The $400 Phil and Ted’s Stroller – Dissecting The Purchase
Sticker shock. That is probably your first thought, I know it was mine when The Happy Rockette first told me about the stroller. A little more than 3 months later, we own one! See the picture below for a quick look or click here for an in depth look at PhilandTeds.com.
Here are the criteria I used to evaluate and review our Phil and Ted stroller purchase and why I think it was a great purchase:
- Pay Cash. The Rockette had been working every other Saturday to help out at her former job and decided she wanted that extra effort to go towards something. We had the money in two weekends or so. That month gave us some time to do some extra research and really get behind the purchase.
- Aligned With Our Values. Being in a small condo, going outside is a must. We love going the park and hiking the trails, walking the boardwalk, going to museums, etc. With the addition of Pebble Jr. two strollers just made everything much more of an ordeal. The purchase would help us cope with a small house, provide us with much more convenient time outside, and contribute to the positive welfare of our children.
- Get Good Value. Could we have gotten a $200 double stroller? Sure…so that what did we get for the extra $200 dollars.
- When we went to the store to check the stroller out in person, it was quite apparent that this stroller had years of research and design put into it compared to the other double stroller. It folded up smaller then our current one seater. Size is a big deal for double strollers. It provided multiple child configurations that accommodated our baby and a toddler all the way to two toddlers. The current setup has the Pebble Jr. laying down, and the Big Pebble perched on top. There was even enough room to change the Pebble Jr. which has come in quite handy. Handles are adjustable, covers and rain protectors are easy to use and store nicely, it is easy for The Rockette to push, and the list goes on. The value is in the design.
- Pretty much everyone who owns a Phil and Ted stroller raves about it. Not in an I drive a BMW or Mercedes kind of way, but in a “it’s made my life so much easier” way.
- The resale value on used strollers was not much less than brand new, usually $300 or more. This is an indicator of people’s willingness to pay and the quality of the product. It also helps justify the purchase to know that you can unload the stroller and get a decent portion of the purchase price back.
- Get A Good Price. We searched for about a month until with found a new sport one for $399 with free shipping from Pish Posh Baby. I even emailed to see if there were coupons available, but they didn’t respond until they included a coupon code for pishposhbaby.com with my order. You can get 5% with the code Save5 though, which readers say is still working
.- *Update – Pish Posh Baby updated their new price to $539, but they have the discontinued camo colors for Phil and Ted Sport for $449
- *Update – Pish Posh Baby updated their new price to $539, but they have the discontinued camo colors for Phil and Ted Sport for $449
So far we are very happy with our purchase, even though I still have a little sticker remorse from time to time when I realize the the stoller is almost worth the same amount as my car. What do you think? Am I crazy and just justifying a silly purchase?
Update[8/17/2008] – Here are a few answers to questions I received through email.
1. Which model did you get? – Inline Sport
2. Does it allow you to adapt your car seat to it for an infant? (If it does not, did you find this to be a problem?) – It does not adapt to the car seat out of the box, but there are car seat adapters out there – I think the stroller is way easier than the car seat. If you have a small infant that can’t sit up, it has the lay down position which works great. Phil and Ted Car Seat Adapters
3. Do you know where I can find a list of retailers where I can look at one in person?. – I think your best bet is here, although I know there is at least one local retailer that isn’t listed there. It was helpful to look in person to help combat sticker shock.
Update[7/21/2009] – Thanks to The Happy Rock reader Cristina for alerting us about a recall for almost all Phil and Ted strollers(2003 – 2008) for hinge problems. As a couple of commenter mentioned the stroller hinge is too sharp and can cut a person or rip the stroller material. View the details here: Phil and Ted Stroller Recall.
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Its a great purchase a close family friend got one and he loves it.
I like the stroller. The little guy in the back can’t pull the hair of the person in the front because he/she got to sit in the front.
You have so many great consideration before deciding…That’s a good habbit which I am trying to do better.
I think its a great purchase but my man in the back needs to be little higher being that low has to be dangerous.
I guess you are wishing you got this for pebble 1 since you can use it as a single stroller also.
@Sue – Yes, if we could have had the forsight to buy a double stroller like this with the first child we would have saved probably $100 or more dollars. Looking back it probably would have been a tough purchase, since we didn’t have the knowledge and experience about its necessity until now.
@Rick – There is actually a little storage bin on the bottom that sits lower, so there is plenty of room.
@Ed – Our kids aren’t close enough to fight. I don’t think a 4 month will do much damage!
@Roman – It is great!
@Diana – Not being impetuous really helps give you the time to think through these things. The rest comes keeps getting better with experience.
Rock, that’s an awfully nice stroller! This is the kind of thing where you either spend what’s needed upfront to get the quality product you want, or you try and save some bread by buying a cheaper inferior product upfront; but, end up paying even more for it later in terms of hassles, frustration and eventually replacement. Wise purchase!
Thanks for the review! My wife and I are getting ready to make a similar purchase with our second child expected in Sept!
Their are certainly a ton of options in this segment. Sometimes you get what you pay for and other times you don’t, I’m going to share your review with the wifey and see what she thinks!!
On the contrary. A four month old with a hand full of hair can inflict considerable suffering. I’ve seen it happen…to me.
I think that I have seen this stroller before. I didn’t even realize that there was a 2nd child in the stroller until the stroller came by me. Facing me I could not see the 2nd child. Hopefully Pebble Jr will still have a good view of the world.
@Jacob – I think you are dead one! Thanks.
@Ben – Hope it helps. Feel free to as us any questions.
@Ed – I have a short haircut so there isn’t anything to pull. My wife might agree though.
@Sue – From some of the reviews I have seen the bottom seat has the ‘cool’ factor and people reported children ‘fighting’ over the bottom seat.
Some things are worth the additional price, and from what I am reading this stroller is probably one of them! There are some more costly purchases that are ego- or vanity-driven, and others that lead to a better or safer lifestyle. In some ways it is good to scrimp and save, and in others it is worth getting a quality item because you have insurance of quality and durability. We will consider one of these strollers when we have our second baby!
Jerry
Although it is a pretty stroller, it still seems such a lot of money just for a stroller which could have been bought for less. (not the same brand, but 4 wheels and a seat)I guess the resale value offsets the initial cost though.
Looks good. I don’t think $400 is that bad for a double stroller – you seem to be buying it for the right reasons.
I just bought a nice double jogging stroller off Craig’s List which was a lot cheaper. We will still buy a normal double stroller (more carrying space in the bottom) but we’ll just get something cheap and used since it’s for just going to the grocery store and back.
Mike
That is a picture I took of my kids. We bought the stroller for considerably more while in Belgium. It worked so well in Europe because a lot of spaces are smaller and more narrow – it helped us by fitting through shopping aisles and into tiny elevators. Additionally, we were looking for a double stroller that would fold small enough to fit in the back of our tiny European hatchback. This stroller folds to a small, compact size.
Besides the form factor – the stroller is sturdy! We went through 3 different strollers before we got this – folding double, a sit-and-stand, and a jogger. The jogger was also sturdy but a double jogger with BIG wheels is a space hog.
Anyway – one of our best kids’ equipment purchases by far. And because it is so sturdy – I aam sure it will have a great resale value when the kids grow out of it.
Totally worth it.
@clapstar – This stroller does fold small and the multiple configurations really help you deal with whatever children setup you need at the time.
It is really sturdy, but I am still a little extra careful since it cost so much money. That will begin to fade over time though.
I am still very pleased with the purchase, just like you are. Thanks for commenting.
My husband and I purchased a Phil & Teds E3 double stroller in April 2007 when we had our second child. We absolutely love the stroller and have told everyone to buy one. BUT we recently noticed that the material was tearing and that the stitching was coming undone in the area above the front hinges where the stroller folds, and the stroller is only one year old. As I consider this a design flaw rather than anything we have done to hurt the stroller (it has to be folded). I returned it to the store where I purchased it and the Phil & Ted Rep told the owner that there was nothing they could do and to cover the hinges with duct tape and maybe that would protect the material more!!
I am shocked that the company would actually not do anything and then tell me to use duct tape to make their product work appropriately.
I love this stroller but am very disappointed with the company at the moment.
@Heidi – Thanks for the great info. I am a little disappointed to here about your customer service experience too. I would expect a lot more out of a company that designs such a great stroller. I would even try contacting them again and talking to someone up the chain to explain you treatment. They might be more willing to do something when you push a little bit.
I was so glad to read about this stroller. I saw a sport buggy at the Zoo with my children and the owner said he loved it, thought it was the best stroller. So, I’m very interested in the Vibe now that it has come out. It looks very nice and though expensive, I think it will be the last stroller I’ll have to buy. It will go down aisles when shopping and even to the beach over sand and my two children can ride with ease. I like that the Vibe has a bigger sunshade and a little bit bigger seat. These strollers, no matter the model, are really nice and I will buy one very soon. Thanks.
Heidi,
Sorry to hear you had issues with yours. I made the mistake of buying mine of ebay from ramc261o6. Do NOT deal with them. I had a problem with the wheel brake and they would not help me at all.
They wouldn’t give me a phone number to contact them and basically they told me there was nothing they could do for me. I contacted the us company that sells them here (regal something) and they told me that the warranty was not valid if I bought it off of ebay since there are no authorized dealers on ebay. I thought I was stuck with a brand new $400 broken stroller. I finally got another retailer to help me and get the part for me. Very frustrating…but in the end the problem was solved and I love the stroller. never again ramc261o6 !!!!
In response to Abigail’s comment, the Vibe looks pretty damn sexy I’ll admit, but after owning a BOB Revolution I am appalled at how difficult and stiff this thing is. We took the Vibe back and bought the less expensive Phil and Teds Sport. Certainly not as sexy but WAY easier to push. The saleswoman said that this had been a very consistent complaint about the Vibe and thought they had some kinks to work out, I only wish she had shared this insight before I bought the thing. Good luck.
We have the phil and teds sport double. We have a two year old and a 3 month old. WE LOVE IT! We are very happy with this stroller. HOWEVER, we are now having a problem with the zipper on the front of the stroller. The bottom of the zipper keeps coming open. It has scratched my daughter to where she was afraid to get into the stroller for a month. I fixed that side. Now the other side has done the same and scratched my newborn. I feel like such a horrible mother since I didnt notice why he was crying! I to bought it on ebay and “warranty is void”. I do not think that buying it on Ebay has effected the manufactures issue.
I will try to fix it again and as was suggested to duct tape my $600 stroller to make sure my kids dont get hurt. Please check your strollers!! We do love it and will not do without! Thanks for you comments!
Thanks for sharing that information it is helpful to get all different reviews and experiences in one place. We haven’t had such a problem and I can’t even picture how the zipper would even be in a position to scratch our children on our stroller. I am wondering if some of the EBAY sales are refurbished or something, since it is the second problem that has been reported from an EBAY sale. We have only had ours 7 months and despite being pretty rough with it aren’t having any problems yet. Thanks again.
I just bought a ‘Vibe’ and it does fold down to a small size. I got the Vibe due to my kids being one and two, so they need the extra bit of room. I figure I can get three years use out of it, maybe even more since my kids are both petite. So far I like the Vibe, but I haven’t used it for very long. I think any of the Phil and Ted’s strollers will be good. I also saw parents at the zoo with one of these strollers who said they loved the stroller, so that led to me buying one too. Thanks.
I have a sports double, I noticed that the back right wheel is now loose. It not locking into place and I am really scared to put my children in it. Has this happened to anyone else? How have you fixed it?
I love the stroller and hope this won’t change my mind
@Judy – I haven’t seen anyone complaining about that problem. I might suggest taking to a local bike shop and see what they say. Might be a simple fix.
I did recently pop all three tires by over filling them, so ours has been out of commission for a few days.
LOVE IT!! but…I to could not figure out how my child got scratched I blamed our cat who is declawed 🙂 I found the zipper teeth had got bent back – this happenned on both sides of the front zipper.–i thought I was the only one! I also am having the same problem with wear and tear the seams are starting to tear apart and the fabric is wearing quicker than I would like for the age <1yr this is all in the front area where the child rests their feet. That being said We, yes my husband also who doesn’t normally like to push a stroller, Absolutely have fallen IN LOVE with this stroller! It is well worth the $$ and more.I have been using this stroller for everything! Walking, Jogging,Beach -lock the front wheel and plowing through the sand is a cinch!,shopping-finally a double you can actually shop with–clothing shop–easily maneuvers through the tight racks at Macy’s,etc. 🙂 It is a smooth ride, children love it& take long naps in it.Other things to consider:I have Orange and it has faded so much again it is <1yr old. I have used it pretty much everyday this summer (the short 3monhths of summer in WI)so it has been in the sun but I would expect a little less fading for the price. I have a Maclaren I used religiously prior that has not faded- 3 years old and it went to the beach with me also. Improvement areas are: sun shade doesn’t quite shade the child riding up front, 2nd, I have tall children and I am concerned that a few more inches and my 1 yr old will no longer fit in the jump seat as her head will hit the bar on the jump seat.I still got my money’s worth and still Highly recommend purchasing!Oh and customer service is great. I haven’t called about the items I mentioned but when I first purchased I needed a new sun shade as the one in the box was snagged they sent another no questions asked right away and there was no mess returning the defective one. A+++ for customer service still thinking about contacting them re the fading and other issues I hope they dont tell me to use duct tape 🙂 I will be so disappointed..
I wanted to update on our zipper issue. I did call the manufacture. They stated they had a KNOWN problem with the zipper. They were not using that supplier from China anymore. They overnighted me a new seat. No questions asked. The did not even ask where I bought it! Great service!!
@Anne – Thanks for the great comment and information.
@Courtney – That is great to here, I love companies that are willing to accept a mistake and try to make it right for people. I had a similar experience with Chicco strollers were they sent me a new stroller no questions asked.
Hello everyone. I have had my eye on this stroller for a while and still can’t decide whether to buy it or not. I could really use some opinions. I nanny/babysit a lot and typically just have one child but occassionally will have 2 so this stroller seemed really practical because it can hold one or two children. I may also be nannying next year for a family with a 2 year old and an infant so I thought it would be good for that too. But it just seems like SO much money. Any ideas/suggestions? What about prices? The best I have found so far is about $450 w/the doubles seat. Please help! Thanks.
thanks for the 5% promotion code on pish posh baby…still works! That is how I found your site…i googled ‘promotion code for pish posh baby’ and it brought me to you! I got a 2008, discontinued charcoal color sport double for 459…minus the discount…436. best deal i could find. thanks. can’t wait for it to come.
Did you ever imagine you would get some many comments regarding the stroller? Maybe you should have a consumer review type blog. Just a thought.
Well, my wife and I finally pulled the trigger on a duallie stroller now that daughter #2 is here! We ended up going for the Bob Revolution Duallie and have been very happy with our purchase.
It works well for us, and gives us better access to the second child who can become somewhat “isolated” by the Phil and Ted’s model.
Can’t go wrong with the Phil & Teds Sport stroller. The v2 is just awesome and the upcoming dash should definitely be a true success!
Great Information– wish I would have known about the 5% discount from PishPosh before my purchase–oh well I am pleased with the stroller and PishPosh as well. Overall this has been a fabulous stroller and even my husband likes it. One of the wheels arrived with a very bent rim and then the second wheel has a bent rim and so the tire has a bit of a “bubble” to it. We have been very careful to keep the tire at 32 PSI or less. I am curious if others have had this issue– the tire/tire tube is not broken it just bulges due to the bent rim. We’ve only had the stroller 3 weeks and havent needed to pack it away or anything so it seems strange. the gentleman at PishPosh sd he never heard of such a thing. It was taken care of quickly– Regal Lager has excellent customer service. Despite a crazy start with the wheels, WE LOVE our P&T Sport v2 and love how compact it is for 2 kids. Both kids like front and back seats so there is no issue there. The double rainfly is fantastic– a must have in Seattle. the stroller is a conversation piece, easy to manuver and the kids love it. Highly recommend this to any looking to buy a double.
Hi Cheryl,
I saw your post about your tires bulging. If your Phil & Teds Buggy arrived with a true bent rim you should contact your retailer and have them assist you with getting the stroller wheels replaced. If you have a bulge in the tire you might want to try to slowly let the air out of the tire and re-center the tire on the wheel and then re-inflate to 22psi….not 32 psi.
I know the tire on the Phil and Teds might say 32psi but it really should be inflated to 22psi. The new Phil and Teds Sport Buggies come with 22psi marked on the actual wheel.
As far as the Dash, we are anxiously awaiting the “re-launch” of the Dash Stroller. It is a GREAT buggy and we love the ability to engage the brake at the handle bar. Unfortunately, there were some issues with the initially released Dash strollers and they are off the market until they correct the issue.
If you have any questions about the tire pressure give us a call, we will be happy to help.
Jen
The save5 still works for 5% off at the pishposh website.
If we could have had the forsight to buy a double stroller like this with the first child we would have saved probably $100 or more dollars. Looking back it probably would have been a tough purchase, since we didn’t have the knowledge and experience about its necessity until now
I take that back, the save5 doesn’t work, even though it may appear to when you are checking out.
We are happy w/ the stroller – our infant falls asleep everytime she is in it.
I used the 5% saving code today, and it worked! Thanks for all the information(and the 5% tip!) I’ve been thinking about this stroller for a really long time (about a year) and I finally made the plunge (and saved up my extra “spending money” to justify it:) Thanks again!
Still enjoy my Vibe. It has been a great stroller and will be my last one to purchase. My kids do fight over the back seat and my daughter who usually wins the seat often falls asleep in it. I can handle it with ease even through clothing racks in stores. I’m not afraid to shop anymore! My double took up too much space and I had to wait outside the store while others went in. I am more free to go and do knowing this stroller will fit into places with ease. I find it very easy to use and really just love it. My kids love it too. I was afraid to spend so much for the stroller, but now feel it was totally worth the expense.
thanks for this post, we just picked up one used from ebay for $250 and we LOVE it. great design for a stroller!
I’ve been looking on-line for the P & T’s Sport with the Double for months now. My 2nd baby is due in 2 weeks, so I better take the plunge soon. The question I have is: the model sold on Pish Posh Baby & Tiny Ride are the 2008 model, I’m wondering if there is a 2009 model coming out soon with some advancements? I’d hate to buy the 2008 at the very end of the year and find out a month later that a better version is available.
Anyone know?
Thanks for all the great comments I am glad to know that so many people are happy with their purchases. I know we still are. Thanks again for being willing to share your experiences, this is what makes the internet blogs/articles like this so useful!
Looks like the 5% coupon is still working for people too.
@Heather – I don’t know about a new version. But if you are that worried the best thing to do would be to contact Phil and Ted or Regal Lager by phone and see what they say. It is a lot of money, so a 5 minute phone call is probably worth it. The Happy Rock readers would be interested if you do find out.
Here is the Regal Lager contact info -> Regal Lager Contact Info
I called Regal Lager and the 2008 is the latest version of the Sport Buggy. Also, the 2008 is the same as the V2 or Version 2 that some online retailers are labeling this buggy. There are no plans at this time for a 2009 version, so 2008 is the latest model.
I found a 5% coupon that worked a few minutes ago on Tiny Ride.com (ASAVE5). The double buggy came to $512.95. I was sad to find out that they were offering a $100 off a purchase of $500 or more last week. That stung a bit!
A question I have for an owner of the double buggy sport is- how much of a pain is it to fold the stroller into the trunk? I thought it folded with the extra seat on it, but found out only the Vibe does that.
@Heather – Thanks for all the detective work, all past and future readers appreciate it!
Shame you missed the $100 off, just make sure you are able to leave it behind before you buy. You don’t want to buy a great product and have bad feeling hanging over your head.
As for the folding, you do have to take the seat off. It does make it a little more of a pain for putting it away and in the trunk where you have an extra seat floating around that doesn’t have a nice home. Actually folding it once the seat is off is a breeze though.
It is on of those minor drawbacks you get used to because the overall benefit is worth the effort.
Thank you for the info on the folding. Doesn’t sound bad, and I’m used to taking apart my current Bugaboo stroller.
I read somewhere that the Bob Handlebar drink holder works well with the P&T Sport. Anyone have any experience or have other recommendations of an accessory for drinks, keys, etc?
I needed a pushchair that’s great for tall people. The bugaboo was perfect, then someone stole it of all things! Anyway, now have a P&T as we have two babies – but it’s really hard not to bash the bottom child. I wish they’d make one with a more adjustable handle …
@malcom – I am 6 foot 2 and I have never had a single issue with any handle setting or kicking the rear seat and we will go for long hikes too. I can’t speak for how it works for those taller than that.
I’m 6’4″, and am always kicking the axels etc. It gave me really bad back ache …
Hi! I was wondering if anyone knows a new code to save some $$ on the P&T? I am considering the 4in1 Pink Camo from the Baby Bungalow. They offer free shipping and the doubles seat for $469. I would love another color option, but that is the best price I’ve seen. Has anyone done business with this site? If so how is customer service? Thanks!