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Message |
    
buhinc
Citizen
Username: Buhinc
Post Number: 124
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 8:45 am: | 
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We are interested in finding local stores for backyard swing sets. We're looking for a wooden, sturdy set with 2-3 spots for swings and a slide. We'll consider assembling the set ourselves, although we would also like to know if we can purchase a set and have a professional put it together. Any recommendations? Also, are there specific brands that we should be looking for? Thanks. |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 3181
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 10:56 am: |
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Not in stores, but we really love our Cedar Works set. Our next door neighbors got one also (after seeing ours) and I've seen others around town. They are pricey but very high quality and sturdy.
See http://www.cedarworks.com/. |
bmpsab
Citizen
Username: Bmpsab
Post Number: 196
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 11:21 am: |
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SAC, looked at the website, and the sets look really nice. What price neighborhood are you talking about? |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 2317
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 11:58 am: |
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V-E-R-Y expensive.
We requested a quote from them for what we thought was a basic setup. After we got up off the floor we kind of chuckled to ourselves. I just looked for the email with the price and couldn't find it but it was in excess of 3K.
On the positive side my son spends a great deal of time on their website designing potential sets. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3119
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 12:47 pm: |
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We bought a Creative Playthings set from here (the one in Upper Saddle River):
http://www.swingsetwarehouse.com/contact.html
I did a lot of research before we actually bought anything and it seemed like all the big swingset manufacturers were priced very much the same (although maybe Rainbow was more). We got our set for about half what sportsnut's quote was, including installation (granted this was about 3 1/2 years ago now). They also offer a maintenance program where they'll come out and re-level the set, tighten up all the nuts and bolts and re-seal it.
For us it was a worthwhile investment because we have 3 boys, the youngest of which is 2, so we'll get a lot of years use out of it. |
Handygirl
Citizen
Username: Handygirl
Post Number: 600
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 1:01 pm: |
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Check Costco and Toys R Us also has some wooden play sets/swing sets |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2476
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 3:11 pm: |
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You're definitely thinking the right way to have someone else put it together. They are a royal PITA to put together on your own.
There's a Rainbow Direct showroom up on 46 in Parsippany. |
Earlster
Supporter
Username: Earlster
Post Number: 1471
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 3:25 pm: |
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COSTCO has a Rainbow set, for about half of what you would pay if you would buy it from Rainbow. (Don't ask me how they do that).
However you either will have to put it together yourself, or find a handyman to do it for you.
We got ours last year and it took me and a couple of neighbors two long weekend days to put it up. A lot of work, I was really sore at the end, but I did enjoy it. |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 3185
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 5:57 pm: |
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I think ours was somewhere around $1500, but it was over ten years ago and yes, they are expensive, but they sure do hold up well. I've seen a lot of wooden sets that didn't last as long as the child for whom they were purchased (much less the younger siblings.) Our kids have mostly outgrown ours, although every now and then they do like to go out on it and it is sturdy enough to hold them ... and a lot more.
They also have an excellent warranty. About three years ago, there was one part that did have a problem (ladder rungs rotted) and the company rep told us that they had experienced this problem with other sets and had redesigned the sets and specified a new material for those rungs. We were entitled to free replacement and, because of the way the rungs were installed, that meant we got almost a whole new set. This all happened nearly ten years after we had purchased it and at no cost to us, other than re-installation (which my spouse did himself, as he had done the first time.)
Those who know us know that we are normally fairly thrifty in our purchases, but we loved these sets and decided that the extra cost was worth it.
All that being said, I haven't shopped for swingsets in quite some time and it is quite possible that there are other very good choices available that we didn't find then.
Good luck shopping! |
buhinc
Citizen
Username: Buhinc
Post Number: 125
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 1:47 pm: |
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Thanks everyone! You've been very helpful. Now we know where to start! |
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