Back To Basics Toys

Full review
I know that one of the chief complaints I have about toys today is that they are cheap and flimsy, they don't last and a lot of the time you pay tons of money for junk. I don't like the redone versions of games from my youth - where wood pieces are plastic (somehow the games don't always work as well when that subtle change is made), where cars are plastic instead of metal and where many times you have to compromise to find the toys you were looking for (a simple baby doll that does nothing, a nice cloth doll with no extras, wooden kitchen playsets, etc.).

I'm not saying that every toy I had as a child was perfect, but I sure know that 25 or 30 years later my kids are still playing with many of them. I don't think the same will be said for many of the toys I have given them.

Anyway, I was going to write a glowing recommendation for the Back to Basics Toys website, when I found out something today, in my search for their correct website address, I found out that the site is no longer taking online orders - they were up and running for holiday orders.

In a panicked state I thought they had gone out of business, but in reading, I found out that the company is still in business, but is only accepting phone and mail orders. I do not know if this is a temporary situation, so I will write the review of the site based on my past web shopping experiences and my experiences with the company and products because I happen to think that this is one of the greatest toy catalogs and companies around.

I've been a Back To Basics customer for 5 years, ever since I moved to California. I discovered this catalog by chance. My mother was looking to the bulk of her holiday shopping via catalog so she didn't have to box up and ship everything, or have me go to Toys R Us and do all the shopping. We were familiar with Lillian Vernon and several other catalogs that sold toys.

I got the Back to Basics catalog simply by chance, as I seem to be on every mailing list in the US. Most I toss out without a glance, but this one caught my eye. The name along tells you what types of toys they sell - those great sturdy well built toys from the 60s and 70s. They stock most of the classics, and yes many are still actually made of wood and metal.

What first caught my eye all those years ago was that they had Marvel the Mustang - I had Marvel as a young girl and I knew my son, then two, had to have one as well. I won't sugar coat it, this catalog is expensive, but frankly the sight of my young son on Marvel with his cheesy cowboy hat was worth the price. These are high-end toys you won't find at Toys R Us, Kay-Bee or Zany Brainy. They have a unique selection of games, wooden puzzles, dolls, ride on and outdoor toys. It's up to you if you want to spend that much on toys, but I can say that everything we have purchased from them so far has been of the highest quality and has lasted through 1, 2, or all four of our kids. They are toys that can be played with and beat up.

When I used it, the web site was always user friendly, although it could be confusing. It is linked into Amazon.com, so if you ran a search of toy, you may not actually end up at the Back to Basics site if you didn't enter the name correctly. The site is still tied into Amazon.com so go there and check up to see if the web site is working again and will take orders.

When the site worked you could order by item number from the catalog. Ordering was also fast and easy and you could use the Amazon one-click feature. I never had any trouble placing orders and was able to get alerts if an item that was out of stock came back in stock.

I never had any problems with delivery of in-stock items (generally via UPS) and customer service was always helpful and friendly. I never had a problem with any toy I ordered from them, so I never had to deal with returns. Everything I got was in perfect order, working as described and the quality I expected (just like when I order from American Girl).

Like I said before this was one of the best websites and catalogs for finding unique toys from your past. They also carry many new toys that they have tested and that have won various toy awards. These are the toys that will stand the test of time and will be considered classics when your kids are parents (isn't that a scary thought).

Let me list a few examples of the items they carry, that I have ordered. I got my daughter a wooden knock hockey game just like the one my brother and I had. I got my boys those great airplanes and helicopters that are connect to a control via a sturdy wire and they fly in circles (requires 2 "c" batteries not included). I had one of those as a girl and always enjoyed it. These are basically the fabulous simple toys of the past that require more imagination than battery power - pedal cars, Raggedy Ann and Andy, games like Booby Trap and metal Slinkies. Every toy I have ordered for my kids has been played with over and over. I have never had a bad purchase from the website/catalog.

Maybe someday the web page will be back up and taking orders, but until then give the 800 number ((800) 356-5360) a call and request a catalog. Or you can request one in writing at: Back to Basics Toys, One Memory Lane, Ridgely, MD 21685-8783.