Toy Truck..

the_monkey

Sorry this is probably the wrong place , but apart from adverts.ie I couldn't find a forum for actual toys.

I'm looking to get my 2 year old nephew a toy truck .. he loves 'em ... but preferably one that isn't cheap crap made in China .... yes ... very difficult to find these days ... but if anyone knows of a place in Dublin where perhaps i could get one let me know ... Cheers..

lizardfudge

Yeah. I was trying to get a Toys and Boardgames forum set up before... it is a bit of a gap.

But the only main toy shops in the city centre are Smyths and Toy Master on Jervis Street.

If you want something more traditional there's a toy shop that does wooden toys on Dawson street.

landsleaving

Try a model shop instead of a toy shop. I know there's one in Dun Laoghaire shopping centre but if that's not handy for you I'm sure there's one in the city centre somewhere.

You'd get a better quality scale model of a real truck than a toy I'd say.

Bubs101

I'd suggest the parenting forum

BostonB

http://www.marksmodels.com/

the_monkey

What about the Early Learning Center ?

would that be worth a try ?

lizardfudge

the_monkey wrote: »

What about the Early Learning Center ?

would that be worth a try ?

Yep. There's one on Henry Street.

Art and Hobby Shop sometimes have interesting toys too... Not sure about trucks though. There's one upstairs in the Jervis Centre.

Oh and here's the proposal for the Toys and Boardgames forum, if anyone wants to lend their support:

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055557094

johnnyfox

One post suggested Marks Models, yes they have some nice trucks in there but the more premium trucks they have are a little expensive but well worth it as they should last a very long time. They have die cast metal trucks from the Lion Toy brand which make their trucks in The Netherlands and are of very good quality.

http://www.marksmodels.com/
http://www.liontoys.nl/en/company

Bruder are another company that make good quality, reliable, larger plastic construction type models that would appeal more to a younger child. They are a German company and 95% of their products are made in Germany. Smyths Toys stock their products according to their online website.

http://www.toys.ie/
http://www.brudertoys.com/

I think there is an increasing trend for many toy manufacturers to move production out of China now due to poor quality. Steiff being one of the big names to move all of its production back to Germany. You could also try some of the charity shops as you might find older toys that may have been made in Europe or the US prior to some companies moving their production to Asia.

BostonB

Have to say the quality of toys especially diecast ones is woeful since Smyths spread everywhere. Now you can only decent quality in specialist shops which obviously puts the prices up a lot. They also tend to be more serious models than toys. Theres no middle ground. As a kid I remember Matchbox was decent quality, and Corgi was definately still a toy, if an expensive one.

That shop on Nassau street that does (Heraldic stuff) has some better quality stuff too. Theres also a shop behind the Ilac center, Motorama Models‎ 60 Bolton Street, that does a lot of stuff too. Both are expensive and the opening hours seem pretty random. I think theres a shop at the top of Dun laoghaire shopping center too. That might be a branch of Marks Model I dunno.