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szekata
Squeeker
Joined: June 10, 2005
Posts: 17
Status: Offline
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Sep 05, 2006 - 04:23 PM |
 
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| Post subject: strollers: bugaboo or quinny |
i'm expecting my first baby in november and have yet to get a stroller (among other things). After checking out the forum and hearing that the chinese brands here are crap, i've decided to have one shipped from abroad. I've narrowed it down to getting a Bugaboo Gecko or a Quinny. Anyone have any opinions on these? And does anyone know if there are any extra charges that chinese customs place on items shipped into china? |
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booboo
Reacher
Joined: Jan 19, 2006
Posts: 289
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Sep 05, 2006 - 10:00 PM |
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i think you should go & check out what is being sold in department stores here & make up your own mind. many of them have a pretty good selection & cost a lot less than what you're paying for them abroad. |
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MahamYe
Rocker
Joined: Jan 07, 2004
Posts: 614
Status: Offline
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Sep 06, 2006 - 08:38 AM |
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I think it will depend entirely on what type of strolling you will be doing. If you plan to do a lot of Puxi street strolling then I don't think it makes sense to get a pricey specialty stroller becuase the sidewalks are so rugged that it can tear them up quickly. There are so many uneven stones, debris and high curbs you have to haul the front wheels over so it ruins the struts and they end up creaking and rickety.
I reccommend getting something with big wheels. Also be sure that it has good shock absorbtion and tight struts. Perhaps go to epinion.com and see if any other urban dwelling parents have written reviews of the stroller you are considering. If you ride cabs, check to see how small it will fold since many taxis have a gas container in the trunk that limits storage space...
Good luck and congratulations on the upcoming arrival! |
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SaraC
Barker
Joined: Oct 17, 2004
Posts: 197
Status: Offline
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Sep 06, 2006 - 01:23 PM |
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My experience is that the more lightweight a stroller is, the easier it is to maneuver around Shanghai. Also, unless you have a driver, it is convenient if your infant car seat (if you will use one) can slot into your stroller.
You might want to save money and not buy a high end stroller, especially since your baby will be born in the winter and you probably won't stroll so much. Also, we switched to a lightweight Chinese brand (Goodbaby, about RMB 400) umbrella stroller when my daughter was 8 months old and the expensive big stroller has not come out since. Our Goodbaby umbrella stroller has stood up to many vacations and trips around Shanghai without any issues (the stroller has been in use for 18 months now).
MacClaran makes some lighter models that recline to 170-180 degrees, so they can be used for a newborn. MacClaran is one of the more popular brands for strollers in New York City, becuase it is much cheaper than Bugaboo, lightweight, good quality and easy to maneuver.
If you look on Taobao.com, they have many strollers for much cheaper then the stores. Get a Chinese friend or secretary to help you look on the site if you cannot speak Chinese. This could save you on shipping. I just bought a Britax toddler car seat through Taobao -- the price was higher than the US/UK price, but a lot lower than the department stores. |
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benkloepfer
PopStar
Joined: Sep 02, 2004
Posts: 1042
Status: Offline
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Sep 06, 2006 - 02:39 PM |
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You can find decent imported (or re-imported) strollers here in Shanghai easily. Just keep looking. Try BaBaiBan in PuDong, or the Oriental Shopping center in XuJiaHui. |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18037
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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Sep 06, 2006 - 03:46 PM |
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Their are Japanese branded storllers available here that are cheaper top buy here than elsewhere that seem to hold up well. i am in same boat except that baby is due in a few weeks...lukcily will not arrive here until also around Nov.  |
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monsoonstorm
Newbie
Joined: Sep 09, 2006
Posts: 1
Status: Offline
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Sep 09, 2006 - 10:16 AM |
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I have a quinny zapp, which is brilliant for around shanghai, it goes tiny! (small enough to go in the overhead compartment of airplanes) If you want to use it for a baby you need to get a baby car seat (maxi-cosi) because it doesn't recline - this is the only downside. I had to get all of this in Hong Kong though (bumps to babes in pedder building, central) The only decent strollers I have seen here are maclaren. Quinny is readily available in HK though. (Quinny's customer service is excellent too - I had a missing piece, they mailed me a replacement free that same day) |
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MinniMe
Barker
Joined: Sep 09, 2006
Posts: 164
Status: Offline
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Sep 09, 2006 - 02:11 PM |
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We bought ours from Mothercare in Singapore, they have shop in Hongkong as well.
Where did you find the MacLaren strollers in Shanghai? I've been trying to find them for travel purpose... |
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meepok
Barker
Joined: Aug 04, 2004
Posts: 159
Status: Offline
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Sep 10, 2006 - 08:29 AM |
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I saw MacLaren strollers sold at the children's section at Gang Hui. Its a corner shop that carries brands such as Safety First, Maxi Cosi, Avent, Graco etc. HTHs.
We actually bought an Aprica that was assembled in Guangzhou but parts came from Japan. Its light weight and has large wheels, which made life a tad simpler. However, we did find that we ended up using our sling and Baby Bjorn 95% of the time - its far simpler and honestly, easier to keep grubby hands from "fondling" baby.....  |
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MinniMe
Barker
Joined: Sep 09, 2006
Posts: 164
Status: Offline
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Sep 11, 2006 - 09:50 PM |
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I live in Pudong, so Gang Hui doesn't tell me anything, help please , And, thanks for the Baby Bjorn hint, I have it already, I thought it's going to be used a lot in this city with all those very curious Chinese |
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MahamYe
Rocker
Joined: Jan 07, 2004
Posts: 614
Status: Offline
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Sep 11, 2006 - 09:56 PM |
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Gang Hui= Grand Gateway mall in Xu Jia Hui. THe name of the store is Little Price Baby Concept Store and it's on the extension wing of the 3rd floor. There are lots of other useful kids stores on that floor so it's probably worth crossing the river to check it out... |
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etm
Barker
Joined: May 17, 2005
Posts: 127
Location: Shanghai, China
Status: Offline
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Sep 11, 2006 - 09:59 PM |
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I think its the Grand Gateway mall on Hengshan / Huashan Lu. I have heard they have pretty good children stuff there but have not been. |
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MinniMe
Barker
Joined: Sep 09, 2006
Posts: 164
Status: Offline
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Sep 12, 2006 - 07:15 AM |
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A BIG thank you from Pudong |
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krez
Reacher
Joined: Apr 28, 2005
Posts: 345
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Sep 12, 2006 - 09:19 AM |
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We have the bugaboo and it is perfect for Shnaghai, as it is really rugged with big wheels, however it isn't easy if you will be taking taxis with it, as it doesn't fold down enoguh to quite fit in the trunk of the cabs. However if you get it with the cot your baby can sleep in it for thye first many months, then later you can change it to the seat/stroller kind. We really love it.
Now we have a McLaren, which is really good, lightweight and folds down to nearly nothing, very easy to maneuver and works well on the sometimes uneven sidewalks of Puxi.
on the 5 or 6 floor of JiuGuang shopping mall, they have a very large baby items area, where they also sell many different domestic and imported strollers etc, including McLaren.
Good luck |
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szekata
Squeeker
Joined: June 10, 2005
Posts: 17
Status: Offline
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Sep 12, 2006 - 11:43 AM |
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thanks everyone for all the info.
I think afer the feedback, i'll try to get a stroller here.
How much do the McClaren's cost here?
krez, where is the JiuGuang shopping mall? |
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beccalecca
Squeeker
Joined: June 26, 2006
Posts: 17
Status: Offline
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Sep 12, 2006 - 02:37 PM |
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I'm checking this out b/c I need a stroller for my 2 year old in Puxi. I was looking at a Combi I liked today, but definitely will investigate the MacClarens - thanks for the info.
I will suggest for a newborn that you look into a sling (like a maya wrap or kangaroo Korner adjustable pouch or hotsling). The Baby bjorn-style carriers are fine for short periods of time, but put too much pressure on babies hips if you use them a lot and can have negative effects if over used. A sling is amazingly convenient for a newborn, b/c they are craddled against you and pretty well covered from grabby hands. When I shopped with my baby in the sling, people wouldn't even know I had a baby and would get freaked out when she started moving! They are just so terrible easy, and cuddled against you the baby will settle down and sleep so well. My daughter slept better shopping than anywhere else. Plus, with the lack of seat belts it seems more secure in the cars. I couldn't imagine lugging a baby bucket-style car seat around Shanghai! (well, maybe if I had a car and driver at my disposal...) |
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krez
Reacher
Joined: Apr 28, 2005
Posts: 345
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Sep 12, 2006 - 03:09 PM |
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Jiuguang is on Nanjing Lu just next to Jing'an temple. It's the white curvy shopping mall, with a lot of designer brands on the first floor (Tiffany, Montblanc, Burberry etc), On the 5th floor they have a baby area with clothes, strollers, and accessories. We love having the mclaren, it just works here! |
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krez
Reacher
Joined: Apr 28, 2005
Posts: 345
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Sep 12, 2006 - 03:11 PM |
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I am not sure of the price, we bought it on a trip to the USA. |
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MinniMe
Barker
Joined: Sep 09, 2006
Posts: 164
Status: Offline
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Sep 13, 2006 - 01:12 PM |
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I checked the Maclarens in Grand Gateway Mall, they seemed to be about 1000rmb more expensive there than f.ex. in Hongkong. The prices started from around 2.700rmb |
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