Long sorry...
I bought a Bugaboo Chameleon at the Babyshow on in October 2005 prior to the birth of DS in March 2006. With the cost of the car seat adaptors and the transport bag the total cost of the pram was £678.95.
The reason we chose the Bugaboo Chameleon was its obvious flexibility and the fact that it seemed quite sturdy and should; therefore, last through more than one child. It was because of this that we decided to spend so much money on this pram.
We received the pram in November 2005 and assembled it but did not use it until DS was born. Within a few weeks of use the pram broke. The central axis on the left hand side of the chassis (if the big wheels are at the back) became unstable and the pram became very difficult to push and impossible to get up and down stairs and kerbs. A few days later it broke completely.
I contacted the retailer and they advised me that they would need to return the chassis to Bugaboo and, in the meantime I could borrow a chassis from them. I had to travel, with a new baby, across London (don't drive so public transport) to drop off my chassis and collect the replacement. I then had to make the journey again 2 weeks later when the chassis was returned repaired.
In 2008 the same problem occurred with the chassis. At this time I was still using the Chameleon extensively for my son and was pregnant with my second child. I contacted Bugaboo to explain that the central axis had again become unstable on the left hand side. After much toing and froing, and some distress from me at the length of time this was taking and the fact that DD was due very soon and I didn't have a working pram, Bugaboo spoke to DH and kindly agreed to replace the chassis. We received this in June 2008.
My daughter was born in August 2008 and we have used the pram since then until very recently when, once again, the central axis has become unstable rendering the pram very difficult to push, difficult to get up and down kerbs and impossible to get up and down stairs.
Due to this issue I have contacted Bugaboo in order to obtain a repair to the chassis. I was told that because the pram is out of warranty, there is no possibility of an extended warranty and there is no repairs service. I did appreciate that the pram was out of warranty and that I would have to pay for any repair but to be told there is no possibility of a repair was a complete shock.
I couldn't believe that the only option the Bugaboo representative offered is the possibility of purchasing a new chassis from a local stockist. As stated above one of our reasons for spending close to £700 on a pram was the expectation that it would last through at least two children. To discover that I am expected to spend a further considerable amount of money just to continue using this pram is appalling.
In addition, the pram has been considerably more trouble than other prams that we have used: at the moment we are using a borrowed Mamas & Papas pram from a friend, a pram that was purchased in 2006 at a cost of £89 which has had no problems at all.
I complained to Bugaboo and have received a response for them today saying I should never have been given the new chassis in 2008 and they are sorry it has made me feel like exceptions can be made. I'm not expecting anything free - I just want to pay for my very expensive pram to be repaired.
So now I'm left with an irreparable and unsellable pram that cost a lot of money and a very bad taste in my mouth.
Perviously I was a huge advocate of the Chameleon - thought it was a wonderful pram. Now I'd advise anyone asking not to buy one as they quite clearly aren't built to last despite the eye-bleedingly expensive price tag.
Thanks if you got this far.