Yeh like the ones in the link, but there are no white stripes on them. They have the high tops and the low ones. And they have pink leopard print pumps too.. pink though.

Sequin ones? I was on primark today but could only see white or black with silver star pumps.

Primark!! Four pound. They have silver too (and pink, but that is pushing it) and they start at size 4. x

PM - they are ace where did you get them from? How much are they?

nappy, i have to admit buying ds the black sparkly baseball boots like this here

Sorry, have not read whole thread, but has anyone mentioned DPAM, I have just posted this on the girls' clothes thread too. Their clothes are gorgeous:
www.dpam.com

Would anyone get these or these for a boy?

YANBU - its not a fair split - most shops have tonnes of clothes for girls and a poxy section for boys. Shame really.

Lozzy72

My DD won't wear pink. I have found that M&S, particularly their autograph range has lots of other colours and GAP often do nice non pink clothes too. I have also bought her lots of red in ASDA of all places.

I agree, I find Boden, John Lewis and Zara have nice bright boys clothes but unfortunately I have to spend quite a bit on clothes for my DS to get good stuff where as DD has lovely stuff from Asda and tesco's

Link.

There's a sale on in www.thehedgepig.co.uk at the moment. Same stuff as Nordic Kids, but sale things are half the price. Ida T, Molo, Katvig, etc.

Ebay also have a few shops selling sale stock, I think, judging by the prices, for Plastisock and Brights and Stripes and so on.

skye baby

Is it okay to dye clothes for newborns? Does the dye affect their sensitive skin? I can't seem to find a good choice of basic, plain vests and trousers in a choice of colours anywhere.

Mini Boden!!!

Love it

Hve to say I hate baby girl's clothes - pink tat all of it. I see the girl's section in shops and it's a sea of pink. Whereas for my DS I have some gorgeous outfits in lovely bold colours.

The Molly & Jack range at in Boots and online is gorgeous for girls AND boys. Like Monsoon but occasionally have buy one get one half price or similar offers on so can work out quite reasonable.

Lozzy72, you're not alone about the pink. I can direct you to a Facebook group all about it, and other issues.

I do think boys' clothes are awful, but I can't agree with OP that the girls' clothes are lovely. They suck. They're pink, fluffy, sequinned, branded, and cut in overly adult/flirty styles....

H&M have fantastic boys clothes and they abit cheaper than next also Baby Gap have great clothes

Thanks for the tip about rainbow babies Auntie!

www.susumama.com

for the vertical stripe rainbow trousers - get your boy into these before he's old enough to say no!

Ditto www.guycollection.co.uk - very well-made, practical yet bright and smart. Specially like this season's bright red winter hoodie and the bright blue rugby shirts - looks fab on my DS (5).

mrskingred - loads of bright colourful things on the links i posted below

My baby boy is 6 months and all of his clothes are bright. Polarn O. Pyret is the best! Pricey but they have fantastic sales. Also Boots have the odd gem. I refuse to raise one of those men that only wear black, brown and navy blue!

I too find it difficult to get bright colourful clothes for my 2 year old.

Some Boden/Monsoon are OK, but tend to be too baggy on my slim little boy. Some gap stuff is OK. When I lived in the states, I also liked Hanna Andersson - the stuff wore really well and kept its resale value on ebay. I like KSB kids for basic tops and I've picked up the odd piece from Spain.
I'll check out the other places mentioned as he's just had a growth spurt.

i want to dress ds in what an adult man can wear in a bigger size. i dont like the babyish ones at all.

WHY do clothing manufacturers think my toddler should be dressed like a boy-soldier? Camoin these times of terrible war in the world is just obscene!

Similarly, why all the bloody skulls on everything? Gross.

Don't even get me started on slogans....

My 3 boys are dressed in 2nd hand clothes from Boden, Gap, Ralph Lauren and Monsoon etc -all from eBay. The best part is you can re-sell them again on eBay because the quality's so good they don't lose shape or fade much. Therefore FREE CLOTHES! (nearly)

April see my links below for those sort of colours.

Pumpkin Patch do have some nice colours other than pink and lilac for girls - lovely turquoises and greens etc.
My DS looks fabulous in red, orange, aqua colours - anything, in fact - but this season it does seem harder to find. I don't mind brown trousers because they go nicely with all the above bright colours... but my major bugbear (apart from the negative slogans you always get on boys' T-shirts as previously mentioned) is that most stuff is TV or film character specific. I WILL NOT have him (aged 2.5) going round like a walking advertising hoarding!

Sorry - no time to read the whole thread - has anyone mentioned eBay? We get all our children's clothes secondhand at a fraction of the price - just search for eg "boys clothing rainbow" and se what turns up!

I seem to be the only person in the world who doesn't want to dress my 3 year old girl in pink!
When I asked in Mothercare - did they have anything other than pink - they showed great excitment with a "red" T shirt (oooh!)
Do all little girls have to look like air head fairy dolls?
Bring in other colours please!

I dunno if I am allowed to spam myself, but I have started making children's clothes 'cos I was fed up of all the standard designs.. In doing so it's surprising how many mothers request spiders and robots for boys! So I suppose the high street are catering to the needs of the majority.

My gallery can be found "here"

I dress my youngest in lots of "boys" clothes because I despair of all the muted pinks... but it varies, I like the fact there seem to be more designs for girls but then I really don't like all the fairies and princess stuff!

dunno what happened there!!

orange hoody

stripy hoody

rainbow jumper

cable knit cardigan

orange zip up top

How about Debenhams?

here

v neck jumper

dinosaur top

knitted cardigan

jumper with yellow stripes

reversible cardigan

#marker# 6

stripy jumper

stripy hooded jumper

orange stipy cardigan

v neck jumper0

v neck jumper1

pamelat, thanks for the link to that eBay seller. I would say the price of a top is bit under Boden price in a sale, which is good for me. Will be looking out ...

Lunarsea thanks for the super Jak-o link - what a fabulous online shop!

Oh yes - they are sweet - nice and simple and no bloody slogans!

if you type "handmade boys bus appliqued top" and that should bring her up.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250314404208&ssPageName=MERCVIC_RCRXPr 4PcY_BIN_IT&refitem=250316866818&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSellLogi cX&refwidgettype=crosspromot_widget&_trksid=p284.m183&trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%26itu%3D UCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4

does that work?!

Couldn't find that seller pamelat

also there is a woman on ebay (not me or anyone I know !!) who makes lovely childrens clothes.

Seller is called moo.s

Let me try and post a link. All tops are £7.99

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/moo.sW0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQmdoZ

I love Me too as well, and Marese.. try this place

http://www.allthingscute.co.uk/store/list.asp?sid=117

Yeah, how about t-shirts with 'loves his mum' and 'hero in waiting' and for girls 'Bothered?"

I'm a Boots fan amd that they don't go past age 5 though.

Why is it that boys are always 'cheeky monkeys' and 'here comes trouble' when girls are always 'I'm a princess'. Why don't they ever say anything positive about boys (not that I buy them, I hate slogan tees).

that is a very good idea janx

I was considering "anyfuckerforaMincePie"

I have a girl

I love the ASDA clothes for boys. Cute little monkeys on t-shirts!

Boden also have great boys stuff, check their sale section (online) as otherwise expensive. Again, I prefer their boys things.

....so at Christmas will you be merryfucker?

Ii totally agree! Feel like i have spent most of DS's first 9 months of life struggling to find nice, bright, happy clothes which have neither cute teddies/rabbits/etc or crap slogans or are miniture versions of clothes that only men over the age of 60 should wear.

I have got most of his things from Zara, John Lewis and the Internet - if i find something i like on Nordickids and the like I make sure I check out ebay to see if anyone's selling them on there. Oh and also TK Maxx - cant stand the shop usually but the baby section is fairly small so rifling through is limited. My local one is rubbish but they were selling Katvig stuff in there the other day so a bigger one might be a good try!

why thank you janx

I used to be scaryfucker at Hallowe'en

I love your nickname anyfucker - made me spill me cup of tea

I buy stuff from Zara for my ds. I find they come up quite big actually (but I have a skinny one )

The quality is very good, the styles are trendy, the price reasonable and good range of colours.

I don't work for Zara btw.

I've been dressing my DS in clothes from Kids Should Be Kids, who import a very limited number of bright stripy clothes from Denmark. Much cheaper than Nordic Kids (which I also love), but not much selection. It's a shame, as I'd buy more of their stuff in they had more to buy.

Well I used to think this but, hey, I've got over it now. I'm just thankful now that I don't have rifle through racks full of oversexualised pink fluffy ridiculousness.
My ds's are 5 and 7 and I don't find it that hard finding practical, nice looking clothes for them.

girls clothes are annoying dresses and skirts are not that practical.

and you need several pairs of shoes dress ones trousser ones

i envy the ease of boys clthes i really do.

so yes yabu and stop moaning

Thanks,Maybe I should check bank balance and seek out a few Zara bits for ds

I have bought girls stuff from Zara and it comes up small..quality wise ok - dd outgrew them before they fell apart

I saw some Zara bits on Ebay,what's the quality like?

Couldn't agree more janx,I stopped buying from Next as all their boys clothes had shite slogans like that

It;s the logo's that drive me mad ...cheeky monkey, here comes trouble blah blah

Agree, i love girls clothes for dd.
i buy ds clothes from boden, debenhams,minimode,cherokee, mini a ture, stardust, no added sugar, molo,vertbaudet, la redoute,next, etc... i agree some clothes are boring, and dull.
i got to go and find zara and h&m,e veryone keep telling me they are good.

H&M have really nice boys stuff :-D

By the way, my little chap is 18 months, so I don't know what their rnage is like for older boys. I haven't read all the posts; just the first.

I too hate dull boys' clothes in predictable khakis, blues and browns.
But I think Sainsbury's TU range is fab for boys - vibrant, different and it certainly isn't dear! I love their stuff.

Yup, Vertbaudet are still around. They carry a teen range now as well.

My boys loved doing tie-dye till about age 13.

Surf labels often come in bright colours - we have orange/red/bright blue etc from Ripcurl bought in TK Maxx.

When they were younger I used a cataloge called Vertbaudet - don't know if that's still around? Quality wasn't great but they were bright, funky and cheap.

Absolutely agree, and with the fact that 75% of space is given over to girls' clothes.

Hmm, the choice for boys is sludge, khaki, or navy. Ooh, stripes or plain. Really pushing the boat out with an applique animal...

I even once looked at Top Shop maternity as someone had told they'd started doing kids clothes. Turned out that mothers who buy their children clothes at Top Shop apparently only have girls, as they don't even do boys clothes.

I hate CAMO with a vengeance - why oh why do they think that khaki is flattering to little boys; it's hideous! Verbaudet have some nice stuff, but you do get annoying emails and letters through the door.

its so true having had 3 boys and 2 girls i alway found and still do find it so easy to find girls clothes drives me mad !i hate t shirt with pics like skulls /monkeys etc on them
mind you i do draw the line at boys wearing pink and flowery stuff to must admit but each to there own i,m not to judge

The designers usually want to be more adventurous....I rememebr presenting a buyer with a range with a pink shirt for boyswear. It got nowhere

Blame the buyers, not the designers...they have to ensure their product sells, so don't take risks.

However when I was doing it, there were a lot of bright colours for boys, lime green turquoise, and orange were doing very well then. Brown was the kiss of death then for ANY kidswear (girls or boys), so give it time.......it will all come round again

fizzbuzz - that's really interesting.

I also recommend Polarn O Pyret (which is Swedish) for bright clothes. Not cheap but they have great sales.

Thanks to the couple of people who've suggested minimode - I've had a look online and they do have some nice bright stuff which is reasonably priced

Mini Mode (Boots) have had some nice boys things in.
There were a few bright tops and trousers that I bought for my ds's.

fizzbizz, what you say makes a lot of sense. Not having grown up in the UK, I would agree with you that UK consumers are jumpy about boy clothes. Dh is adamant that yellow, lilac, in fact any pastel, is a girl's colour, with orange being on the borderline. Just a bit of pink lettering on, say denim, rules it out as a handmedown for ds. Flowers are out as motifs on t-shirts.

Fizzbuzz – It’s really interesting to get a perspective from a former designer. I always thought that designers of high street boys’ fashion thought that their mothers had no interest in design, hence the truly abysmal output! It’s so frustrating to see all these gorgeous clothes for little girls (especially high street Gap), but to find nothing similar for little boys.

Anyway, I have the internet as a lifesaver. I love the Nordic labels such as Katvig, Nanoou, Solidary People for really interesting colours and design. I also love Catimini, Tartine et Chocolat and Kenzo. I have managed to pick up some very nice things from Gap on occasion. Shopping for baby boys is by no means easy.

Try jako-o for bright boys cloths - lots of colourful stripes. They're German, but deliver to the UK.

boden boys clothes are lovely. (from ebay of course). I like the zara stuff atm too.

I got some lovely bright longsleeved T shirts in H&M for DS2 a couple of weeks ago.

Now they are older they fit into small and Xsmall mens and they can have bright colours again.

Boys clothes are boring if you ask me - but what has annoyed me for years is 3/4 of the shop is dedicated to girls clothes and then about 3 rails stuffed at the back for the boys.

I like Mini Mode from Boots, not usually a very wide range but generally interesting designs and good strong colours and not much in the way of irritating slogans. I buy a lot from H&M and Pumpkin Patch too because they are a good fit on him, but I have to be quite choosy with Pumpkin Patch because the colours are often faded looking and better suited to pale complexions.

DS looks awful in sludge colours, but he does have a fair amount of sludgey and dark blue trousers because he gets filthy and they don't show the stains.

...errm, perhaps I an help. I used to be a boyswear designer supplying most of high street

There is more floorspace for girlswear, as girls seem to require more clothes . There are more sections in girlswear, eg formal or partywear etc, whereas boyswear is mainly casual. Also ther ar more store buyers for girlswear than boyswear.

All the high street are affected by the current or predicted trends, so what they are selling is usually what is happening in boyswear across the world. However from my experience, UK is very very jumpy about boyswear, and tend to be very unadventurous, sticking to what they know. However bright colours are reappearing in menswear, so boyswear should follow eventually. Everyhing follows womenswear which is full of bright colours atm.

But with credit crunch etc, no one is going to take a risk on wrong co,our at the moment. When I used to go on sourcing trips, Holland was the best for boyswear....

I'm not a designer anymore........

It really, really winds me up. Why is there so much girl stuff and so little boys? Surely they need dressing too? Or is it just that rows and rows of navy and sludge green and camo look a bit dull [mad]

As boys get older the clothes get worse - when the DSs were small I found it quite easy to find lots of nice orange/red/bright green etc. Now they are 5 and 6 it is all navy, grey, brown etc or covered in superhero logos.

I agree the colours are bland so i bought myself a sewing machine and have started making ds2's trousers am just working on a pair that are red with clowns all over lol...maybe a bit much???

I think you really just have to pick and choose from all sorts of places. I got 7yo DS a lemon coloured linen shirt from Next for a christening this summer, also an orange t-shirt from there, an orange and white striped polo shirt from Gap, also some red/gree/blue checked shorts from Gap, a lovely stripy shirt from Debenhams, some orange shorts from Asda etc.

And the same with DD, she gets bought/handed down plenty of pink, so I tend to buy other colours. A pair of red jeans from Asda, deep purple cords from H&M, teal and blue tops from Le Redoute etc.

the worst thing is the baby clothes with all the tools / trucks/ etc its so macho its gay!

There must be some law against it! How can you offer 1/2 the population so much less than the other half??!!

Cross post with mm22bys! I feel psychically connected to you!!

I don't like my little chaps to look like skateboarders and neither do they. Tchibo has some nice stuff from time to time, eg cute little ski jumpers, as does BHS surprisingly enough, with some nice smart trousers. I use John Lewis a lot as well.

Has anyone else noticed how so many kids' clothes shops have about 75% of the displays for girls and only 25% for boys?

I am fed up with going into shops that seem to have 90% girls stuff, and a single token rack for boys (Monsoon springs to mind). Infuriates me so much I just walk straight back out again.

Most other shops are pretty similar, where do they get off?

YANBU.

Yes you can Stich! Its lovely!

Jemininthecity - I think it depends on the boy! My cousins are more fashionable than you can imagine! They give me a list of the lastest Abercrombie gear when I'm in the states and they look great!

http://www.abercrombiekids.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category110101_10851_12109_-112 102

errr... (stitch whispers....)......can i mention boden......ds has some nice, non dull stuff from there.

I am also bored with buying the same things whenever my ds outgrows his clothes eg denim dungarees, brown cords, beige chinos, navy trousers. The only excitement is perhaps red cord dungarees.

Just bought DS stuff from John Lewis, lovely and bright.

Glad you mentioned about the slogans!

This is just so wrong and creates a negative image towards boys which is so wrong. Girls are cute boys are trouble.......I hate it!

Only in answer to the OP- no you are not being unreasonable to be fed u, but unfortunately you do just have to sort of accept it. Make the most of it whilst they are small.
I did have a stage(window of 3 weeks) of being able to dress DS1 in whatever colourful clothes I liked, but this onlt lasted for mere months.
The little (actually big ugly teenage) shite now dresses how he likes....and believe me it just stays dull, but in a more vile way than you can imagine as yours is still a yummy age.

Sadly can only afford to shop at Asda, Tesco and charity shops!
I totally agree about the dull colours, think it get worse as they get older!
I was only thinking the other day that I can buy cute stuff for ds now, but when he gets older the choice of boy stuff is quite grim. And I really hate the "here comes trouble" and "tantrum alert" slogans on them! I kid you not, I have a 7yo dss and his mum sent up a pair of pjs which said 100% lazy on
The 2 best outfits I have for Ds, one was from Mothercare (my mum bought it) which was a royal blue/navy/white rugby shirt and matching navy trousers and a 3 piece set from CarreFour that one of my Spanish aunties bought me - it consists of a green t-shirt with a red owl design on the front, a pair of bright red cord trousers and a red sweater with green & orange diamonds. Sounds awful when I describe it but it is actually really funky looking and so different from anything else he has!
I just love him in red, royal blue, forest green jewel bright colours but they are so difficult to find.
Actually just remember, Boots are really good and I've picked up really nice stuff in the sale there.

i agree. I went into next today to look for some jeans for my 6 year, and nearly choked when i saw that the jeans i liked were £20! then picked up some for £25, bloody rip off.

Love pumpkin patch and also some of the debenham bits are great

Thanks goldilocks for the link.

For the under 5s, Minimode can be good, M&S every few years have a good season (2006 last time I think, although definitely not this year - blurgh) & JojoMaman are often worth a look.

H&M and Pumpkin Patch are great and vertbaudet sometimes. I found clothes were lovely/cute untill 2years, then everything became plain. I got 2 lovely fleecey body warmers in orange and blue but now I can only find similar ones up to 24 months, no good for 4YO DS.
Also get sick and tired of pretty pink girls clothes for DD.
No pleasing me I guess

Have had a couple of bits from debenhams in the past - coats especially - for DS. Am having opposite problem - looking for stuff for baby DD at the moment. She has lots of DD1s old things, but different season birthdays so have had to get a few extras. Just want some feminine, but not frilly or pink, babygros/comfy outfits (not jeans or anything, she is only 4 months). It is really hard. Had a look around yesterday and everything was a nasty shade of pink. Ended up looking in the boy section (and regretting giving away DSs old things as soon as she was born - am not having any more babies so got rid of everything before I change my mind and get broody again!). Got a few unisex sleepsuits in the end.

I bought DS some lovely skinny jeans from Zara.... but the label says "for girls". I'm glad he can;t read yet!

toby tiger link

Just remembered Ds' favourite trousers are from PumpkinPatch in bright, bright orange! (would link but slow to load)

spruce goose link

Flimflammum this is for you!

http://www.tobytiger.co.uk/jackets-and-gilets/rainbow-stripe-knitted-jacket.html

Heated I think your going to have to look at

http://www.sprucedgoose.com/molo-z-14.html?gclid=CKfmuva_5pYCFQuY1QodrhdNOw

its a bit pricy but......

Get into dying, I dye loads of dd's tshirts etc because I can't stand pink. It's really easy with washing machine dye. Its also a really good way of refreshing tired white stuff.

For shoes (pre-walkers) Baby Loves Shoes have great bright green shoes, we have them with a number 1 on the toes!

Zara looks good - thanks for that - very classic. Nordickids is dangerous! I spotted more Molo on there.

Ladies.......I think there is hope......expensive hope......

Vertbaudet are also on the small side.

Debenhams had some nice bits in today, lovely bright oranges etc.

My ds is 4 and just about to grow out of the younger boys ranges. But why do shops (like Next) think that 5yrs up means I want to dress him in skulls or look like a hardened hoodie?

Nordic & Boden are too pricey (and Boden are ill fitting on skinny ds). Vertbaudet imo are dull this year.

Are there any other online stores I should know about?

Annoys me too. Have bought some nice bits from Sainsbury's recently, but still a lot of blue/brown/beige/grey.

And why do most shops set aside 2/3 of their space for girls' clothes?

www.guycollection.co.uk
These are lovely

Rainbow Babies - ignore the 'babies' bit, they go up to 6yrs.

And H&M are fab too.

also www.nordickids.co.uk/ - but just windowshop!

Agree with h&m - have got some super colourful clothes

I have to agree SoupDragon, girls' clothes can be equally appalling, but in a differnt way. I can't stand bright migraine inducing pink.

Stefka my local Asda is exactly the same, the boys have very little choice. I knit a lot of bright coloured jumpers!

John Lewis is pretty much the only place where I can find boys clothes that I like. We get a lot handed down to us from a variety of places so I don't have to buy too much at all.

Gap at the moment is truly dire, I think.

i am another one that tie dyes clothes for my boys

i tend to get them clothes from h and m as they have some nice colours, i have some lovely orange cords for ds4 from their. i had a look in zara the other day and wasnt impressed.

i also have a toby tiger outfit for the baby but it wasnt cheap.

tis very annoying.

YANBU!!!! This infuriates me too. I went into Azda recently to try and get some cheap clothes from DS as I can't afford to buy from places like John Lewis. I kid you not - four rows of really lovely girls clothes and one line of brown/dark blue totally not attractive clothes for boys.

There is a real opportunity for someone out there to make affordable and colourful clothes for boys.

Toby Tigar do great strips Flimflammum!

One Me Too seller:
http://www.squibblybiskit.co.uk/www.squibblybiskit.co.uk/info.php?p=2&cat=119788

I think we need a prostest against grey!

La redoute and vertbaudet do lovely boys clothes and now DS is older I have found Debenhams quite good.

Totally agree. I want to get DS (3) a rainbow-stripey jumper. It's all very well them wearing muted blues and greys when they're 12, but when they're little, what's wrong with bright fun stuff? And I hate slogans too. We end up getting some stuff for DS from Gap, but it's a bit American for my taste (and not cheap).

H&M have some really funky boys stuff. About the same price range as Next, but far more exciting.

lol, i put my daughter in purple tie dyed babygrows too how funny!!

"bright, lovely girls clothes" No, it's usually a bunch of shite impractical cr*p in pink.

PS I have just done a purple dye too - ds's tie-dyed babygro matches my bra!

Yeah, funnily enough I used to think that the other way when shopping for dd. Dd wore lots of 'boys' clothes and ds (4 months) wears lots of girls clothes! There is no law to say boys can't wear the pink, bright and flowery stuff.

John Lewis is pretty good - DS was arrayed in turquoise and red today, combined with turquoise striped leggings from Stardust.

I am depressed by the manky choice too, as I don't like t shirts with slogans that are negative, or camoflage/army themed stuff.

and grey TTT, dont forget dull and dirty looking grey EVERYWHERE atm.. god! i might buy white t shirts and tie dye them just for the hell of it!

try zara for boys

YES! all the cheap shops do crap boys stuff.. so unless i wanna kit my son out in clothes that cost more than my whole wardrobe theres nothing!
its not fair!
lets bring out our own clothing range

I have the same problem. Primark is quite good for colours, but I find that ds's wardrobe is mostly sludge brown, green and blue. I did manage to shrink my multi-coloured stripey hat in the wash though, so he wears it now!

Yes! Dull, dull, dull. I wish I were talented enough to design my own!

Hey,

Have you tried Sainsburys, I thought there stuff was great. Also h and m and zara are good.

xxxs

I know what you mean...go into Next and what lovely girls clothes - hunt for any boys things

Its so frustrating walking into shops full of bright, lovely girls clothes only to find the boys range........limited and dull!

Why can't boys have bright colours too?

I have found a few great ranges but its costs a bomb!

'Me Too' is great and Molo.

Anyone else having the same problem?