Comments on: Brio Toys http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/ Husband, father, geek, pizza maker & bacon lover Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:36:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Gordon http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-162158 Gordon Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:15:12 +0000 http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-162158 Welcome to the real world When my children were young, I bought them Brio train sets and track. The cost was high but they were well made and the stores would replace broken track. I just returned from Austria, where we stayed with a family. Their young son needed some toys, so off shopping we went. At the shopping mall I bought him a Brio train set, like i did for my boys. When we got back to their home, my son looked at the box........... hey dad, it's now made in CHINA If you go to their web site, they sure like to hide where it's made Good luck to Brio, I don't support China Welcome to the real world
When my children were young, I bought them Brio train sets and track. The cost was high but they were well made and the stores would replace broken track.
I just returned from Austria, where we stayed with a family. Their young son needed some toys, so off shopping we went. At the shopping mall I bought him a Brio train set, like i did for my boys. When we got back to their home, my son looked at the box……….. hey dad, it’s now made in CHINA

If you go to their web site, they sure like to hide where it’s made
Good luck to Brio, I don’t support China

]]> By: David 3rd http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-144688 David 3rd Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:55:58 +0000 http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-144688 I have just taken inventory of my 37 year old Brio track (I think). I have over 60 pieces that have the old rubber insert in the track connection end. How does one make repair to this track set. I also have over thirty pieces of the old unpainted wooden cars that have metal hooks and loops at the end of the cars. Can some one give me some history on this train set and tell me if this is a Brio original. I have just taken inventory of my 37 year old Brio track (I think). I have over 60 pieces that have the old rubber insert in the track connection end. How does one make repair to this track set.

I also have over thirty pieces of the old unpainted wooden cars that have metal hooks and loops at the end of the cars.

Can some one give me some history on this train set and tell me if this is a Brio original.

]]> By: Anonymous http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-125708 Anonymous Sat, 31 May 2008 08:47:24 +0000 http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-125708 Hi April, inside the smoke stack at the front of the train is a cross head screw. Unscrew it and the black plastic will come away revealing the space to fit 2 x AAA batteries. Hi April,

inside the smoke stack at the front of the train is a cross head screw. Unscrew it and the black plastic will come away revealing the space to fit 2 x AAA batteries.

]]> By: April Sombs http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-89094 April Sombs Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:05:21 +0000 http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-89094 My grandson has a Brio engine #512 - gift for Christmas. (fabulous little engine!) How do we open this thing up to put in a new battery. Box is gone! Any help? My grandson has a Brio engine #512 - gift for Christmas. (fabulous little engine!) How do we open this thing up to put in a new battery. Box is gone! Any help?

]]> By: Anonymous http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-61931 Anonymous Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:23:57 +0000 http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-61931 You can check for where any toy is made on the box. The BRIO toys I've seen recently at train stores in the TwinCities metro say "Designed in Sweden, made in China". Actually BRIO and Thomas are not owned by the same company as far as I know. They are marketed as "compatible". As for the markup: I'm pretty sure that when companies move their manufacturing to China they don't lower their prices (if they don't have to) to reflect the savings. They pocket the difference. You can check for where any toy is made on the box. The BRIO toys I’ve seen recently at train stores in the TwinCities metro say “Designed in Sweden, made in China”.

Actually BRIO and Thomas are not owned by the same company as far as I know. They are marketed as “compatible”.

As for the markup: I’m pretty sure that when companies move their manufacturing to China they don’t lower their prices (if they don’t have to) to reflect the savings. They pocket the difference.

]]> By: kveton http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-61742 kveton Sun, 07 Oct 2007 03:37:58 +0000 http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-61742 How can you be sure its made in Europe? I mean look at this Thomas the Tank engine fiasco with Brio branded Thomas toys? The red engines all used a lead based paint and were in fact manufactured in China. All of this at the same Brio markup ... that sounds a little fishy to me ... you figure $1 max to manufacture those and then retail for $20 US?! That's nuts. How can you be sure its made in Europe? I mean look at this Thomas the Tank engine fiasco with Brio branded Thomas toys? The red engines all used a lead based paint and were in fact manufactured in China. All of this at the same Brio markup … that sounds a little fishy to me … you figure $1 max to manufacture those and then retail for $20 US?! That’s nuts.

]]> By: Anonymous http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-61606 Anonymous Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:53:04 +0000 http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-61606 Looking at the made in label on some recent BRIO products, it appears they have Scott's advice. As a parent in the US, I follow Christine's model. I buy my kids few toys, and ensure they are made in Europe. When I grew up I had very few toys, and I don't think that really is a bad thing. I think making toys so plentiful and cheap has had a negative influence on our children, not a positive one. I had a few cousins who had far more toys then I had. While I loved visiting them, I noticed they really didn't care about their toys and seemed to get bored with toys much faster then I did. my .02. Looking at the made in label on some recent BRIO products, it appears they have Scott’s advice.

As a parent in the US, I follow Christine’s model. I buy my kids few toys, and ensure they are made in Europe. When I grew up I had very few toys, and I don’t think that really is a bad thing. I think making toys so plentiful and cheap has had a negative influence on our children, not a positive one. I had a few cousins who had far more toys then I had. While I loved visiting them, I noticed they really didn’t care about their toys and seemed to get bored with toys much faster then I did.

my .02.

]]> By: Anonymous http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-42233 Anonymous Sat, 18 Aug 2007 19:02:31 +0000 http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-42233 "Why wouldn’t Brio just source this stuff through China" Commenting from the future, I think current events have answered your question. “Why wouldn’t Brio just source this stuff through China”

Commenting from the future, I think current events have answered your question.

]]> By: Molly http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-7392 Molly Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:50:27 +0000 http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-7392 Hi Scott, This is in response to your BRIO request. I love BRIO as well, and think they are a great toy, but way too expensive. But I just found out the Target is carrying the line and the prices are going down! Plus I wanted to let you know about a new offer for BRIO lovers. http://www.knex.com/2007brio/ So now they are even cheaper. Enjoy! Hi Scott,

This is in response to your BRIO request. I love BRIO as well, and think they are a great toy, but way too expensive. But I just found out the Target is carrying the line and the prices are going down!

Plus I wanted to let you know about a new offer for BRIO lovers.

http://www.knex.com/2007brio/

So now they are even cheaper. Enjoy!

]]> By: Aaron Wormus http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-904 Aaron Wormus Sun, 01 Oct 2006 06:15:22 +0000 http://kveton.com/blog/2006/09/28/brio-toys/#comment-904 Oh well, that comment didn't go through :) http://flickr.com/photos/aaron/tags/brio/ Oh well, that comment didn’t go through :)

http://flickr.com/photos/aaron/tags/brio/

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