Thread: Rent A Toy, Web-based

Just read this and was coming to post it. I think she could turn a profit. Good idea, im sure with the PR she is doing she can reach out to more customers.

I like the idea. But she has issues to work out. Starting with her website. She spent $250K to buy toys, but appears to have went with some some cheap $5.99 a month hosting.

Due to overwhelming traffic, the BabyPlays site is experiencing some problems loading. We are geared up to serve your toy rental needs and look forward to having you as a member. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope that you will visit us again soon. Maintenance on our site will be complete by Wednesday, February 13, 2008.

No excuse for that. That's days aways

Germs and disease are going to become a bigger problem as business grows. Do you really want you kid sucking on some toys that another kid across the country who has TB and Chicken Pox just got done chewing on? Also I would not want my kid chewing on some toy that has Clorox all over it any more than some Chicken Pox infested kid's spit. She's going to need to find a "safe & non toxic" cleaner. Also she's pictured holding some soft puppet thingy. How you do clean such an item? You can't really.

Kid who are put in daycare I think are required to have proof they have had their shots to prevent these problems. With this idea, it's daycare without the proof of the shots. It will be a germ fest I think.

If I had kids I would never subscribe to this. Lead paint toys would be the least of your worries.

This lady and her story was on Headline News today. The website was not working for me earlier. It's working now, but it's slow for me and most of the images are not loading.

I have been thinking about this business.

Those toys are not small, shipping must be very expensive. I don't see how she can ship four toys, and also pay return shipping for less than $29.00. On top of that, she has to cover all her other expenses such as rent, employees, etc.

There's got to be a catch. I'm thinking she hammers you with some expensive charges for keeping the toys too long, damage, or something.

I notice you have to use UPS, which is more expensive for Baby Plays than USPS and not as convenient for the customer either. Everyone has access to a Post Office or postal worker. Not everyone has easy access to a UPS store.

Similar to how Blockbuster hammers you with late fees. If you keep it too long you have to "buy it".

This Baby Plays site has to have a similar trick up their sleeve. I think they are counting on people being lazy. If you get lazy, you get hammered with fees. That's where the real money comes from.

That's my opinion.

Thoughts?

Hawaiian Airlines is trying to contact hundreds of passengers today because some lady brought her Measles infected child on the plane and exposed hundreds of people.


This is EXACTLY why I would not rent from Baby Plays.