Complain about a product or service

Maclaren

Maclaren is a British company that seems to think it invented what it calls the "baby buggy." The company's official history describes how its founder, a former test pilot, designed a stroller that was rugged and easy to handle. Maybe so, but that doesn't mean it's trouble-free.

caroline of new york, NY October 30, 2009

walking down the street with my two year old in his quest and wheel snapped off! We fell down could not believe it nobody badly hurt but shocked carried toddler home with shopping had to leave stroller on sidewalk !

Kathy of Jamaica Estates, NY April 19, 2007

Kathy of Jamaica Estates NY (04/19/07)
I bought a 2004 Maclaren Sport stroller. It gets use the most is maybe one day per week for a couple hours. However, after very little use, the back wheels, especially the rear left wheel, became very worn. This is such a shame after spending so much for the stroller in the first place. The sales person at Buy Buy Baby told me that Maclaren strollers are supposed to last at least 5 years. It seems more like 5 months.

My friends who bought Maclaren strollers also have the rear left wheel worn down. I started to look closely at other Maclaren strollers and noticed that some of them tend to have the same problem. The Maclaren strollers look off balance and all lean a little. They also tend to tip over too easily.

My child has fallen over in the Maclaren stroller too many times. One time he was already in the stroller and just simply leaned back and the stroller fell over. Regarding the worn down wheel, I have to take the stroller to an authorized service agent and the wheel replacement will cost at least 35.

Carmen of San Clemente, CA April 6, 2007

Carmen of San Clemente CA (04/06/07)

This stroller has a terrible center of gravity. All the weight is on the back because the front is too light weight. I constantly had to remind myself not to put anything with even the slightest weight on the back for fear of tipping back - a situation I prevented several times by jumping the foot between the stroller and myself to stop the tipping. As my daughter got closer to two years old, it actually became safer b/c she was heavier so it allowed for more ballast in the front - except when she fell asleep and stretched! Well, her head went way back as I tried to jump the foot between me and the stroller without success. My poor daughter went back as the stroller tipped back to the floor!

Luckily I had a soft sided package of wipes in the back which just happened to cushion her head as she hit the floor! Very Scary.

Anne of Mechanicsburg, PA July 31, 2006

Anne of Mechanicsburg PA (07/31/06)
Purchased a MacLaren double stroller two years ago. Used infrequently, but valued greatly (worked great initially). The plastic connector cracked where the handles meet the frame, so the stroller droops on one side and cannot be pushed. Emailed MacLaren, they said to send it in. Received phone call that the stroller was damaged beyond repair and they can destroy it or ship it back damaged and I can purchase a new one at 15% off, which incidentally is more expensive than retailers on the web.

The representative cited two other locations where the metal was bent on the stroller (never noticed, never had a problem) and so it was not possible to just fix the cracked piece of plastic that provides support to the stroller. So, in total, these three issues (two bent areas and cracked plastic) yield a stroller that is unrepairable. For a 200+ stroller, I expect a bit more. Feels like a strategy to get folks to pay more cash for more product.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2003-2009 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.    The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission.