Graco Nautilus

[spcamno]

I think a lot of you might have already read the thread on the new Nautilus by Graco.

I already email Graco and asked them about when will be the release date for Canadian market and I think several members already did that also.

Whoever interested in getting one should email Graco and tell them you are waiting for this to happen so it might help to speed up the process.

Not sure if I am allow to post their email address here but its readily available if you go the Graco Canada's site.

Let's bug them together and hopefully we can see this seat at our local stores soon!;)

[snowbird25ca]

Yes, it's fine to post their email. I just quoted my post from the other thread below. I'd ask that nobody copy the email word for word even if you are a tech, but there are some ideas in it. I think emails that are individual carry more weight than ones that are identical. ;)

My email to them: (service@graco.net)

eta: The subject I put for the email was "Nautilus 3in1 Combination Seat"

Hi,

I was wondering if you could tell me if Graco plans to market this new seat in Canada in the near future?

I have seen pictures and information about it online and this seat seems to truly fill a need that parents with young children have. As a child restraint systems technician, I am often faced with the dilemma of recommending a few seats to parents that meet the needs they currently have in order to keep their children safe in the car. This seat would meet a need that no other seats currently available are able to and as such I foresee there would be a high demand for it.

I know based on some networking that the seat has been granted approval from Transport Canada and given the CMVSS authorization letter, so at this point it's a matter of when it will be marketed. My hope is that this will happen sooner rather than later.

Thanks in advance for your assistance and checking into this matter for me.



(I got their email address off of their website.. I went to gracobaby.com and then to contact us and international contacts. ;))

[horseymom]

I also emailed them this morning! I hope this get a fire started under them!

[Jewels]

I heard back:

Thank you for taking the time to e-mail your inquiry. After some research I found that there will be indeed a Graco Nautilus in Canada. It will most probably be available in WalMart by the end of the month. I hope this answers your question.



Take care,

[spcamno]

Me too!

Got the same reply today!;)

[Airforcemomma]

Any updates on the arrival date for Canada yet?

[horseymom]

I emailed them weeks ago and never did hear back from them, I'm not impressed

[mommy_quigg]

I emailed them weeks ago and also did not hear from them. I'm disappointed also.

[Loves2sing]

Oooh! That may mean it may be ready by the time my baby comes. Tht would mean I could possibly buy a Radian for travel and a Nautilus for everyday. hmmm, that could be nice! :)

Obviously Jenna would be in the nautilus, and tha baby would be in one of her Radians or marathon in the 2nd car.

[April]

I emailed them on Feb 4th, and go TWO replies:

"Thank you for taking the time to e-mail us with your enquiry. The Natilus car seat is unfortunately not available in Canada and we do not have a date of arrival as of yet.

I would not advise purchasing it in the U.S. The ones available in the U.S. have not been tested to our standards.


Best regards,

Allan Correia"

AND

"Good afternoon April,

Unfortunately, this model is not yet available in Canada. I can't yet say if and/or when it will be until it has passed Canadian testing.

Regards,
Keisha Loftman
Sales Assistant

Elfe Juvenile Products
5171 Thimens Boulevard
St. Laurent,QC
H4R 3C6

514-344-3533 ext 3006"

:( Booooo..... I need FOUR new seats and would love to get 4 of them!:thumbsdown:

[mommycat]

I emailed March 20th and got this on the 25th (from Donald, so yet another rep):
Thank you for taking the time to e-mail your enquiry. Regarding the
Nautilus Car Seat brand availability in Canada we regret to inform you
that any required testing on it hasn't been completed yet in Canada
therefore its availability hasn't been confirmed to us as of now.
We suggest that you follow-up its eventual availability in Canada on our
websites or by contacting our Consumer Services dept.

Thank you

Customer Service Dept.
Elfe Juvenile Products
1-800-667-8184

Purchase Accessories Online
Visit our website at
www.elfe.net/ www.graco.net

Apparently my email to service@graco.net went to Allan:
-----Original Message-----
From: ***
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 10:54 PM
To: Allan
Subject: Graco Nautilus in Canada?

[mommycat]

Out of curiosity, who was the rep answering so positively?
I heard back:

Thank you for taking the time to e-mail your inquiry. After some research I found that there will be indeed a Graco Nautilus in Canada. It will most probably be available in WalMart by the end of the month. I hope this answers your question.



Take care,

[snowbird25ca]

You know what just dawned on me, is that the required Canadian testing for the 65lb seats is completed at the same time as the FMVSS standards testing. Protocol is the same, test bench the same, as long as it meets our head excursion limit with the tether, then it passes pretty much from a crash test stand point anyways. So it must be a matter of stickers and manuals and right now they're a) overwhelmed by the demand in the US that they're focusing on that or b) just wanting the seat to suddenly appear in Canada the same way as it did in the US so are staying tight lipped about it.

But when you think about it, the standards part they're referring to can only be labelling and manuals. :rolleyes:

[QuassEE]

There's some question about the differences between CMVSS and FMVSS testing that have never been clarified, however. We don't know if CMVSS sites are still using the old test bench. Also--we do know that CMVSS testing is done with the older dummy (33lb) and not the newer dummy. I'd assume that independent, Canadian-certified testing would still need to be completed. That's been one of the huge issues with getting seats into the Canadian market all along--the expense of testing for the Canadian market, not just labels and manuals. In an ideal world, testing could be completed for both markets in one go but we know how likely it is that TC will become more flexible on the differences between our requirements and US requirements.

-Nicole.

[snowbird25ca]

There's some question about the differences between CMVSS and FMVSS testing that have never been clarified, however. We don't know if CMVSS sites are still using the old test bench. Also--we do know that CMVSS testing is done with the older dummy (33lb) and not the newer dummy. I'd assume that independent, Canadian-certified testing would still need to be completed. That's been one of the huge issues with getting seats into the Canadian market all along--the expense of testing for the Canadian market, not just labels and manuals. In an ideal world, testing could be completed for both markets in one go but we know how likely it is that TC will become more flexible on the differences between our requirements and US requirements.

-Nicole.

Ah, but 65lb limit order was done in a way to say test the seat in the same manner as FMVSS, with the requirement of top tether & the related head excursion. So when a seat passes the 65lb limit tests in the US with top tether it also passes the 65lb limit crash standards for CMVSS. :thumbsup: So in essence the same crash tests that certify the seat to FMVSS standards are certifying the 65lb seats to CMVSS standards dependent on the top tether attachment and the 720mm head excursion. (for ff'ing mode anyways, and since this is a ff'ing only seat, I'd expect them to be able to certify the seat at the same time for both CMVSS and FMVSS from a crash test perspective anyways...)

At least that's how I've interpreted this: (big box at the start of schedule 3)

http://www.tc.gc.ca/acts-regulations/GENERAL/M/mvsa/regulations/rssr/rssr.htm

(2) For the purposes of Schedule 3 to the Regulations, a child restraint system that is designed for use by children weighing more than 22 kg must be tested in accordance with the testing procedures in FMVSS 213 for add-on child restraint systems (other than booster seats, car beds or harnesses), as defined in FMVSS 213, instead of the testing procedures in Test Method 213 — Child Restraint Systems. However, despite the options in [S6.1.1(a)(1)(A) to (D) S6.1.2(a)(1)(i)(A) to (D)]* of FMVSS 213, the tether strap must always be used.

(3) A child restraint system that is tested in accordance with the testing procedures in FMVSS 213 must be tested in accordance with section 5, Energy Absorbing Material Test Procedure, and section 6, Inversion Test Procedure, of Test Method 213. When the system is tested in accordance with section 6 of Test Method 213,

(a) the anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) used for the testing procedures in FMVSS 213 must be used; and

(b) in subsection 6.4 of the Test Method, the reference to subsection 3.3.2 is to be read as a reference to subsection 3.4.2.

(4) For the purpose of paragraph 13(1)(c) of Schedule 3 to the Regulations, a child restraint system that is tested with an ATD that conforms to subpart S, part 572, title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States is not required to meet the resultant acceleration limit.

(5) For the purpose of subsection 13(3) of Schedule 3 to the Regulations, when a child restraint system is tested in accordance with the testing procedures in FMVSS 213, the dynamic seat assembly described in drawing package NHTSA-213-2003, with its seat back fixed so that rotation around the seat back pivot axis is prevented, must be used in dynamic testing instead of the dynamic seat assembly described in drawing package SAS-100-1000.

* Square brackets indicate an error in the quoted text. See Interim Order

So I've interpreted that to mean use their dynamic seat assembly, with their dummy & standards but to require top tether standard be passed only.

Plus meet our energy absorbing material test requirements since we now require that in any area that could be contacted by the head of a child during a crash.

(Guess I've totally gone OT by the way, maybe the thread should be split. :o )

[Jewels]

Out of curiosity, who was the rep answering so positively?

It was Debbie.

But Keshia tells:
Hi Julie,

I'm not sure who told you that it was going to be in Canada, but that is
not a guarantee at this time. It has not yet passed testing and until
it does, we do not know if or when it will be coming to Canada.

Keisha


Hi Julie,
I deeply apologize, but Debbie was misinformed. I assure you that if
this item were going to be available within the next few weeks, I would
know about it. As I had mentioned before, it has not yet passed our
testing requirements. Until it does, I can't tell you if or when it will
be available.

Keisha

And

Emily tells me:
Dear Julie,

Thank you for emailing your enquiry regarding the Nautilus car seat. The Natilus is unfortunately not available in Canada and we do not have a date of arrival as of yet. I would not advise purchasing it in the U.S. The ones available in the U.S. have not been tested to our standards. Should you need further assistance do not hesitate to contact us at 1-800-667-8184 Monday to Friday 8:30-5:00pm and any one of our representatives will gladly assist you.

Best Regards
Emily: Service 3112
Consumer Service Representative
Elfe Juvenile Products

You know what just dawned on me, is that the required Canadian testing for the 65lb seats is completed at the same time as the FMVSS standards testing. Protocol is the same, test bench the same, as long as it meets our head excursion limit with the tether, then it passes pretty much from a crash test stand point anyways. So it must be a matter of stickers and manuals and right now they're a) overwhelmed by the demand in the US that they're focusing on that or b) just wanting the seat to suddenly appear in Canada the same way as it did in the US so are staying tight lipped about it.

But when you think about it, the standards part they're referring to can only be labelling and manuals. :rolleyes:

That is what I was told when a tech I work with looked into it. She said the seat had passed and was approved but wouldn't be coming here because of the labels and manual. Haven't I said this here yet :confused:

Yep, it was mentioned here (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?p=334826#post334826) :)

[ladybug_mom]

I emailed them too on March 22 and received a response on March 25:

Subject: Nautilus Availability in Canada?


Hi,

There has been a great deal of talk regarding your new Nautilus Seat on our Community Forums, especially in parents looking for that next stage carseat after their babies outgrow their infant carriers. I was hoping that someone could get back to me to let me know when this seat will be on the shelves in Canada, and where it will most likely be sold.

I know for a fact that there is very high demand for this seat as it fills a need that currently no other seat in Canada meets. Kudos to Graco for filling this void, and creating a "True 3-in-1"!

Looking forward to your response!

Cara

--
Cara Miller | www.CanadianParents.com

Community Leader

their response:


Thank you for taking the time to e-mail your enquiry. Regarding the Nautilus Car Seat brand availability in Canada we regret to inform you that any required testing on it hasn’t been completed yet in Canada therefore its availability hasn’t been confirmed to us as of now.

We suggest that you follow-up its eventual availability in Canada on our websites or by contacting our Consumer Services dept.

Thank you

Donald De Gryse

Customer Service Dept.

Elfe Juvenile Products

1-800-667-8184

[spcamno]

Anyone heard anything from Graco since last month??

[snowbird25ca]

I just sent a new email tonight to see if there's an update of any sort. Maybe time for another barrage of emails? :cool:

BTW - What email has everyone been using. I know I had posted service @ graco.net before, but didn't see it when I looked at the site this time so used just the general elfe email address - service@elfe.ca. Is that the best email address?

[snowbird25ca]

I got a response from Graco today, similar story as what's been given before, but with a hoping it's available by the end of the year.

This was from Donald De Gryse:

Thank you for contacting us regarding your inquiry, the Graco Nautilus car seat isn’t available in Canada yet as it still needs to be tested.We are hoping to see it on the shelves by the end of the year.



Thank you



Customer Service Dept.

Elfe Juvenile Products

1-800-667-8184

Better than the *if* comments they were sending most recently anyways. :)

[Mom2twins]

I got the same reply from Donald De Gryse:


Thank you for contacting us regarding your inquiry, the Graco Nautilus car seat isn’t available in Canada yet as it still needs to be tested.We are hoping to see it on the shelves by the end of the year.



Thank you



Customer Service Dept.

Elfe Juvenile Products

1-800-667-8184

[Neatfreak]

Is that the most optimistic news thus far? I'm okay with "end of the year" as the seat is on my Summer 2009 shopping list.

[snowbird25ca]

Is that the most optimistic news thus far? I'm okay with "end of the year" as the seat is on my Summer 2009 shopping list.

I was going to say you're impressively organized. :p Then I remembered that you're overseas and have to plan things out ahead to be able to get them when you need them.

Yeah, I think this is the most definite info so far since prior ones were when & if type ones. This one is more a when so they're at least admitting it's definitely going to arrive anyways. I'll take what I can get. :)

[Unregistered]

Hello, I have been lurking here. Needing a new seat for my 4 1/2 year old and hoping to get the Nautilus. I had an email this morning from Keisha at Elfe saying that the good news is the Nautilus has passed all the testing in Canada, but the bad news is that it probably won't be here before the end of the year. I am so frustrated that the seat is available in the US since February....I need that seat!

[momto2boysinOnt]

I had an email this morning from Keisha at Elfe saying that the good news is the Nautilus has passed all the testing in Canada, but the bad news is that it probably won't be here before the end of the year. I am so frustrated that the seat is available in the US since February....I need that seat!

Good grief! I know that writing manuals and coming up with bilingual labels can take a while, but if it's passed testing, it shouldn't take seven months or more for labels/manuals. I really hope DS doesn't have another torso growth spurt this year. We have about an inch in the Radian, so we're OK for now.

[Neatfreak]

I was going to say you're impressively organized. :p Then I remembered that you're overseas and have to plan things out ahead to be able to get them when you need them.


Ah, well, the post about "what convertible do I get for my infant who won't be born until three months after my seat-shopping window?" hasn't been written up yet LOL!

[Carseat Frustration]

Hi There, I just called Graco and asked when they expect the Nautilus to be ready for the Canadian market and she said they are hoping by fall it will be ready. This is so frustrating because I'm having a heck of a time trying to find the right car seat and when I saw this one I thought it was perfect. Any other recommendations if this doesn't ever come! I have a infant carrier that seats to thirty pounds so all I really want is a forward facing car seat that turns into a booster seat later on! Thanks for your input!

[snowbird25ca]

Hi There, I just called Graco and asked when they expect the Nautilus to be ready for the Canadian market and she said they are hoping by fall it will be ready. This is so frustrating because I'm having a heck of a time trying to find the right car seat and when I saw this one I thought it was perfect. Any other recommendations if this doesn't ever come! I have a infant carrier that seats to thirty pounds so all I really want is a forward facing car seat that turns into a booster seat later on! Thanks for your input!

Unless your child is short enough to last the SS1 until 30lbs or a bare minimum of 2yrs old, you'll need to be buying a convertible seat to use after the SS1. We strongly recommend rf'ing to the limits of the seat, which on most is 30lbs at present, although some are showing up rated to 35lbs now. Some kids will make it that long in the SS1, but most won't, so you'll need a seat that can be used both rf'ing and then ff'ing once the rf'ing mode is outgrown. Rf'ing is exponentially safer than ff'ing and children's spinal columns are not strong enough at 1yr old to withstand the crash forces of a large collision without risking severe long term disability and death. The spinal column doesn't finish fusing until sometime between the ages of 3 and 6 (varies by child,) and until that time, the spaces in the spinal column are able to stretch twice as far as the spinal cord can before breaking. And in almost all cases a broken spinal cord = instant death... Rf'ing prevents this injury, which is why we recommend keeping kids rf'ing to the limits of a convertible seat - unless a kiddo is short they won't make it to 30lbs in the SS1 since most seats are outgrown by height before weight. ;)

That's great to hear that they're saying more like fall now because that sounds a little earlier than what they were predicting before.

In terms of another combination seat, the Britax Frontier will be available within the next month. However, it has a 2yr old AND 25lb minimum requirement in order to use the seat. Britax is implementing the higher minimum weight & age limits on this seat to make more parents follow best practice and hopefully keep their kids rf'ing until at least 2 and 25lbs. I'll leave it at this since I'm not sure how old or big your child is, but feel free to start another separate post asking about seat selection and be sure to include your child's age and weight. Sometimes questions like this get lost in the midst of threads. :thumbsup:

[Debn31]

Well, for me, the other choice is the Britax Frontier (which is about $300)..
But I have a tall dude with a pretty long torso, so I need something that'll fit him. And I wanted the 5 pt harness as long as possible.

Fall huh? Well...I'm hoping we can hold out that long....
What I'd LIKE is to try both seats, and see what seems to fit better in our car, and fits him too.

Of course, a cheaper price is great, but for me the fit comes first (of course).

I guess if I needed to, I can still place an order for the Frontier, and then bring the boy down and sit him in it at the store first, to see how that looks.

It'd sure be nice, though, if I could try both at the same time and then decide.

I'll cross my fingers that the True Fit lasts a couple months!:eek: You never know with my oldest. He still goes through clothes faster than his 2 year old brother.

I guess if I REALLY fall in love with the Frontier we might not bother, but sure would be nice to have choice... :)

[Unregistered]

You know what bothers me. That we in this country are so arogant that we need to come up with our own version of safety rules that have to be different in some small point. We are really saying that 304,000,000 people in the US are idiots? Until our government says these seats are safe they must not be? I wonder how US parents would feel if we told them that. I am not an American, just someone using some plain logic and looking at the big picture. As for us, we will be purchasing the Britax Frontier or the Graco Nautilus in the US. I am tired of waiting for a french label.

[Shanora]

Its no different in the US, they can not use a seat thats doesn't have the US Marking on it.....
As for the 304 million people question.....maybe not...but there are reason's why canada has stricter policies in place.
I really don't think that Canada is that arrogant of a country, I think they we take great pride in how we try to keep out people safer.

[canadiangie]

You know what bothers me. That we in this country are so arogant that we need to come up with our own version of safety rules that have to be different in some small point. We are really saying that 304,000,000 people in the US are idiots? Until our government says these seats are safe they must not be? I wonder how US parents would feel if we told them that. I am not an American, just someone using some plain logic and looking at the big picture. As for us, we will be purchasing the Britax Frontier or the Graco Nautilus in the US. I am tired of waiting for a french label.


I know it sometimes seems like arrogance on the part of Transport Canada (really, I do), but this still isn't a reason to purchase a seat sold in the US. While I've been dreaming of a Britax Boulevard for, um, years now, it's just not worth the risk of not being able to file for damages should my child be injured. What I mean by this is...

Let's say you're driving one day and you're hit by a drunk driver (or anyone for that matter). Your child is riding in a seat sold in the US. Your child is injured. You live in a province that allows for collision related lawsuits. Your case makes it to court, you're all ready to advocate for your child and your family. The "bad guy's" lawyer reads that your child was riding in a seat sold in the US. The lawyer then makes the case that the child was injured because a) there was a collision, or b) the child was riding in a seat not approved for use in Canada (and therefore not tested to meet our standards). Sure you and I know the real answer, but in a court of law it comes down to reasonable doubt. It takes one tiny loop hole to lose a case. And that, is why, at least for me, it's not worth the risk. If someone hits me and my dd's are injured I need to have all my bases covered. I know being the ferocious mama bear that I am, I'd want to sue the pants off the "bad guy", AND win. :thumbsup: :mad:

[tcottawa]

Its no different in the US, they can not use a seat thats doesn't have the US Marking on it.....
As for the 304 million people question.....maybe not...but there are reason's why canada has stricter policies in place.
I really don't think that Canada is that arrogant of a country, I think they we take great pride in how we try to keep out people safer.

:thumbsup:

And, see my siggy...:whistle:

[mara232]

Has anyone contacted them lately? I'm excited about this seat!!

[Unregistered]

bump??

[snowbird25ca]

bump??

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=55634

[Allport]

Just as an aside - the testing for a 65 pound seat is not just the FMVSS testing. Up to a certain weight they must comply to the CMVSS so it's not as easy as it sounds. To test a seat that goes from 5-65 pounds takes 12 runs on the HyGe sled and the companies should do more than just 12! We also have the tether that is required whereas in the US they can remove the tether for upper weight seats if they are no using LATCH - Canada does not have that exemption. A tether is always required. Hope that clears things up - and I heard December......