Maclaren Triumph
Specifically, we bought the Maclaren Triumph, the “all-purpose go fast buggy” (over here, we call these things “umbrella strollers”). Thankfully, we had been using a Graco travel system borrowed from my sister since Baby Girl was a month old. But now that our daughter is nearing two years old, she has outgrown the baby stroller and, now that she can’t contain her energy, apparently feels “strapped and trapped” in it. So we thought it was time to get a lean, mean (and lighter) baby transport machine.
We originally planned to get one of those cheapo umbrella strollers retailing for a few thousand pesos. But somehow we were drawn to the Maclaren line. They were 3 to 4 times pricier, but the difference in quality (especially the materials) is quite obvious. But they’re not as “quick-get-me-a-doctor-I’m-fainting” expensive as the Quinny strollers that retailed for a staggering P36,000 and up.
Still, we weighed the pros and cons of buying what some people might possibly see as a glorified shopping cart (which happens to transport little humans). We thought a cheap umbrella stroller already serves its utilitarian purpose, and even if it breaks down within a year (and it looks like it would), it still will end up cheaper even if we buy another one for the next baby.
But the lure of the Maclaren buggy was too strong to resist. As usual, I justified the cost by dividing the price by 2 (for 2 children — one now, another later), then dividing that by 2 (i.e. 2 years of functional use, given that it’s good until around 30 kg or 66 lbs, or roughly age 4), then dividing that by 12 (number of months in a year), which amounts to roughly P200 a month or 7 pesos a day. Not bad, eh?
The Maclaren Triumph was somewhere in the middle of the multi-awarded product line. It actually ranked no. 2 in one stroller review and considered “Best Reclining Umbrella Stroller” by another. I realized buying a stroller is a lot like buying a car — select a product category (umbrella stroller), compare competing brands (Maclaren, Quinny, Graco, Chico, Everflo, Baby & Co.), review specs (11 lbs weight, 5-in wheel size, up to 30kg, appropriate from 3 mos., multiple positions, 5-point harness), get carried away with the product features (compact umbrella fold, foot-operated parking brakes, handy mesh shopping basket, high-performance aluminum, water-resistant hood, 5-second one-hand fold, ergonomically optimized foam-insulated handles, lockable front-swivel wheels), get assurance from product reviews and the manufacturer’s warranty (Sovereign Lifetime Warranty™), choose the color (coffee brown), sweet-talk the dealer, and finance the purchase.
So after thorough research, some prayer for guidance, and intensive brainstorming and scenario-building, we went to Baby & Co. (The Podium branch, where Mommy Princess is known by the store manager and some of the staff as a loyal, frequent, and at one time irate customer), used some gift certificates we had, asked for and got a 10% discount, and swiped the balance on 0% installment. We ended up shelling out a lot, lot less.
Are we happy with it? Heck yeah! Most important, Baby Girl loves it!
