TF questions

[Unregistered]

Question 1: We picked up a True Fit car seat on sale at TRU ($150). When I got home, I noticed that the date of manufacture was March 2008, therefore, I've lost 10 months of use on this car seat (I guess that's why it was on sale). We'll likely start using this car seat in the next month or so. My question is whether it's likely that my daughter will outgrow the height/weight restrictions or whether the car seat will have to be retired due to the expiry date (I know it's a guess since I don't know how fast my daughter will grow)

Question 2: We tried the TF and Marathon car seats at the store (we will have the TF in the secondary car and the marathon in our primary car). We noticed two things about the TF which I wonder will frustrate us in comparison to the Marathon 1) the harness tightener strap is located low in the car seat and might be hard to access while RF'ing and 2) when the harness tightener strap was pulled, the shoulder straps did not tight evenly, and it took some work to get both straps tightened equally - I'm not sure whether the store had the car seat constructed incorrectly. My question is whether others noticed these problems and "lived with it" - my ultimate goal is to make sure that the straps are tight so that my daughter is safe!

Thanks!

[hipmaman]

Question 1: We picked up a True Fit car seat on sale at TRU ($150). When I got home, I noticed that the date of manufacture was March 2008, therefore, I've lost 10 months of use on this car seat (I guess that's why it was on sale). We'll likely start using this car seat in the next month or so. My question is whether it's likely that my daughter will outgrow the height/weight restrictions or whether the car seat will have to be retired due to the expiry date (I know it's a guess since I don't know how fast my daughter will grow)


TrueFit goes on sale before and it's not because of the older DOM. It depends on the store with little traffic or with lots to move inventory, imo.

However, I had suggested to one mom who had a Mar 2008 from Zellers last week to ask for a discount for that one or to exchange for one with a newer DOM or to get a raincheck if a newer on couldn't be found. She ended up having a great discount on top of the $150 sale from Zellers and kept the seat. Maybe you can try the same.

This link shows why seats have expiration date and might help your talk with TRU if you decide to ask for a discount http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/safedrivers/childsafety/notices/2007c10/menu.htm

And yes, one cannot tell if you child would outgrow it before the expiration date or not. But once the seat expires, it expires and using it past the expiration then become your own risk, kwim?

Question 2: We tried the TF and Marathon car seats at the store (we will have the TF in the secondary car and the marathon in our primary car). We noticed two things about the TF which I wonder will frustrate us in comparison to the Marathon 1) the harness tightener strap is located low in the car seat and might be hard to access while RF'ing and 2) when the harness tightener strap was pulled, the shoulder straps did not tight evenly, and it took some work to get both straps tightened equally - I'm not sure whether the store had the car seat constructed incorrectly. My question is whether others noticed these problems and "lived with it" - my ultimate goal is to make sure that the straps are tight so that my daughter is safe!

You've touched on the #1 complain about the TF :) The harness adjustor locate quite lower down at the front so when rf, it can be tough to reach. Many people just install it at angle that still able to access the adjust and not uncomfortable angle for the baby but still w/in the allowable recline range of 35 to 45 degrees.

Most of the time, if you tighten the harness straps you should manually run your hands over the straps from the thigh area to the shoulder to remove excess strap. At least I do this with my kids' seats - Britax or not.

[featherhead]

2) when the harness tightener strap was pulled, the shoulder straps did not tight evenly, and it took some work to get both straps tightened equally - I'm not sure whether the store had the car seat constructed incorrectly. My question is whether others noticed these problems and "lived with it" - my ultimate goal is to make sure that the straps are tight so that my daughter is safe!

Thanks!

The harness is one continuous strap that starts at the splitter plate, comes through the shell, over the shoulder, through the buckle, down through the bottom of the seat... then it comes up the other side and goes back through the buckle, up and out again. So, before you buckle your child just hold both straps out and kind of slide them back and forth (this happens under the seat) until they are even. Then buckle and tighten. The continuous harness can help so you don't have to loosen and tighten each time. If you have the harness the right tightness you can pull the strap on one side, put that arm through, then pull the strap on the other side to get the other arm through, and then even the sides out.

[jess71903]

#1- I have only seen DOMs from 1/2008 and 3 or 4/2008. I don't know if they just made a lot of them and haven't sold them all off or what. The TF has a 7 year life as opposed to most seats 6 year life, so if you got it at a good price, it wouldn't bother me. Can't hurt to ask about it, though.

#2- I can still get to the harness adjuster in my car by sticking my hand between the seat and the vehicle seat. It's pretty easy in my car, but I know it's not in others. Your 2nd problem with it actually is what makes that easier to deal with...the True Fit has a continuous loop harness, which means that the harnness strap starts at one shoulder, routs under the bum area of the seat, and up to the other shoulder. It's all one piece of strap. I just leave mine adjusted to where it fits snug. To get him in, I pull one side to give me some slack, put arm 1 in, then pull the other to get arm 2 in, even them up and buckle.

I started this and then stepped away so I'm probably repeating it all for you :).

[snowbird25ca]

I'm just curious how long ago you bought the TF at TRU? Or did you get the store to price match Zeller's sale? The TF isn't on sale right now, so that's why I'm asking. Just plain curiousity. :o

The most recent DOM I've seen is Sept 08, that was the date the last shipment of seats in to our BRU store had. We have a high turnover on them though...

The others have addressed your questions well so I'm not going to repeat them. I wouldn't stress about the year lost. I'd hedge bets that your dd will outgrow it before it expires... 6yrs is plenty of use for a seat. :thumbsup:

[Unregistered]

I apologize - we bought the TF on sale for $150 at Zeller's, not TRU.