admit I'd never heard of it (although now I keep seeing it advertised as sponsoring Katie and Peter!) but I thought I'd check it out.

After a successful experience I am back again to check out their range of parasols for bambino's new pushchair.

~ Background~

Kiddicare was established in 1974 and is the largest privately owned nursery supplier to the public in the United Kingdom. They pride themselves on being the number one baby website in the UK. They have a store in Peterborough but those who live too far away will find it easier to use their website.

They sell pretty much everything you could possibly need for your little one. From nursery furniture and prams, to potties, baby gates and toys, their product range is pretty impressive.

They stock well known brands such as Graco, Quinny, Maclaren and Fisher Price at a discounted price, sometime as much as 80% off when they have a sale. In fact they say if you find the product cheaper anywhere else they'll refund the difference plus up to an extra 15% of the difference on top of that. I've never tested this claim however, because I am yet to find anything cheaper than what they advertise as.

They also sell handy little things that I would not have thought of if I hadn't seen them on this website such as clips for the pushchair to hang bags and snuggle nests to help newborns feel secure. Due to the low price, trying these products is a risk and worry free experience.

I have personally bought several items from here including the aforementioned pram clips, a Red Kite bouncer for £9.99 and bargain of the century, a car seat reduced from £89.99 to £24.99. Obviously as much as I love a bargain, I'm not willing to compromise my little one's safety and so I was slightly apprehensive when ordering these products. The bouncer was basic but sturdy and completely safe, whilst the car seat is just great. It adheres to all safety regulations, has a head support, safety ties and carry handle, all for £65 off RRP! Success!

However, they're not completely perfect as they don't stock all brands and as I had my heart set on a particular Mamas and Papas pram, I resorted to getting it from Argos.

As I said, since they won me over last time I have returned to find a parasol as I have no particular brand in mind. I am yet to order but after the initial price comparing Kiddicare seems to win again. They stock parasols from makes such as Clare de Lune, Red Kite and Quinny from as little as £7.49.



~ Website easy to use? ~

Very. Even a computer novice like me can figure it out. To search for an item there are drop down categories where you can select a brand (such as Graco), a category (such as baby swing) or you can simply type in the product you want. There are also wider categories that you can click on such as "car seat, carriers" and "toys, bouncers, swings", which are handy if you are just looking for a bit of inspiration and have nothing specific in mind.

Once you have selected your search the relevant items are displayed on screen. You can then sort the results by price, name, customer rating or best selling items. Before you even click on an item you can see the average ratings given by previous buyers and the first line or so of the latest review. Therefore if you see it's only got 1/5 and the open line says avoid, you know not to bother clicking on it.

You can further narrow the results by the options on the side of the screen, allowing you to choose a specific brand or a price range which is handy if the search brings up about 100 results ranging from £10-£100 and you want to pay between £20 and £30.

When you do click on an item to get more information, there are options to read all consumer reviews in more depth, read the product description and item specifications. I found the descriptions really in depth and factual, right down to the exact size of the item. The price and the recommended retail price are listed so you know how much you are saving. The picture can also be enlarged to gain a closer look at the product.

On the side of the screen it tells you when the item could be delivered by if you ordered it now. They also offer multi-buy savings, where they discount items if you buy more than one of the same thing. This could be particularly useful when ordering items as gifts when you want them to receive the same thing.

Once you have decided to purchase the item you select the number you would like buy and click "add to basket". From here you can continue to shop, or continue to check out. You can sign up and register which makes it easier if you are planning to use the site again, otherwise you can select the express checkout option where you do not need to register.

You can pay using your credit and debit card, through Google checkout, Cash-Ticket checkout or through Paypal, and are assured that their payment system is safe and secure. You then complete the step by step, easy to follow process to complete the order, telling them the delivery address, when you want it delivered and completing the payment.

They also do promotions where if you spend over £99 you can chose a free gift. The type of free gift increases with the amount you spend, if you spend £1000 for example, you can get a free crib worth £59.99 or travel cot worth £79.99. £1000 sounds a lot but if you are buying everything you need from here, i.e. nursery furniture, pram, moses basket, safety equipment etc, it soon adds up.
There is a useful "Help" section with frequently asked questions which gives information on things like delivery, returns policy and other issues. If the answer to your question is not there, you can also email a member of the team.

I found the buying and payment process extremely straight forward and didn't come across any problems at all.

~ Delivery ~

Providing you have placed your order before 5pm, you will receive your item the next working day, which in my opinion is great service. If you order any time at the weekend the earliest you can receive your item is Tuesday.

I have just checked the delivery costs and it says if your total order comes to £80 or more then delivery is free, otherwise it is £7.95, a bit steep if you're only ordering something small and inexpensive. When I ordered my last items I'm sure it was only £50 before you got free postage and £5.99 otherwise. This £7.95 fee makes my cheap parasol, not as cheap as I thought!

There is also the option to have your items delivered on a Saturday before 12 noon. The items will have to have been ordered before 12pm on the Friday and there is a charge of £12.99, regardless of your initial spend. This is handy for those who work all week and are unable to wait in for their items to arrive.

There is also the facility to track your order after it has been placed to give you an idea of when it is going to arrive.

I found the delivery of my items very prompt and had no problems at all. They arrived the next day as promised, were well packaged and I was delighted with the items themselves.

~ Returns ~

Kiddicare state that if you are unhappy for any reason with your purchases you can return them within 21 days in their original packaging and receive a refund. They give a step by step guide on what to do if you do want to return your items and state that if the items are unwanted postage charges will have to be paid by you. However if the item is faulty you do not need to pay for postage, they will pay for you.

I have never had to return anything so unfortunately cannot comment on how good this part of the service is, but from the explanation given it seems pretty simple.

~ Cashback? ~

It's also worth noting that if you buy online through you can also get up to 4% cash back if you pay through Cashback Kings.

~ Overall ~

I am giving the website 4/5 because I am a bit stingy and would prefer free delivery on everything because if you're only after something small and inexpensive the delivery costs can make it not worth buying.

www.kiddicare.com

~ Summary ~

1) Easy to use website
2) Good quality items at low price
3) Fast delivery
4) Expensive delivery

Summary: Still works out cheaper than Mothercare for most items