AIBU to plead for your help - rose petal cottage!!

[damnyouobama]

So I treated my DCs to the Hasbro Rose Petal Cottage this week. I knew the older one especially would love it, and the youngest will have many years of enjoyment ahead from it. Was also delighted to get it for a bit of a bargain price.

In less than a day it is broken DS2 decided to climb on top of it (it's just a flimsy Wendy house!) and two of the connectors for the frame are snapped. I am beyond angry at him and DS1 whose idea it was to climb on it. DS2 has SEN that make him more likely to do something like this when someone tells him to, rather than to think it through and realise it's a bloody ridiculous idea....

I am so gutted. I was really excited about getting the Wendy house for them, and they really loved it. My youngest DC has done nothing wrong and now has half a Wendy house to play with. I dearly want to fix it for her at least. It costs about £100 new (I paid nowhere near this) and there is no way I can afford to replace it.

Sadly I can't seem to find anywhere online to buy replacement connectors, which would seem the obvious solution. I tried using superglue and sellotape to bind the broken connectors but to no avail.

Does anyone have this Wendy house and no longer need the connectors for some strange reason (!!), or know where I might get some. I only need one replacement white and one blue one.

Failing that....any tips on how to repair sheared off plastic?! Is there special superglue for plastics that I can try? Would heavy duty duck tape work?

Please help me if you can, I am so upset and angry that it is broken before it's even been enjoyed, and it is such a lovely toy that I would love my youngest DC to be able to play with for many years to come (older DCs won't be allowed to touch it if I do fix it!!)

[CakeNinja]

Arrggghhh how annoying, I would be a bit cross too.
I don't have one, and don't know where to get replacement parts other than emailing hasbro. You might have some luck with them.
Just had a quick look, there is one on eBay for £67.99 if you could stretch to it?
Or have a look at car boot sales etc for a cheap replacement?
What a shame for everyone.

[CakeNinja]

Sorry, have reread and think you possibly can't stretch to another on eBay.
In which case, please try hasbro for replacement parts. People on here have in the past told of asking companies directly for spares and had success.
I do hope you can sort it out.

[IamaBluebird]

What about some of the really strong tape you can get in hardware stores Op. Sorry it got broken hope you manage to fix it

[FrogsSpawnofSanta]

Try sugru or something similar. It is a moldable plastic, you could remake or fix the connectors and it will set in a few hours.

[FrogsSpawnofSanta]

This is the stuff

sugru.com/buy/?gclid=CMC0_8iOns0CFQaNGwodmwsH4Q

[BlackeyedSusan]

pop down to the diy store and see if you can find an alternative way of connecting parts. can you sew something to frame to connect it.

[MargotLovedTom]

Agree there must be some way repairing it if you can't get spare parts; with screws or brackets or something. A friend was telling me about that Sugru stuff, sounds weirdly brilliant!

[maisiejones]

Try e-mailing Hasbro at the following. Apparently they can send you replacement parts.

[email protected]

[damnyouobama]

Oh you lot are brilliant. I was nervous about putting it in AIBU as thought I might get harsh responses about bad parenting/undeserving DCs etc etc but I wanted the traffic and I am glad I did post as you've all been wonderfully helpful and also kind!

I am actually nearly crying here after the outpouring of anger and frustration at the DCs earlier and now your kindness. Thank you so much!!

I just love this little Wendy house cottage, I spent ages building it today whilst youngest DC napped and older two were at school, it was quite a feat! It is just up my street, so pretty and cute and a lovely product, I was so chuffed to have found it so cheaply (second hand admittedly). I've been looking out at it in the garden all afternoon and smiling at how lovely it is and desperate for the older two to get home from school and see it, and then in less than 2 hours it was broken I know they are gutted too as they were so pleased with iT. I just wish they had been more careful and it wasn't ruined.....

[Catzpyjamas]

You can buy spare connectors

[alanthicke]

Im so sorry OP! Don't you just want to strangle them sometimes??? . I'm not sure it sounds like a Sugru problem, though I do love Sugru for many things. It's also a bit expensive for a first option. I would recommend trying a glue called JB Weld Plastic Weld, or one called Goop. Your local hardware store should have at least one of the two. The trick is to gently sand the edges that need to be glued, just enough to make them rough and not smooth. The glue will adhere much better once the surface has been roughed up, kind of like how you scuff new shoes so you don't slip. Ask the hardware store what level of "grit" sandpaper to use. Then rough up the edges, glue together and tie or clamp the pieces together for 24 hours. If it doesn't work, try again. This should be fixable, particularly if your kids are able to be relatively gentle with the joint. Good luck.

[alanthicke]

You can also try Gorilla tape. It's super strong and comes in clear so it's not that noticeable.

[Catzpyjamas]

No, sorry, just realised they only fit that brand. Will keep looking..

[damnyouobama]

Thank you thank you thank you!
From the bottom of my heart. It is wonderful people have just taken the time to post, let alone go to the trouble of searching for things and giving detailed advice! Even just your sympathy has made me feel a million times better. And DH brought me beautiful roses home after work as I had texted him and he knew how upset I was

[Welshmaenad]

Sounds like your problem is sorted (I fix everything with duck tape and gorilla glue) but can I just say you sound like such a lovely mum and I hope you manage to fix it.

[Aspergallus]

We broke a connector on a plastic playpen and managed to completely fix it with sugru. It's amazing stuff.

[EveryoneElsie]

Can you post photos and dimensions of the connectors? It may be possible to bodge something.
I've just made a set of pegs for a knitting loom with chopsticks

[buzzybuzzybeeshoes]

PMd you.

[damnyouobama]

Thanks buzzy
Everyone - I think I need to get you over, you sound amazing!!
Welshmaenad - you made me well up! I was not a lovely mum losing my sh*t (big style) the 2 older DCs. Still feel awful about it all now, but was so upset and angry. I am determined to fix it tomorrow with all manner of special glue and tape. Failing that lovely buzzy may be my saviour with a spare rose petal cottage!

Thank you again so much to everyone who has replied xx

[MargotLovedTom]

Good luck!

[damnyouobama]

Felt I owed you all an update after all of your help yesterday....

Went to local Robert Dyas and came out laden with special plastic superglue, sugru, sandpaper and extra strong duck tape. This was my ammunition and i was refusing to be defeated!!

Decided to give the superglue a go to begin with, and then try tape and/or sugru if the glue didn't work. I am delighted to report the glue seems to have done the trick!! Applied it earlier this afternoon and went back to check on it this evening and it seems sturdy as can be! Haven't put the Wendy house cover on yet as it puts a bit of strain on the joints and poles when you do that, but will give it a go in the morning and hopefully we might be all sorted! I am SO pleased!!!

Thank you again for all your kind words and tips

[SnoopDoggyDogg]

I know someone who works for a toy company and I'm sure it's Hasbro. I can always ask her when I see her if she knows anything about replacement parts or if she can find out. Let us know how it holds up!