Updates: The winners are out!
As a mom of 2 young children, I’ve researched every single baby item (reviews, durability, ease of use, resale values) before I buy it. I had to do so much of my research online – where we used to live in the mid-west, there is no stores like Mother & Baby Source in Downtown Davis, CA (a very vibrant downtown!) which could have answered so many of my questions! (there are some obscure, high-end baby “boutique-style” stores and that’s it).
From my research, I know a quality baby item/brand when I see it (Ergo Carrier, Baby Bjorn Bibs, Bitrax carseat, Medela breast pump, Bummies Diaper covers, Bebe Au Lait Nursing covers – all of them carried at the store!!) It’s not just the store, but the services they offer (recommendations of baby products, information on breast pumps, carrier, etc) are invaluable. The store also provide meeting place for parenting and support group and classes, and provide baby registries (they actually ship items to the recipient or have them pick up, and givers can buy online or instore)
They’re currently having sales of diaper bags like Fleurville (over 50% off in some), and huge number of Robeez shoes. 
Anyway, if you live in Davis you’ll already know Mother and Baby Source – the place to get quality and reasonably priced baby items, and excellent customer services. Lori, the owner, is a wonderful person to talk to! She also told me she spend hundreds of dollars every month on gift wrapping (and I’ve seen those – very precious and unique).
Lori has very graciously offered (5) $10 gift certificates for our Readers! I will be giving out (1) $10 Gift Certificate and (1) $20 Gift Certificate to two lucky readers. Here’s how to enter.
Leave a Comment be sure to enter e-mail address in the form (only seen by me), to please let me know:
- That you’re a subscriber through e-mail or a feed reader, or a follower through Facebook or Twitter (thanks for your support!) AND
- Any opinion (short or long) you have regarding buying baby items from the big-box stores (e.g. Target), vs. quality items from smaller stores OR
- Do you prefer buying baby items online, or in-stores, and why? (this is in preparation of my next Savvy Shoppers series about baby items, where I’ll give away the other $20 gift certificate
)
The winning readers (identified by comment number) will be chosen randomly using a random number generator, 1st pick got the $20 GC, 2nd got $10. Please leave one comment per person
I will personally stamp and address the gift certificate to the winners. This giveaway ends NEXT Thursday, 2/25!
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{ 23 comments }
I am a subscriber and get your updates via email. To answer your question I prefer to buy baby items I a familiar with online if I can get a good deal and a good shipping deal. Otherwise if I am unfamiliar I prefer to go to the stores and actually look at the item…unless I have friends that have told me all I need to know and/or I have read reviews about the items online. I will also do whatever is cheaper.
I follow your website (I got the website from Balance point pilates) regularly. I have shopped at small local stores, online and the big chains for many reasons. If the item is the same at any location, I will honestly go for the place that carries it the lowest. If it may be a dollar or two more at the local business, I will try to support it and purchase it there. If the item is something I consistently need and have time to wait (ie. diapers) I love buying online because it comes right to my home and don’t have to pay for shipping. Considering how busy life is being a working new mom, I feel it is needed to be efficient (so do what is convenient) and also most cost effective.
I look on line to find the cheapest source and compare to local stores. If a local store is close in price I will buy from them, if it is much cheaper online I will purchase on the computer. I try to support local merchants but I also want to save money!
I follow you on Facebook! I support smaller businesses as much as possible, especially in this tough economy. While I can’t completely escape the need to buy diapers and other things at Target Etc, I try my best to get second-hand clothes etc from small businesses! On-line or in store? Depends on the price, and whether it’s a store I can easily get to. You know what I mean with little ones in tow!
There are some items, like the Ergo, where I feel it is simply a waste of money to buy a cheaper version. For those I go to MBS. For most day to day things though (diapers, sippy cups, etc), I shop at Target.
This is my first time to your website. I found it on the MomsLikeMe website. Mother and Baby Source is one of those stores that I have always wanted to visit, but I just haven’t made it in. I tend to assume small stores like that will be expensive, so stick to Target for the basics for my 20 month old. When I have more children I think it will be worth it to buy some quality items from a store like that which will last longer than some of the things I bought for my daughter.
I’ve stopped visiting MomslikeMe because I am on your website every hour. I’m HOOKED. HOOKED I TELL YOU.
I will buy my baby supplies from which ever store has the best price for the item I need. My son is 18 months. I’ve bought online, locally, and at big chain stores. It’s all the same to me as long as the price is right. I do favor Trumpette.
Tina: guess what, I’m hooked on my own blog too.. : ) You do need to support momslikeme, I’m very thankful for them
~ hope to meet you at one of their events!
(I’ll do another run if the random number generator picked my comments lol)
I try to find nice clothes at a very low price. If I buy name brand and it has to be at least 75% or more below retail but I also like to buy special items that I’m willing to pay a little more. I shop at Target, Ross, Marshalls. Ebay, craiglist, yardsales..I’m always on a hunt.
Lee, I love your site! It’s like having my own personal shopper….all the best deals are already discovered for me. Thanks a bunch.
I found you through moms like me. I love the coupon savings that find on here, my last shopping trip to safeway I saved 48%! I love buying my daughter brand name clothes but I won’t pay full price, I’ll go to Marshalls or TJ Maxx and I also frequent Once Upon a Child for deals. I like paying a little more for better quality too although i can find some cute outfits at Wal-Mart.
I am hooked on your website and frequent often from my cell phone!
Wow- thanks Lori and Lee!
This is a great web-site to learn about discount offers. I plan on using this in the future before I head out shopping.
I follow your emails via Facebook. For clothing and day to day items like diapers, I usually do go to big stores like Target. I also really like to buy used items at rummage sales, thrift stores, or stores like Once Upon a Child. For more expensive items, I often buy online because I can get them cheaper that way. However, I do buy quite a bit at MBS because I like to support Lori’s business. She and her daughter are both very helpful and knowledgeable whenever I have questions about baby things. Her support group for new moms was so wonderful, and I love that she keeps a stocked diaper changing/nursing room for mommies to use.
Hi Lee,
I love your blog. I’ve had it bookmarked for about a year (has it been that long?) and just now signed up for the e-mail feed – didn’t know that option existed until now.
I’d love to be entered for your MBS gift certificate give-away. Here are my answers to your questions:
1. e-mail subscriber
2. The box stores are fine for some (mostly disposable) items, like wipes and bottle liners, but for anything for which I am really concerned about quality, like shoes, ergo, diaper bags, I always go to independently owned stores. At MBS in particular, Lori price matches lots of her inventory, which comes in handy for big ticket items – car seats, breast pumps. In addition to the products, the services are invaluable. She has tested the performance of my breast pump, taught me how to get started with cloth diapering (without using a diaper service), and fitted me for nursing bras.
3. Some items I buy on-line and some in store. If it is the first time I’m buying something, like cloth diapers, I shop in store so that I can see and feel the product. Once I know what I want, I might buy on line. Buying on line is useful to me as a full-time work out-of-home mom because I can shop on my own schedule, usually after the kids are asleep. Most of the time, the prices are about equal – even if I find something cheaper on line, by the time I add shipping it’s a wash.
Looking forward to reading more of your blog.
Cheers,
Sheryl (Davis, CA)
I subscribe through google reader– thanks for the tips! I prefer buying quality items through a baby store or online.
Thanks!
* follow through facebook
* prefer smaller stores for gifts and specific quality items. Although I prefer the price of Target, I also like to support local small shops if the price difference is not too large.
* I usually like to buy baby items in stores so that I can see them, but for very specific items that I need, I would use an on-line source if the price is compelling.
Thanks for all the info on deals here.
I love MBS, they have EVERYTHING you could ever want or need and the BEST customer service. I am new to your blog and super excited to start using it to save $$!
Oops, forgot to answer your questions.
-new to site
- I prefer to buy locally if possible to support our businesses and becuase the customer service is usually 1,000 times better, but I will sometimes buy at big box stores too.
-I will buy online if I can’t find it at the local store, the big box store, or if the price is significantally lower , especially factoring in shipping.
I follow you on Facebook and email (I think?). I prefer to shop/research online for most kid gear. For high quality baby gifts and items I want to touch and feel before buying, MBS and other local spots have been invaluable. MBS’s staff knowledge was so helpful when I was a new mom, and well worth a few extra dollars. For items like diapers, bottles and other basic items, I would go to Target, Costco or wherever I can find the lowest price.
I get your updates via email. Insofar as big box vs boutique: it really depends on the item. If its for diapers, wipes, baby wash, etc., then the big box is the only way to go IMO. For gifts and a more unique selection of items such as slings, etc. then I prefer a smaller store. I mostly buy items in store but when my daughter was a newborn/infant, I did alot of things online as it was just easier.
Thanks for the opportunity and keep up the good work.
I am a new mom, really new (my daughter is 2 weeks old), but as you know the research starts well before they get here. I will start following you on facebook as I was just ref. by a friend. I love to buy local when I can and have been fortunate enough to have been given a lot of gently used baby items by friends. When shopping I like to be able to see and feel what I am buying but will make my purchase online if it gets me the best price as times are tight right now.
Hey there B and S… I follow your blog on email and FB and love the deals you come up with! Very admirable work to help us moms : )
I have mixed feeling about the big stores and try to buy as much as possible at local, smaller, stores UNTIL price is an issue and I have to resort to shopping elsewhere. I do a lot of shopping online, when possible, simply for the ease of it and the ability to do price comparisons, etc. Also, not sure if you know about retailmenot.com – a great place to get online coupons and deals when you do decide to make a purchase!
I currently follow you through facebook. I appeciate all the deals that you alert me to. Loved the King Tut exhibit.
I have been shopping at MBS for 8 years. I LOVE that when I need information about a product I can go to Lori and get more first hand info about it. Her prices are very competitive to big box and online shops. I love that she carries a variety of products; like babywearing products, that allows me to find the best product for myself and my baby. It is an incedible resource and I feel very lucky to have a store like hers just a bike ride away.
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