Everyone visits. We did, and although the rumor was that they could often be gruff, we found them helpful and easy going. Recently moved from the East Village to Gramercy, this old school baby mecca wants to sell you the best for less.
With a new website and modern shop, Schneider's stocks a good selection of top notch items from nursery to teen furniture and touts lower prices than the chain stores. And while it used to be the only game in town, with Buy Buy Baby's sprouting like Starbucks, it no longer is.
Ugh. Schneiders. Where do I begin? Perhaps with them selling our childless friends a behemoth "travel system" stroller as a shower gift. A massive thing that NO one in a city needs or should should have to store. Then, when we tried to replace the carseat that came with it, have the salesman say, "That piece of trash? Thank God we don't carry that thing anymore." Nice. Then we buy their extra service warranty on our MacLaren stroller (which was much more practical) and it needs a repair, another of their cartoony ex-con-type salesmen stubs out his smoke and says, "The easiest thing to do is to pack up the stroller in a box and send it off to England for the new part." To which my husband answers, "The easiest thing for YOU, you mean" and proceeds to question why he should patronize a local merchant while online shops are cheaper and more customer-service-oriented. Finally the guy takes the stroller to repair so the innocent pregnant couples shopping nearby won't be scared off their purchases. I don't know anyone who likes to shop at Schneiders-- they're the topic of many a bitter playground story-- it's just that they're one of the only games in town.
To Ann and whoever reads her comment, Albee's is your answer to bad customer service. I bought almost all of our baby items there and was very pleased. I even took my MacLaren double stroller there and they fixed it free of charge even though I didn't buy it there. And their prices are good.
Nicole
I love Schneider's- sure the couple that owns it aren't full of dopey smile but they seriously know their stuff and only stock things they stand behind. And they explain why. Their experience and honesty has been invaluable to us.
Buybuybaby stocks everything (which means they are perfectly happy selling poorly made items and makes it really hard to make decisions if you haven't done a ton of research) and at the other end of the spectrum (where I originally registered) e-giggle is full of smile-y staff that know nothing about babies and having kids in the city. I originally registered at e-giggle for what ended up being overpriced, trendy stuff that wasn't useful.
Schneider's is old school- a smart, no nonsense, honest store.
We recently bought a Flexa bunk bed from Scheinders and dealt with the husband and wife owners. HAd a very pleasant chat with them about their move from EV to current location, about their kids etc.
Service was good, everything ordered (came in about 10 separate boxes and many parts had to be selected to order by the owner) arrived within a couple of weeks, on the same day and with no missing pieces or boxes. I made one call about a mistake I thought they had made but, after the person on the phone ascertained the details by asking the right questions) was politely informed that what I thought was incorrect was correct (it was indeed my mistake).
For anyone that may be interested
http://www.flexashop.com/products.asp
My daughter is nine, but I will never forget how when my McClaren died, Schneiders convinced me to buy a different, less expensive brand they swore was just as good...virtually a McClaren by another name. No. it wasn't as good. It was horrible. I went back to Schneiders...this was just days later...and they refused to take it back. Said I had to "take it up with the manufacturer." I never went back...I've been out of the baby business for awhile, but a much, much nicer place is Little Folks on 23rd Street. Not very fancy, but very, very, very nice.
Nadine
I've got two young children and for both pretty well stocked up on everything at Schneider's. I think they're super knowledgable and have good prices and fine service. Not perfect, but compared to the options, they're my favorite hands down. I've often shopped at Little Folks, but their selection and service is not as good. As for Albee's, it's fine, and similar to Schneider's imo, but too crowded and cramped. Finally, all the shops I just mentioned far far beat out the super stores like buy buy baby or babies r us, which are just hell (without better prices, i should add).