Why is baby gear so expensive for stuff that breaks immediately

Dec 151 min read

Spent $180 on a Maxi-Cosi car seat and the latch system is already loose after 2 months of normal use. The plastic buckle cracked when I gently twisted it. For that price point I expect better. Currently working with customer service but meanwhile I'm paranoid my 3-month-old isn't safe. Has anyone had better luck with other brands? I'm thinking about switching to the Chicco next time but wanted to hear from people who've actually used them.

10 comments294 views

Comments(10)

DDan W.RegularDec 15

Car seat safety standards are super strict but that doesn't mean quality control is always there. The plastic buckle cracking from gentle twisting sounds like a manufacturing defect. Take photos and hit them up - they usually know when they've got a batch issue.

LLarry P.RegularDec 15

The latch system breaking on a $180 seat is unacceptable. Have you tried contacting Maxi-Cosi customer service? A lot of times they'll replace parts even outside warranty if it's clearly a defect and not user error. Worth a shot before accepting it as normal wear.

MMitch R.RegularDec 17

Baby gear pricing is insane but Maxi-Cosi usually holds up. The fact that yours failed this quickly makes me think defect. Don't just accept it - make noise. These things carry your kid, they should be built better.

KKeith L.RegularDec 15

You paid $180 for what's essentially a plastic and fabric shell that takes a lot of abuse. I get the frustration but the latch failure especially is worth reporting - that's a safety component. The buckle crack might be user error but the latch thing isn't.

DDale A.RegularDec 15

Honestly car seats are designed to be replaced after crashes anyway so the expectation of "lasts forever" is kind of built-in to the industry. That said, a cracked buckle is legit a problem and you should contact them. The latch loosening is worth mentioning too.

TTony G.RegularDec 17

Car seats are one of those things where expensive ≠ durable apparently. Maxi-Cosi makes decent seats but that latch failure is not normal. Check the warranty - a lot of them will replace parts if they're defective. Worth calling them.

GGabe R.RegularDec 17

Call Maxi-Cosi customer service and tell them about the latch loosening and buckle crack. Don't be aggressive about it, just report it. They have a whole system for warranty claims and frankly they WANT to know about these issues. Might get a replacement or refund.

LLarry P.RegularDec 17

The plastic buckle cracking from light twisting is actually a pretty big deal - that's not normal wear. Document it with photos and hit up their customer service. Companies know these fail sometimes and they often replace them without question because it's cheaper than the liability.

HHank C.RegularDec 18

this is wild to me. my maxi-cosi has held up through two kids and we're not gentle with it. did you get it from an authorized retailer or could it be a counterfeit? that would explain the brittle plastic.

FFinn M.RegularDec 17

check your receipt - sometimes if you register the seat with maxi-cosi they extend coverage. but yeah $180 for something that breaks in 2 months is rough