Marble Run Blocks

[Stanleymonkey]

I bought this game at the start of the summer holidays. It's called tricky ways from Cuboro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NXmCYtwtK8

Got mine from Ebay for around £45. It's still expensive, but my son has played with it every day (even came on holiday with us!) He is four, it has really helped him with this counting and he can think and plan out routes where the ball runs on the surface and then drops into underground tunnels. It's been really positive for him.

Looked into buying some matching marble run blocks - wow!



24 blocks to raise up the tracks - no features on them -£81
https://www.amazon.co.uk/cuboro-buildin ... 605&sr=8-6


24 blocks with track and tunnels - £284!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/cuboro-duo-pai ... DN0C9T1NDG

Sorry about all the huge links. I cannot understand how anyone can justify charging this sort of money. We have a chuckle about some of the etsy listings and their prices but how can an entire company morally decide to charge these prices for building blocks and marble runs? I can't get my head around it.

How can these prices be justified for a child's toy?

Needless to say - I have now bought a router bit for £9 that matches the profile of the marble run!

 

[AndyT]

Putting aside unknown factors such as profit margin... I see that these blocks are made in Switzerland using FSC assured beechwood. Switzerland is not a low wage country and a pound does not buy many Swiss francs.

I guess we all get used to seeing toys made in China, the Philippines or Vietnam, where costs (and sometimes social values) are much lower.

Also, I expect it will take you quite a lot of time and effort to match the complicated drilled and routed blocks.

 

[AndyT]

Following links from the maker's website to uk distributors led me here https://www.mastersofgames.com/cat/indo ... ro-duo.htm where the same set is about half the price of the Amazon seller (but out of stock).
Probably worth your while to work through the other options.

Amazon sellers have learned that they don't always need to be cheapest, just easy to find.

 

[Stanleymonkey]

Following links from the maker's website to uk distributors led me here https://www.mastersofgames.com/cat/indo ... ro-duo.htm where the same set is about half the price of the Amazon seller (but out of stock).
Probably worth your while to work through the other options.

Amazon sellers have learned that they don't always need to be cheapest, just easy to find.

That is interesting. I haven't seen that company before. I've read reviews and everyone across the board comments on the high price. Had forgotten that Amazon can be pricey though.

 

[NazNomad]

How can these prices be justified for a child's toy?

Shocking price for a toy that'll only last for ... ever.

If you think that your four year olds great great grandchildren could also be playing with that very toy, it's not terribly bad value for money.

 

[PeterBassett]

Yes, it is bad value for money. Come on now.

24 pieces of machined wood for £284.67

Dont be daft.

 

[NazNomad]

Yes, it is bad value for money. Come on now.

24 pieces of machined wood for £284.67

Dont be daft.

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/6842729

Lasts... what, a year tops?

 

[Mark A]

Yes, it is bad value for money. Come on now.

24 pieces of machined wood for £284.67

Dont be daft.

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/6842729

Lasts... what, a year tops?

I found mine stored in a box in the attic.

Intending to sell it, I plugged it in for the first time in God knows how long, worked fine, then after five minutes died. The label says 2006.

 

[Woody2Shoes]

Matthias wandel has lots of YT vids on making these wooden marble runs.

My kids (and the grown-ups!) used to have hours of fun with the plastic marble runs from ELC e.g. http://www.elc.co.uk/childrens-games-an ... 40161.html

Cheers, W2S

PS I suppose the reality is that an asking price is just that - nobody's forced to accept the offer

 

[PeterBassett]

Those plastic ones are actually much better than the wooden ones. We have a small wooden marble run (cost about £20) and the problem with it is it's too unstable. The blocks fall off each other due to the marbles knocking them.

We also have a plastic set and the pieces interlock and are tough as nails.

...
Dont be daft.

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/6842729
Lasts... what, a year tops?

Ok, be daft if that's your preference.

 

[Stanleymonkey]

http://woodarchivist.com/2894-diy-marble-race/

Gotta love Pinterest - it suggested this link for me! Exactly the same style of blocks!