Phil and Teds Stroller
Phil and Teds Dash
Phil and Teds is huge right now!
Phil and Teds Dash
Phil and Teds is huge right now!
We live in New York City and have two children, ages 10 months and 3.5 years. After a lot of research, we purchased the Vibe because we needed an inline tandem stroller and there aren’t many options in the marketplace. Side-by-side twin strollers are not a viable option in New York City. We foolishly thought we were getting a high quality product for the high price tag. Initially, we were happy with the stroller while our youngest was still only a few months old. However, once she was able to move to the back seat (the doubles kit seat), we started having issues. It became more difficult for the front wheel to swivel, such that we often get stuck and can’t proceed forward because the front wheel won’t swivel. We thought it might be that the tires needed air, so we were constantly checking and refilling them as necessary, but it didn’t help. Speaking of wheels, we’ve had the stroller for a little more than 1 year and have had to replace each of the back wheels (and we had to replace the left back wheel twice). Each time, it costs about $30. To make matters worse, the stroller is very difficult to fold, as others have noted. However, we had gotten the hang of it. We folded it up one summer day and took a bus down to the governor’s island ferry with both kids. When we got on the ferry and attempted to unfold it (something we had done several times before), the lock on the frame that kept it folded shut would not disengage on the right side. We jostled it, opened and closed the hinge (which customer service helpfully later told me is called a T-Bot) several times, but nothing worked. We were desperate to have use of our stroller, as we were about to spend the day walking through a state park. We made one last attempt to pull it open, and it gave, but the T-bot mechanism that had been stuck cracked. Now, the frame will not stay together at the point where it folds on the right side. We have rigged it with some twine as a temporary fix, but we think the misalignment is leading to even more maneuverability problems. When we contacted customer service to see if we could get a replacement T-bot mechanism, we were told that they aren’t willing to sell us just that replacement piece, but they would be happy to sell us an entire new frame (which would include the T-bot we need) for $435!! The customer service rep acknowledged that her solution was an unattractive one, and said it was really too bad that this had happened just after the one-year warranty, because then she could help me. I asked if I could pay them to fix it the way they would if it had still been under warranty, and she told me they would not do that. She gave me the number of a third party repair shop that might be able to help me (she said that they send all of their customers who need repairs after the warranty has ended to this third party shop– red flag right there– they have so many requests for post-warranty repairs that they have a regular vendor that they recommend). I called the shop and the owner told me he couldn’t help me because he only has access to the same parts that I have access to, so the only thing he could do for me would be to order the new frame and install it at a cost of $435 plus labor. He said that he sees a lot of people who have problems with not just the Vibe, but other Phil & Teds strollers as well. By the way, I pointed out to the customer service rep at Phil & Ted’s that the cutesy manual that comes with the stroller is useless hipster drivel that doesn’t actually tell you how to operate the stroller and she said that they knew it wasn’t a useful user’s manual and they were in the process of revising it to include actual operating instructions. If you live in a big city where the stores have narrow doorways and aisles, there are not many options. I know some people who like the Phil & Ted’s Sport, but other people that I have met who have the Vibe have had similar problems to mine. We are going to check out the Joovy, because we are desperate to replace the Vibe. It is infuriatig that Phil & Ted’s does not stand behind its product after one year, despite charging people close to $1,000 for it (once you add in the accessories and replacement wheels). We feel like suckers for having bought this product. Shame on Phil & Ted’s!
I have the Dash model of the Phil and Teds stroller and this cup holder does not fit. I returned and purchased the pr8nce Lionheart cup holder for 7.99 at BRU and it works!
overall i like the stroller. But i found it really inconvenient to use it with a newborn, when the baby lying underneath and toddler sits on top, it’s really hard to get the baby in and out with the second sit on top. When the baby can sit and you put 2nd sit on the back then it’s really convenient, conpact and stylish double stroller. I am a petit women so for me using a bulky side by side stroller just wasn’t an option. The other thing to keep in mind- kids can’t really sleep in this stroller because they are in up right position all the time , unless you using it as a single. So it’s really depends on your needs and how you using it. I am glad i bought it, for my family its been working out perfectly.Brand NEW! Phil & Teds Vibe Buggy With Doubles Kit- Red
“Phil and Teds Stroller”