My Honest Rant About Detsky Mir's Checkout Process and Pushy Sales Tactics

Hello there! I want to share my experience with the Detsky Mir store, which I started visiting a couple of months before my baby's birth and continued after. Reading reviews, I was shocked by the negative feedback. But then I understood why - and what's even more interesting is that the network doesn't react to it. Maybe it's the only network where after calling the hotline, you don't get anything. You just waste your time.

Although, thanks to this attitude, I ended up buying 2 strollers, a baby car seat, and other items from another store because I wanted to go there less often.

There are currently 3 "Detsky Mir" stores in the city of Sterlitamak. I've already visited all of them because not all items are available in one store.

___About the Store___

The store network is decent. They have clothes, shoes, toiletries, developmental toys, and books. In short, everything for kids. For convenience, there's a website where you can find the items. This is absolutely convenient. You don't have to approach and ask; you can place an order and then pick it up. I like that no one is following you, and you can freely try on or buy items.

Regarding the quality of clothes - it's debatable. There are good items, and there are not-so-good ones. But I'm not going to say it's amazing... Nope, can't do that.

I've taken bodysuits for my son and they've all fallen apart over time. It feels like they've been worn by multiple kids. The grey ones have faded and stretched out. I'd recommend buying from abroad as it's cheaper. I ended up giving all the bodysuits from 'Children's World' away. It's embarrassing to sell stuff like that.

As for the shoes, it's a mixed bag. I got TOMBI sneakers for my son and they were the worst shoes I've ever seen. They were his first pair of sneakers... He hated them so much that he just threw them away.

Combination suits for babies aren't exactly known for their quality. I got ones with zippers and they were just ridiculous. I couldn't even get my hands in to zip it up properly. It was really uncomfortable. And then weird stains started appearing inside... I think the paint or something was peeling off?

The prices are often inflated, like they're selling high-end designer stuff.

I've been going to 'Children's World' less and less because the negatives are piling up and there's no improvement.

___WHAT DIDN'T I LIKE?___

I started visiting 'Detsky Mir' even before I got pregnant. I had my heart set on buying a convertible crib. The price at the time was 9,000 rubles without the two mattresses. I didn't end up buying it because I had to pay upfront, and none of the stores had a display model. I can try on clothes, but NOT a crib. That's not cheap! So, I'd give 'Detsky Mir' a big MINUS. I'm pregnant, and I'm trying to make a decision, but the store doesn't have what I need. I mean, shouldn't a children's store have a display crib? We ended up buying the crib at another store where it was actually in stock.As we all know, a pregnant woman is stressed and frustrated. The store is always rearranging things. When I was pregnant, I asked where they sold children's diaper bags. The sales associate just pointed at me with her hand: "Over there." At least they could have walked me to the right aisle instead of just pointing. There are so many departments in the store that it's easy to get lost. Even without being pregnant, it's still a challenge for me. But when I was nine months pregnant, I just turned around and left. To make matters worse, the store was empty!There are so many dark-colored items. What about kids who love bright colors? My son loves the color red. We went to 'Detsky Mir', and what did they have for him? They had some dull grey onesies and a few other items that didn't even have a hint of red. It's like they're trying to make kids wear boring clothes.The narrow aisles are the store's crowning glory. It's like they're trying to make it impossible for parents to navigate the store with a stroller. I've seen it at places like Lenta where they have a big box for returns and exchanges. But Detsky Mir takes it to a whole new level. The returns box is just a tiny thing, and it's not even near the checkout counter. I've had to deal with the loud and pushy cashier one too many times.I've had a nightmare experience at the 'Children's World' store in Sтерлитамак, ул. Мира, 2Б. The manager and staff are not only rude, but also incompetent. To make matters worse, the entrances and exits are always clogged. The management doesn't seem to care. Their main priority is to look good on the surface. Trying to buy something is a joke. The store is a mess, and you can't even get to the products you need. I called the customer hotline, but nothing changed after a month. It's like they're ignoring the issue. The lack of concern for customer safety is appalling. It's like they've forgotten that this used to be a market. Many vendors still sell on the streets. What a terrible shopping experience. I'll never go back. The way they treat customers is dismissive and uncaring.When ordering products, it's not uncommon for many items to be out of stock. Why not mention this on the website upfront? I've wasted my time waiting for products that never arrived. I'd rather shop elsewhere.I ordered the 'NUTRILOON' baby food, but it only arrived two months later. Normal, right? Wrong! It got to the point where my baby was already eating solid food, and I still hadn't received the first batch. What's the point of ordering it then? Needless to say, I was very disappointed.Many of the strollers are of poor quality. The plastic is flimsy, and I'm surprised they even put them on display.There are plenty of car seats available, including some with the Isofix system. But I wasn't impressed by any of them. I wanted to get the red one, but the plastic felt flimsy. I ended up buying the INDIGO instead, and I don't regret it.The quality of the clothes isn't great. Most of the time, they fade after washing and stretch out. I got a winter onesie on sale, but it didn't impress me.Baby food is really expensive. It's cheaper in regular supermarkets. The only brand of puree I liked was 'Baby Go'. The price is still reasonable. However, sometimes you can get a good deal. But I did have a problem once when the packaging was damaged. It's not a pleasant experience.And then there's what really put me off. It's a shame, because I was expecting more from Children's World. They're being ridiculously petty... I've never seen stores like that. The thing is, when you're checking out or paying for your order, the sales assistant will always ask:

- Would you like to make a donation to Children's Home?

I have to admit, the packaging of the toys was a bit of a letdown. The boxes were all crumpled and worn out, with things like toy cars, used tissues, and keychains inside. None of them looked like they were ever new. And honestly, why would kids from an orphanage need fancy packaging? It's not like it's going to make a difference to them. The price was pretty standard, not even a discount. I was thinking about getting this for my son, but the toy car itself felt pretty flimsy. Still, I guess it's worth buying if it's going to support the orphanage. But the salesperson told me that customers actually buy these toys to donate to the orphanage. What's the point of that? I'm buying a toy car from 'Children's World' in a crumpled box, just so they can take it to the orphanage and claim it as their own? And then everyone's supposed to be grateful? Why doesn't 'Children's World' just set aside a specific amount or buy the toys themselves? Why do they want customers to foot the bill? 'Children's World', can't you just make a donation to the orphanage instead of relying on customers to do it for you? I do it every year, but it seems like you're just taking advantage of your customers.

It's not like they even offered a simple box for customers to donate their toys. No, they had to go and package up all these worn-out toys and try to pass them off as donations. I mean, can't they just put a clear box out and say 'Donate to the orphanage - pick any toy you like and we'll sign it from you'? But no, they had to go and do it this way. And the salesperson at the checkout was practically shouting about how they're helping the orphanage. It's just so... manipulative. Who's the real winner here? The customers, or the kids who are already struggling?

I'll be honest, the store layout can be a bit of a mess. I've seen it at places like Lenta where they have a big box for returns and exchanges. But Detsky Mir takes it to a whole new level. The returns box is just a tiny thing, and it's not even near the checkout counter. I've had to deal with the loud and pushy cashier one too many times.

But the Good Stuff

Of course, Detsky Mir isn't the worst store in the world. They do have a lot of stuff to choose from, and it's not like you'll never find anything you like. But still...

High chairs for babies were a hit. You've got your simple ones and your super-fancy ones.For the winter season, you could consider getting a sled. I scored it at a great discount.There are plenty of scooters. To be honest, I didn't find the perfect shade for my boys. I was hoping for something a bit darker, but you take what you get.The blue police car isn't the best quality, but it's worth considering other options. For beginners, it's a great trainer. I liked the wide selection, but the quality was a bit of a letdown. I've already written about another model, so I have some experience with these types of toys.There are some scooters with really cool designs, and some more standard ones. As my son gets older, he'll probably choose the one he likes best. We'll just have to wait and see if the selection changes by the summer.There's a great selection for little girls.I picked up some awesome costumes for my son last year - a big wolf and Santa. The grey wolf costume was perfect for him. I'm not sure about the quality yet, but I'll be checking it out soon.You can also check out some great clothes for the new year. I'm glad to see that prices aren't going over 2000 rubles.They have some cool stuff for grown-up kids too. I tried on the snowsuit and it was way too big for me - I was only 52 kg and 158 cm tall back then!It's definitely designed for skinny people!The toy prices are pretty average, but there's a lot of really cool and educational stuff to choose from.

But I'm all about minimalism and more soothing colors. So, I went with the Sweet Baby Fantasy Grey high chair. You can check out my review of it. It's a popular choice among my friends. No complaints about the quality or design.

I've got to say, these robot toys... it's tempting to buy one for my little one for their first birthday.

And these pet toys? They're pretty cool too! I'm not sure about the quality yet, but I think it's worth the money. Has anyone else bought one of these?

I have to say, the collectible toys are a hit. I'd totally display them at home. But, unfortunately, there's just no space left!

They look really natural! But the price is just crazy! I mean, there are so many cars - police cars, ambulances, and all sorts of others. You name it, they've got it!

I was blown away by how packed this thing is, but honestly, the store doesn't do it justice – there's way more to see on the website.

\xa0

They've got some pretty cool gift boxes. It's all a bit cheesy, if you ask me! They've also got a range of school supplies, but the prices aren't exactly cheap. You can also find flashlights on this shelf. There's a whole section dedicated to craft supplies for girls - the kind of thing you'd use to make hair clips and bows. They've also got a range of educational books, but I'm not sure I'd recommend the 'School for Gnomes' series for kids. I took a look at the 2+ age range and ended up opting for 'The Zhukov' series instead. \xa0

I'm Not Regretting These Purchases

I've got to say, the silicone dishes have their downsides, but overall, they're a lifesaver! The high chair is another story - I love the color, the attachments, and the build quality.There are some good things, but it's hard to tell what's quality and what's not until you've used it for a while.The bath time setup;The 'Mercedes' machine;The mobile in the crib (now that my little one's getting bigger, they're even using it to splash around with rubber ducks).___WHAT I DON'T RECOMMEND BUYING?___

I know some people might disagree with me here.

Take the demis-seasonal onesie, for example - I wish I hadn't bought it.

The shoes, though - complete disaster! They're super uncomfortable, and the quality's questionable. I had to perform some kind of magic trick to get my kid to wear them.

I've got to say, I wouldn't touch TOMBI shoes or Baby go stuff with a ten-foot pole. The quality is basically non-existent.

Alright, let's get down to business and summarize the good and the bad.

The selection of clothes is huge; There are tons of developmental toys; They've got baby food on offer; The feeding chairs are top-notch quality; You can even order online with a discount; The location is super convenient (in Sтерлитамак, the DM is located in the mall). Now, let's talk about the downsides:

Narrow aisles that are consistently cluttered with boxes;The manual doesn't address any issues;The hotline doesn't resolve problems and doesn't follow up;The quality of some products is just awful;Orders can take up to three months (no warning);Unreasonably high prices for seasonal items;Expensive baby food;Sometimes you'll spend 20 minutes in line just to pick up your paid online order;I'm forced to buy things I don't need - and that's because the higher-ups are making me. Don't work here. Quit in droves so your boss thinks twice next time.They're begging for donations at the children's home and want to be in the spotlight at someone else's expense (that's the majority opinion).I have no idea how they decide which children's home gets the toys. But the way Children's World does it is low. They're not just selling toys and the money goes to those in need. No, they choose the most worn-out, useless toys. Then they make you... FORCE YOU TO BUY THIS JUNK. After which, they just put it on a shelf. The result: you're left with no money and no toys. Even if you just want to buy water for the kid, the salespeople will start singing their donation song. I don't even want to go there anymore.

Lately, I've been ordering online and paying on the site, then picking it up. But I don't even want to go there... when are they going to introduce self-service kiosks for online orders? Or separate counters for pickup? Standing in line for 20 minutes just to pick up my paid order... That's not exactly how I'd like to spend my time. Of course, my pregnant friend just grabbed her order and left. They stopped her and suggested she go to another counter.

Despite the big network, it's a total mess! I'd say it's one of the few stores that's going downhill. I'd rather buy less from them.

But in our city, there aren't many alternatives, so we have to go there. Still, as I mentioned earlier, I check the website before heading out. If I haven't ordered anything, I don't bother going.

So, I'd give this store a rating... If I were rating it in 2023, I'd give it 4 stars, in 2024, 3 stars, but now I'd give it 2 stars. I'm basing this on comparing all three stores in my city. Maybe it's different in your area. We've got a real mess on our hands. I used to have more trust in them.

Thanks for reading!