It has been a while since we got Darius a new toy, and with the Jumperoo returned after its rental period expired, we thought it was about time to do so.

Since Darius had learnt to sit independently for some time now (see Darius Learns to Sit Independently and Darius Going Higher), we should get something that will keep him occupied while seated. It would be good if the toy could keep Darius entertained while he is standing with support too.

An activity table came into our minds immediately. Unlike exersaucers, the child would be free to move around the table instead of being restricted in the center, with his only mobility rotating in the seat. On the other hand, less attention would be needed from the caregivers when the child is on an exersaucer, since the child will be safer with this restricted movement.

Catherine mentioned she would like to get Darius an activity table which is music-oriented, with mini-piano etc for him to explore. Before this, I was thinking of getting the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Activity Table, which uses food to attract the child’s attention while he learns from them.

We then turned our focus onto Leapfrog Learn & Groove Musical Table. After reading the user reviews on this site, we both felt this was what we needed. Catherine had also read about positive feedback of this table from the blog Our Journey Together, which further reinforces our decision.

So after work today, I went down to both Metro and Kiddy Palace to check out the stocks and prices. Instead of the musical table, I came across Leapfrog’s Learn & Goove Activity Center, its exersaucer version in both stores.

Though we are not going to get another exersaucer, the pricing on both these stores caught my eye. Metro was having a 20% sale and by right, it should be offering a better bargain than Kiddy Palace which was not having any sale. Interestingly though, the exersaucer at Metro was priced approximately 20% more expensive than Kiddy Palace’s, and so even after Metro’s 20% discount, both stores would still offer the same price in the end. Some kind of marketing strategy?

Back to the search for the musical table, the staff over at Metro told me they had never brought it in before, so there’s no way I could find one there. I then returned to Kiddy Palace and enquired with the staff, who looked over to the shelves featuring Leapfrog products, before saying that they had just sold off all their tables.

Disappointed, I thanked them for their help before proceeding to leave the store. As I glimpsed over to the Leapfrog shelves on my way out, I was somewhat lured into taking a last look there in case the staff made a mistake about their stocks.

And guess what? When I reached there, the musical table was placed right there on the shelf in front of me!

At the same time, the staff whom I talked to earlier spotted me and walked over, saying in a nonchalant tone, “Oh, so you were looking for this? I thought you meant the Reading set.” Excuse me, since when did I even mention anything about looking for a Reading Set??

The young staff, followed by another colleague who walked over soon after, looked like they were still of schooling age. They were probably doing their part-time there, though I’m not sure if it’s school holidays now. Still, it doesn’t explain how they could have mixed up between a ‘table’ and ‘book’. Wanting to just get the musical table and head for home, I didn’t bother to pursuit the matter.

At this time, the staff highlighted that the packaging of this muscial table was in a bad condition (the top part of the cardboard packaging was torn, and they had already knew about it even before I saw the set) so he wouldn’t recommend me getting it. Hearing this, I was like “Oh okay? Then why are you guys still leaving this torn set here for sale and not doing anything about it, like fixing the box with PVC tapes?”

I didn’t voice my opinions to them though, since after a long day at work, I just wanted to get this over and done with. Still, I made sure I checked out the condition of the product (the packaging’s condition was not influencing my decision to buy it) to make sure it’s not scratched or faulty.

Fortunately Leapfrog had done a good job protecting the main components of the table with a plastic casing and although the instruments along the edges of the table were exposed (so that interested buyers can try them out), they were all of good working condition.

I then told them I was getting it, and they responded with a somewhat ‘What? You serious?’ look. -_-|

Still, they brought the set to the cashier counter and offered to take out the set from the box to let me have a ‘second, closer look’ (seems that they were trying very hard to dissuade me from buying, though I couldn’t think of any reason for them to do so) and ensure everything were really intact and working fine.

Although I appreciated their initiative, their actions only continued to baffle me why they were so keen to keep the set in their store for themselves instead of letting me bring it back home.

After checking and re-confirming my satisfaction with the condition of the set, they finally ‘relented’ and proceeded to checkout the product for me. They then taped the torn part of the packaging with PVC tapes (why didn’t they do it earlier after they knew about the torn packaging?).

The torn part of the packaging ain't noticeable after they fixed it

And so, after this interesting shopping experience, we finally got the musical table for Darius at S$69.90.

(Continue to Part 2 here)

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