Review on Medieval Drawbridge Construction Kit by Melissa and Doug by Juan Huerta

UPDATE: As of 01/13/2019 the lock has been dismantled to the trash. I can't even get it to our local Salvation Army. It is so terrible that children can hurt themselves on it. Purchased on 04/04/2018. A whole corner of the castle was recently demolished. The whole tower just fell down when my son put his figures in it. The landing door also broke as it was held on by a tiny piece of 1/8" dowel that wasn't even long enough for this application, it had to be 1/2" longer so it broke immediately and was glued on. It's actually a sunroof, so it can't be repaired unless I drill out the dowel and replace it with a new one. It was so much real work for me to keep up with the broken parts. I could do the lock better. We have woodworking tools. I think I will do that this year because you know he needs another lock for this 7th birthday as this one is next to the bin to take the garbage out this week. 9 months, it took 9 months. He wasn't rough with it. This was a disappointment for our son. They kept collapsing, the balcony fell off, the drawbridge stopped working because the cord broke. And it came with all the sharp edges. If 9 months of casual soft play is worth it, then do it. I will never buy this brand again. I've spent hundreds, if not a few thousand, on Melissa and Doug. We loved their kids puzzles and all the wooden shape sorters for our kids when they were babies and never had that problem. Bought tons of her stuff for my 4 nieces. My kids have so many of this brand, we have big stuffed animals with giraffes and dinosaurs for them to "ride". It's a shame toys that big are now made so cheaply. UPDATE: December 2018: Almost 8 months have passed. Since then, the drawbridge has been broken and no longer works, just hanging open. The balcony fell off about a month after purchase because it was poorly glued. My kids weren't rough with this castle, they had their own characters in there and video game scenes played out. I would return it in a heartbeat if my son weren't there when I unwrap it on his birthday. This is the worst toy purchase I've ever made. It still amazes me every time a detail falls away at how cheaply their products are made and I don't recommend anything from Melissa and Doug. 8 months. Arrived broken and kept breaking parts. I am so disappointed. We also have a smaller version of the M&D lock that hasn't broken yet, seems better. If you really want a big lock, maybe check out KidKraft or Hape. April 2018: I tell you Melissa and Doug, your products have really gone downhill! I used to think of M&D and I thought of quality. Now I think it's M&D, and I'm like, oh my god, it's kind of rubbish and overpriced. I bought this lock as a big birthday present for my sons. He really wanted a Mario lock for all those Amiibos and Jakks figures you know and I picked this $70 piece of junk and thought it looked great. What I expected happened on the morning of his party. I placed my order late and that's ok, it arrived on time but when it arrived everything was broken and there was no time to return it. The bottom as seen in the photos was not connected at all, fell off right where the hinges attached and the wood on the bottom of the lock was badly cracked and very rough. I had to rip this chip off the floor. I am very dissatisfied with this purchase and will not buy your brand again. They're not the only seller of wooden toys, and they're definitely not the best. I would try to improve my products before they go bankrupt like TOY stores across the country are doing right now. BTW this was not associated with any third party company that processed the toy, it was fully wrapped in thick plastic and sealed when it arrived, apparently this is how Melissa and Doug's toys are shipped now. This is what it looked like right out of the plastic! I highly recommend looking at homemade ones online, even Playmobil, or seriously making your own. I feel like it was such a waste. I bought glue and small screws to glue and twist them together after the photo was taken and I plan on painting it like Mario's bottom but it still gets a star because it looks like garbage when it arrived for my son, to see his 6th birthday. The last item this loyal M&D customer ever bought from your company.