Review on Green Toys Tide Pool Boat by Lauren Lewis

Either I'm unlucky or Green Toys isn't a company I can confidently invest in anymore. I've been buying Green Toys since my first son (now almost 15) started walking. He still had everything I had ever bought him from Green Toys (and I bought him almost everything they ever made) until my two youngest sons (now 3 1/2 and 2) started abusing them. The toys were solid for the years my eldest son used them and still solid when my toddlers started playing with them, but now they're dropping like flies. I didn't hesitate to replace the ones that were starting to break and also bought some new editions. Green Toys has always been a company that I am proud to invest in and have given (again and again) to all of my friends' nieces, nephews, cousins and children that have been born over the years. are back, two with an open seam running the entire top/back/inside of the truck. The school bus arrived with cracks (which may have been the shipping company's negligence, but after noticing how badly the quality of the plastic had deteriorated I can't help but think that this contributed). made aware that they do not readily return their products. I also ordered a second tide pool bath set which comes in a green "algae" basket. The first one I ordered for my eldest was originally in the blue box and was gifted to my 3.5 year old. Which of course meant I had to order one in a different color for my 2 year old to be able to tell "who's who or all hell will break loose if my middle child (God forbid) shares! After ordering this set many different ways - about half a dozen times - I'm officially done. The plastic is obviously thinner, it doesn't weigh the same (feel of cheap "made in China" plastic). The waterholes on most of them aren't even fully formed holes! And then there are colors. I purposely bought a different color set for the reason above (I know those of you who have an excited toddler who doesn't want to share and a frivolous toddler who is used know exactly what I'm talking about). But every time the colors of the sea creatures do not match the photos/description/reviews! They don't even match the colors on the packaging that is wrapped around the product! This way I get duplicates, which defeats the purpose. If the quality of the plastic hadn't been as good, but prices hadn't changed either, I'd blame an American company trying to stay afloat and not outsource. But since these toys are and have remained relatively expensive, and the quality of the plastic is not right, IMHO it just smells like greed. Has anyone else had this problem? Or have you been buying Green Toys for over ten years and have recently become disillusioned with the quality? Normally I would be angry, but this time I'm really sad.