Plan Toys City Series Parking Garage
by Plan Toys
List Price:
Our Price: $65.99
You Save: $34.00 (34%)
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Buy Used: from $50.00 (click here)
Category: Toy
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: Plan ToysBrand: Plan Toys
Release Date: 2009-08-01
Model: 6227
Product features:
- PlanToys create to inspire children's imagination as well as promote their physical and intellectual development
- PlanToys practices the "Three R's" of green living: reduce, reuse, and recycle
- PlanToys incorporates thoughtful design and age-appropriate challenges to stimulate children's creativity
- The Plan Toys City Series Parking Garage is an imagination building play toy that kids can use to enjoy hours of fun
- The Plan City category is great fun and helps children learn about transportation systems and different occupations in a city
Toys and Games Reviews of Plan Toys City Series Parking Garage
Customer Review: Big Christmas disappointment
Summary: 2 Stars
I really wanted to love this toy. Overall, it is very sturdy and super cute. We had the old version, where the elevator hangs off to the side, which is still being sold in some places. The old version has a bigger elevator - hence the "It does/does not fit matchbox cars" confusion. The old version was supposed to have been discontinued in 2008ish but it is still being sold in some places - we just got it, for Christmas 2010.
Our elevator broke within ONE DAY.
Plan agreed to send me a new part - to their credit they are great about sending parts. In the mean time I set about fixing the old one. It's not easy getting that black knob off on top, but I managed. Basically there is a tiny piece of plastic under that black knob on top that serves as a clicker - the gear around the spool under the knob clicks against this to make the elevator ratchet up and down rather than slip when you reposition your hand. Without that clicker, the toy is very frustrating for little hands to work.
This is not a matter of a child being hard on a toy - it's a matter of poor design. So if you're hoping like I was that your kids will be easier on the toy - it won't help. I don't think my kids were rough with this.
I tried to replace the clicker that broke off with a bit of a starbucks gift card but it broke shortly, too. (I had to drill into the dowel holding it, and hold it in place with hot glue) I tried to find another sort of plastic that would be strong enough to hold up the elevator but not break under repeated stress. I tested the "cookie cards" from our grocery store, which also break under repeated stress - as well as milk jug plastic, which seemed less prone to breakage didn't hold up the elevator consistantly (too thin).
In the mean time the new part came and I thought I would put it on and see how it holds up while I work on a fix for the old part - well the replacement part was put together backwards (roof was on wrong) so it could not be installed at all. And I was down to one day left to return this toy to where I bought it.
I ended up returning this toy. I wanted to love it so bad, but the elevator is the best part of the toy, and if that is going to break all the time, no thanks. If I kept experimenting - I probably could have fixed it. I am wondering if Ziplock container plastic might work, or a different design altogether with two soft parts working against each other and relying on friction.
I am amazed at how many people report the elevator broke, but they still love it. I sense a little "I paid a lot, I will love it anyway" or else wooden toy loyalty mentality here. I bought a wooden toy hoping for long term durability but this was not the case. Overall it's very sturdy, it's just the elevator mechanism that is suspect - although a lot of people report their kids play with it just fine even when it doesn't click. My kids liked the click. HUGE disappointment. If I can find a used one for cheap, I might give perfecting the elevator another go, but for the price I paid for this, it shouldn't require major alterations right off the bat. Big let down!
I would really love to know over the long haul how many people still have a clicking elevator. Is there any reason to believe the new design is any more durable? With the new design, I am wary of them going for that string and grabbing it to see what happens - plus I just don't like how the elevator is smaller. Even the most hard core of wood loving parents will probably acquire some matchbox cars at some point - it's nice to have a toy that doesn't require such specialized add ons.
edit - yes there IS a much older (2002?) version of this toy where the elevator rides up and down on a dowel. I have found one. Why on earth would they have discontinued this method in place of the gear and ratchet which seems to cause so much trouble? I am sure the new way is cheaper but these toys are still pricey and you should get better quality for that price. It's gotta be cheaper to make it with the dowel in the first place than to send out new elevators and in some cases whole new garages when the elevators break.
edit again - I've developed an unhealthy obsession with this toy. I got another clicky elevator one where the car hangs off the side of the shaft, determined to fix it if it broke again, which it did, in 2 days. I replaced the plastic clicker with a piece of spring-steel corset stay from a shaper I bought for my wedding and which I will probably never see the inside of again. So far, it is holding up well - so if you have a garage to fix, consider giving that a try. You can buy corset stays at most fabric stores.
Description of Plan Toys City Series Parking Garage
3 years & up. The parking garage is equipped with 3 floors of parking space, an elevator tower, and helipad. The set includes a figure, gas station and car washing machine. 14"H x 13"W x 19 1/2"L.Vehicle Playsets Toys
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