Would you buy a floor model Frontier?

firemomof3

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #1

A friend of mine who is the manager of a local high end baby store is selling her floor model Frontier said I could take it for $100 cash Now, of course I was a skeptical but she said that yes it can be taken down and "tried out" but she never allowed it leave the store. Would you take it?

 

heyruthie

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #2

yes. for that price, i'd buy it.--provided there was no obvious damage (broken EPS, etc.)

heck, ask her if *I* can buy it for my DS, and pay for shipping.

 

NannyMom

Well-known member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #3

Personally, I wouldn't. Seats can be abused w/o leaving the store. Just ask A who accidentally ripped the LATCH strap off a Maxi Cosi

 

ZephyrBlue

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #4

My first instinct is to say no, but really- what can happen to a seat that isn't taken out of the store? Would she notice if the seat was dropped a large distance? It would be hard to damage a seat just "trying it out" in the store. If it were allowed outside, no way. I guess my final answer is "I don't know"

Helpful, huh?

 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #5

I wouldn't. Depending on how close her seats are on the shelves I could see someone trying to pull one down and knocking others off. Do that repeatedly and even if it's just in the store it could have enough damage to make me question its safety.

Wendy

 

skylinphoto

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #6

I wouldn't. Because you never know what happened to it. People do all kinds of crazy things! lol.

(I wouldn't feel right buying it and selling it. But, that's just me.)

If you truly feel okay using it for your own kids, I'd go for it. It's a parental decision, obviously.

 

Splash

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #7

BRU, probably not. A baby boutique, sure. If nothing else, use it as an awesome booster (nothing could have possibly been done to it in store that would render it unsafe as a booster unless it was obvious on sight). I'd use it harnessed though with no qualms. Seats take a lot of abuse just in shipping and random installing, it's not like it's been in combat. These things are a lot sturdier than people give them credit for. Besides, even Britax "allows" you to use one after an accident... do you think anything worse than a car accident could have happened to it in her store? Not likely.

 

christineka

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #8

I'd buy it and use it.

 

ZephyrBlue

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #9

These things are a lot sturdier than people give them credit for. Besides, even Britax "allows" you to use one after an accident... do you think anything worse than a car accident could have happened to it in her store? Not likely.

Click to expand...

This is an excellent point.

 

monstah

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #10

Probably. I would have to go to the store and use my own judgement taking into consideration things like -

-how far is the fall to the floor
-are the displays easy to play with on the shelf, or do you think they get knocked over easy
-carpet over plywood or concrete, etc.
-peel back the cover and see how the shell looks

Then I'd just let my mommy instinct make the decision.

 

skipspin

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #11

Probably.

I bought my WZ as a floor model a long time ago. It was only 3 months old (per DOM), and had everything except the manual. They matched the lowest internet price I could find making it $70 off. I've never seen ANYONE but myself take a seat out at BRU here, and I agree it would be hard to do anything in a parking lot/store to really hurt it that wouldn't show some visible damage.

I'm sure I've been harder on that seat than anyone in the store ever was.

 

B

brightredmtn

Well-known member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #12

Nope. All the floor models I've ever seen specifically say on them that they shouldn't be used.

 

R

rodentranger

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #13

brightredmtn said:

Nope. All the floor models I've ever seen specifically say on them that they shouldn't be used.

Click to expand...

Some stores simply use out of box seats as floor models. However, Britax says not to use floor models whether they are marked as such or not.

 

firemomof3

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #14

Well, I took the drive down to check it out. When I got there I looked around and the baby store (a high-end boutique) was soooo nice! When I got to the car seats they were all lined up on a shelf that was about 6 inches off of the floor. They also had a bench seat where you could install the seats and try them out. All the seats were in beautiful condition and I was very comfortable buying the Frontier (dom of 5/08). The only sign of wear is on the cover; it looks like little velcro shoes pulled at the fabric. But I'm very excited! Now, I just have to try and install it....pray for me

 

ZephyrBlue

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #15

You are definately in my thoughts and prayers- I hate the Frontier install. Give me Regent any day of the week, but don't make me reinstall the Frontier!

 

Niea

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #16

The very fact that she wanted cash only tells me she knows it shouldn't be selling it but is anyway. So no, I wouldn't. Does she have the box and manuals and all that? If it's a seat that came out of a box that wasn't designed to be a model, the store should have kept all that in the back. I'd also call up Britax and check on the registration status and see if it can still be registered. If not, it would just be too many red flags for me to feel comfortable using it.

 

firemomof3

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #17

Niea said:

The very fact that she wanted cash only tells me she knows it shouldn't be selling it but is anyway. So no, I wouldn't. Does she have the box and manuals and all that? If it's a seat that came out of a box that wasn't designed to be a model, the store should have kept all that in the back. I'd also call up Britax and check on the registration status and see if it can still be registered. If not, it would just be too many red flags for me to feel comfortable using it.

Click to expand...

She was actually asking $150 for it but I offered $100 cash It came with the manual but no box. That is a good idea though I will call up Britax tomorrow. I do know this person fairly well and so that is why I was comfortable taking the seat...but you do bring up some very good points.

 

firemomof3

New member

• Apr 23, 2009

• #18

ZephyrBlue said:

You are definately in my thoughts and prayers- I hate the Frontier install. Give me Regent any day of the week, but don't make me reinstall the Frontier!

Click to expand...

Well, the latch install was quick and easy. But the seat belt install....I don't think I will even attempt that tonight!
And oh on a side note...while I was outside in the dark installing the seat my german shepard got sprayed by a skunk So, off to try and get the smell out!