Which toys have you regretted buying?
Are there any toys you really regretted buying for your children? Those that seemed like a great idea at the time, but turned out to be a complete pain in the backside when the box was opened?
Meccano - what were we thinking?
This household has seen its fair share of bad purchases from the toy department: Star Wars monopoly – what were we thinking? Monopoly has to be one of the dullest games of all time, yet adding Yoda and Darth Vader to the mix added another level of apathy.
Scalextric – great idea, until you realise your lounge isn’t big enough for the track and it takes 30 minutes to set up, by which time your child has decided to pass time elsewhere.
Transformers – almost impossible to transform from vehicle to Optimus Prime, or whatever it is.
Operation – incredibly annoying, with all the little bits that end up inside the vacuum cleaner, and that infernal beeping noise.
Walkie-talkies – never worked when the person was more than two metres away from their companion, which means they could have had a conversation.
That sand you could sculpt and didn’t get wet – what a blooming mess.
Those art sets that you make with pins – PINS! Or sequins.
Make-up or perfume making sets. Invariably messy and rubbish.
Buckaroo – ‘nuff said.
And today – bought proudly with his Christmas money – son purchased his second set of Meccano. I have virtually got RSI trying to tighten a nut onto a screw. After spending ages trying to tighten the four that were needed for the vehicle, he discovered they were in the wrong place. Cue wails of frustration and flying pieces of metal – and that was him, not me.
These toy shops – they don’t half see us coming. Give me Lego any time …
I was in toy retailing for 15 years in the 70s/80s. Yes we did sell some rubbish. Most of the boxes on the shelves were little more than cardboard and fresh air; if there was anything inside it certainly didn’t come with a lifetime guarantee …. lucky if it saw out Christmas Day.
Some stuff survives though and is sought after. The company I worked for, Zodiac Toys, still has its own brand toys come up on eBay, even though it ceased trading in 1990. I built a website in memory of Zodiac …. http://www.freewebs.com/zodiactoys/
Roger Jones
14 Jan 12 at 6:25 pm
When my kids were younger, Play-doh was a big “Doh!” It wound up ground into the carpet, stuck around toys, dried in broken pieces on the floor, you name it.
Jack V Sage
14 Jan 12 at 7:08 pm
lol I know what you mean, we have brought some shocking toys too!
Kizzy
14 Jan 12 at 7:08 pm
Anything that requires an adult to help them put it together or play it….I don’t mind joining in and having a fun family time but the whining and carry on because there is no adult to help them during the day or when everyone is busy
And ANYTHING that makes a noise….you know you shouldn’t buy it….that the sound will drive you totally insane when you’ve heard it 120 times in one minute….don’t do it!!!
Katrina
15 Jan 12 at 1:37 am
Play doh can be removed with damp sponge….if you make your own!
Playmobil used to take ages to put together, but at least you could play with the figures without the garage/pirate ship etc.
3D jigsaws, which collapsed as soon as you went to put last piece in.
Louise
15 Jan 12 at 4:51 pm
Please don’t discourage your son from Meccano. He has shown interest and the initiative to purchase an additional Meccano set and this should be encouraged. There will be frustrations along the way but it is all part of learning. If he has mechanical aptitude and interest: encourage it. It requires very little skill to stick lego bricks together. I thank Meccano for teaching me engineering skills, leading me to an Engineering degree and thus being able to travel the world solving mechanical problems.
David
16 Jan 12 at 1:38 am
Thanks for commenting, Dave. I definitely won’t discourage Meccano for the very reasons you state. He’s already expressed interest in engineering, which is why I suggested he ought to get some. As he threw the pieces down in frustration (I hve to admit, it seems a lot fiddlier than when I was young), I said this is what to expect in engineering – it’s all about taking it slowly and working things out properly!
Jayne
16 Jan 12 at 9:51 am
Play oh – how could I forget! Yes – dreadful stuff. Although I remember making my own, which wasn’t so bad if it got stuck in carpet.
Jayne
16 Jan 12 at 9:52 am
Those photos are fab! I don’t remember Zodiac – was it just in the south and east?
Jayne
16 Jan 12 at 9:53 am
Locally Zodiac had shops in Wolverhampton, Tamworth, Telford, Darlaston, Stourbridge, Chelmsley Wood, Redditch Kidderminster and Burton On Trent. traded from 1970-1990. 90 branches in total.
Roger Jones
16 Jan 12 at 6:15 pm