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Buying stuff at the Baby Show - good discounts?

5 replies

scubamummy · 25/08/2010 18:55

Our first is due in January and I'm considering buying tickets for the Earl's Court Baby Show in October. I would appreciate some advice from anyone who's been to one - is it worth going? Do you get lots of freebies? Do you think it would be too much of a hassle navigating around at 7 months pg (because it will be busy)? Should we wait to buy the big purchases (i.e. pram, carseat, cot) there if there are good discounts offered?

Thanks v much!

OP posts:
nomoremagnolia · 25/08/2010 19:05

The freebies back in May were rather scarce tbh and a lot of the stalls were selling "extra" things rather than the basics. I was looking forward to buying stuff but didn't buy very much at all. There will be big pram/buggy/car seat sellers there where you will get 10% ish discounts on prices - you can get the same or better if you shop around a bit esp online.
I was a bit disappointed tbh, didn't buy all that much, did some research on slings and reusable nappies. It's a great place to do research as the people there know what they're talking about, unlike (my experience f) both mothercare and john lewis.

scubamummy · 27/08/2010 07:13

Thanks - sounds like not worth it then

OP posts:
Lavitabellissima · 27/08/2010 07:25

Not sure where you live but they are doing a smaller one at Twickenham Rugby stadium on the 19th Sept, I think it's only £4.50 to get in.

Spirael · 03/09/2010 14:33

I went to The Baby Show back in February, before DD was born, and found it pretty useful. :)

I'd done my research beforehand and knew which cot/travel system/etc I wanted. I'd also found out the cheapest I could get each product for online.

Armed with all the info, I turned up at opening time on the second day. Initially, for the first hour or so, it was pretty quiet. However it got steadily busier and was heaving by lunchtime when we left.

I got to have a good play with the travel system I was intending to get at the maker's stall, then ordered it for a better price than available online at a different stall, with a few nice extras thrown in. Same with the cot - £120 online, but I got it for £80 from the company direct with a mattress thrown in.

I also got a really good deal on nappy bins and have enough cartridges to last until next year. I got some good quality cot sheets and blankets at a good price too.

The Mothercare stall was a waste of time, they had barely any of their stock and just a flat 10% discount, which you can get online with codes. The staff also had no idea about the products they were selling and had to keep referring to the catalogues for information I could have read online.

Philips was pretty bad too, the staff were knowledgeable but their deals were for fixed packages and they couldn't be flexible over it. i.e. You had to get the Electric Pump with the Electric Warmer and Steriliser to get a good deal, you couldn't get the Microwave Steriliser instead. They'd also already sold out of most of their good stuff - and this was only the start of day 2!

So basically, if you only want a few little things or to window shop, it's probably not worth it. But if you have some big purchases and know what it is you're after, and the going price, then you can save yourself quite a bit and/or get some freebies thrown in. :)

AbFabT · 04/09/2010 19:24

Not sure if you're still checking this thread, OP, but I second Spirael's comments. We went to the BabyShow in May (I was 20 weeks), and got bargains! REALLY happy with the price we paid for our pram (and a couple of accessories) - like Spirael, we had done our research, and I was armed with the cheapest prices I had found online, so knew whether I was getting a bargain or not. So for us, massive saving on the pram.
Was also really good for me for buying a good maternity bra, as I got to be properly fitted.

I enjoyed the window shopping too, bought a couple of babygros, swaddling things, bits and pieces - for me, it was good to have so much under one roof.

Also planning on going to the Earls' Court one in October - with my baby in tow - hoping I'll have a better idea of certain things (e.g. reusable nappies) and can buy a few other things, like toys, depending on if we receive gifts from family/friends when our baby arrives - didn't want to double up.

Lavitabellissima, thanks for info on Twickenham - very local to us, so may well check that out!

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