Just seen a cheap Mei Tai - what's the catch?

[MummyAbroad]

This Infantino Mei Tai is $34.99 and every other kind of Mei Tai is $70+... why?

Infantino are the company that manufactured the infamous 'Sling Rider' bag sling - that several babies died in. They had faced pressure from sling experts for several years for marketing something so inherently unsafe but would not pull it from production until it was banned following investigation of the above infant deaths.

They are now unsurprisingly jumping on the mei tai bandwagon. My problems with buying it would be:
a) I wouldn't want a single cent of my money to go to a company that has acted the way they have
b) They hardly have a great track record on safety, or on slings that provide a good ergonomic position for the child. So I'd be wary until I could see that their product was genuinely good rather than just looked kind of along the right lines.

Would you consider buying 2nd hand? If you look carefully you should be able to pick up a 2nd hand mei tai of a more trusted brand on www.thebabywearer.com for sale or trade boards around $40-50ish. It'll also likely hold its value better if you don't get on with it and want to sell it on. Some of the kind of thing I mean (you may need to sign up to see the links)

www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?469220-EUC-Mei-Tais-priced-low-Appliqued-Silly-Goose-and-Baby-Size-Nurslings-Hemp-Tai-(NHT)&highlight=babyhawk
www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?469128-Sachi-Plum-solarweave-Mei-Tie-New-never-used-50-PPD&highlight=babyhawk
www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?469948-Super-girly-pimped-Maya-Tie-50&highlight=babyhawk

Thanks for the info ladies, I wont be buying it.. its a bit spooky though, I actually own one of those killer bag slings and had no idea it had been recalled!! I am

Funny how things work out... the company have been in touch and have offered to send me the mei tai sling for free as a replacement! However, shipping time is 6 weeks. I have just ordered a Moby.