Renting Toys?
Called the Netflix of toys, Toygaroo allows parents to make sure there are plenty of Christmas gifts for their kids at just a fraction of the price of buying. The catch? You have to give them all back. Granted, most kids seem to only play with toys for a little while before they get bored, but how do you tell your kids after just a few weeks that they need to give back their toy? What happens if the toys break? Eventually it seems all toys that kids get break, so that would seem to be a problem. Also, what does the company do with the returned toys? Are they disinfected? This is not a DVD or game that is easy to reuse and probably has not been licked and sucked and puked on, this is a toy so I wonder how many times it gets reused.
The company says they sanitize everything. Uh huh. They also say that if something breaks, that parents can buy it at a discounted cost. Yeah, but what if you are parent #6 in the chain. Are you paying the same as if you were parent #1? The cheapest option is a box of four toys which is $25 a month and has a retail value of $112. Is it worth it? Would you rent toys for your kids?
i would use this. but in a little different way thnan you described. i'd use it to try out what my kids would like. i have brought home so many things that were great JUST UNTIL; i threw the box out. i don't mind paying for things they use, but it bugs me to see something i paid $40-$60 sitting on the shelf week, after week.... seems like this could be a time saver.
ReplyDeleteso many loopholes, so many what if's. I'm glad my toys days are over anyway.
ReplyDeleteWTH? Ah, no..."sorry honey but our rent is due and we have no money". I don't know but I'm not getting over the ick factor
ReplyDeleteMy son never broke his toys, really, never. The only time any of his toys were broken were when an adult played with something. Specifically one uncle.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't go for this. I really liked Gamefly though! We haven't had it in awhile, I'm assuming it's still around.
Our family buys a lot of clothing second-hand, not really out of economic necessity but for environmental reasons and because we like funky styles that don't look like what everyone else is wearing. I also buy a lot of books second-hand, and read library books that have been touched by zillions of hands.
ReplyDeleteWe do buy second-hand toys as well, but mostly stuff like Barbies and Bratz and their giant wardrobes. I don't think I'd want rented or second-hand stuffed animals.
In general, I think the idea of renting consumer goods instead of buying them is a good one. Less stuff, less environmental damage, less clutter.
It is an interesting idea, especially for things that are very expensive but are really novelty items.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, i don't think i would do it. I prefer to buy (new or from craigslist) disinfect myself and then either pass the toys in to friends or donate when i am done (FYI, if you donat toys certain places throw them out because of possible lead issues so always check that they toys really will be repurposed).
I actually this could be a good idea. Kids today have wayyyy too many toys that they use once and end up taking up space in an overstuffed closet. Some responsible parents do donate them however many do not. I have friends who ask their friends not to buy toys for their children in favor of cash and gift cards as they get too many presents for birthdays & Christmas. I agree that there needs to be some depreciation, but it's a toy. Easier to sanitize than clothing. Anyone on here ever check out Rent The Runway? Where women can rent designer clothing? Sure, many people love thrift stores and rummaging through the racks at consignment stores, but RTR gives me an icky feeling way more than a kid playing with a used toy.
ReplyDeleteFor older children, this might be a good idea, as Me said above, to try out something before buying it. But for younger children I think it's a bad idea. Can a child like the one in the photo be able to comprehend that the toys are only there for a limited time? What if they become attached to a toy, and then it disappears? Also, for very young children, I'd probably be too afraid of germs. With older children, they'd probably be less likely to get sick.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on the child. Some kids really do get bored with their toys really quickly, but other will play and play and play with the same couple of toys all the time and become VERY attached to them. If I had the easily bored type, I might do this. Like many others, I've bought tons of stuff second hand, so the germ factor doesn't really bother me too much. However, I would be more comfortable with this for kids who have outgrown the stage of putting everything they touch in their mouth.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a decent idea. The sanitation problem doesn't worry me - I'm sure the company cleans them and then it's better than every daycare and preschool toy! In addition, most people are too freaked out about germs and sanitation, it's the way kids build up immunities. I have a feeling the rise of allergies and asthma in kids may be due to our over-sanitation. I grew up drinking water right out of my garden hose - it was the best water too.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great way to check out a toy before spending money, and if the kid breaks it better that price than a new one. My kid got bored with stuff after a month except his favorites, so at that time I could buy it for him knowing I'd get some use out of it.
My kid basically was clothed and got toys from GoodWill, Value Village and kid consignment stores where I had an account. Shoes I always bought, and the Big Special Toys, like new Lego set he Had To Have, etc.
I think it's actually an interesting concept. I just looked at their website & I think it seems to be geared more for kids 5 and under (although they do have a category for 5+). I thin it makes more sense for the little ones. Seems like kids would bore of playing with the same toy & in the instances of one that gets super attached, they have an option to buy it at a discounted price.
ReplyDeleteMy friends that are parents like to go to those toy/clothes swap meets to get stuff on the cheap, but at least this site guarantees the toys are sanitized.
Toy libraries are a great idea! It means kids learn the concept of borrowing. My sisters' kids always used toy libraries when they were little. And their immune systems were boosted appropriately - honestly, what sort of germs do you think kids are going to catch from other kids? Who are you, Howard Hughes? Ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteIn Australia Toy Libraries are as common as other libraries. They're fantastic and used by everyone!
ReplyDeleteThis lady who started this business was on Shark Tank--yes they sanitize the returned toys and I think they might only rent them a certain number of times but I'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteThe Sharks fought over who would get to invest in her--they thought she had a great idea with a big future.
I think it's a great idea too. Many people don't like shopping at Salvation Army or Value Village stores but I think they might find this more acceptable.
ReplyDeleteI might use this at some point -- great idea. It depends how much you spend on you'd per month vs. the rental fee. In my town there's a place where you pay like $3 and they do a toy library type thing, I should try that.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the germs -- we are a germ phobic culture. So much that it's compromising our collective health. There is no need for antibacterials. More harm, more staph infections. Plain old soap & water is fine folks.
I saw them on Shark Tank - can't remember if they got a deal or not. But it is a great concept, so many positives to it. Definitely saves your concern of having too much clutter in the house and always having to do a mass clean and dump it all.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. My daughter is 1 and loses interest instuff really quickly. I like the idea of a roation of stuff. If there was item that she did get particularly attached to at least I could go buying it knowing its going to get used.
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued...
Not a bad idea at all! I've actually been looking into renting baby clothes...why buy clothing when the baby will only fit into it for a few months, tops?
ReplyDelete