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We purchased this dollhouse for our three year old daugther last July when she turned three. Fortunately, at the time, I went a bit crazy with ordering the furniture and bought almost all of the furniture sets that were made to activate the Sweet Sounds dollhouse. I just recently discovered, however, that you cannot buy the Loving Family furniture that was made for the dollhouse in the department/toy stores. Instead, you have to buy it for three to five times the original price from an individual on eBay (i.e., $54 and up for one set which originally cost $12).If you do decide to buy this dollhouse, the furniture that you actually need to activate some of the 200 phrases must contain an item called a "BONUS FEATURE". The BONUS FEATURE are furniture sets that come with a certain furniture item (i.e., wrapped gifts and balloons, parrot, blue television, tea set, blue teddy bear) that has a PINK or BLUE ribbon attached. Those items will activate the dollhouse sounds. Yes, you can still buy doll furniture from Fisher Price for the Twin Times Fisher Price Dollhouse that are on the same size scale as the Sweet Sounds dollhouse, but that furniture will not activate the dollhouse's supposed 200 phrases.
Personally, I think it is an atrocity that Fisher Price continues to sell this dollhouse with the marketing claim that it has over 200 phrases. A majority of those so-called phrases are activated by the extra dollhouse furniture that you USED to be able to purchase. Hence, the claim that Fisher Price (aka Mattel) makes that the dollhouse has over 200 phrases is misleading and false advertising because the dollhouse only comes with a few pieces to activate the dollhouse sounds (i.e., adult female, adult male, child female, cat, and tape recorder). That's it!
Someone else put together a list of all the sets you used to be able to purchase so you can see what I'm talking about here (although the representative picture of the displayed furniture on the left is not always the same item as the boxed picture on the right -the boxed picture on the right shows the correct furniture to activate the dollhouse). Please see:
Obviously, Fisher Price and/or Mattel believe that as parents we are stupid and that we don't pay attention to details. They have incorrectly assumed that we will not recognize that although they sell the Sweet Sounds dollhouse (probably because they have a lot left to deplete in their inventory), they don't sell the corresponding furniture to activate the house. Why then spend the extra $20 pay for the electronic dollhouse sounds when you can purchase the Fisher Price Twin Times dollhouse for much less?
Although I already own almost all of the Sweet Sounds dollhouse furniture sets, I have now developed a great disdain for the unscrupulous business dealings of the manufacturer who no longer supply the corresponding furniture for this Sweet Sounds dollhouse.
Lastly, today I contacted a supervisor within Mattel's customer service (1-800-432-5437). Although she was very nice, I could hardly believe that their computer datebase does not reflect that the corresponding activating furniture has been discontinued. She was totally unaware that people across the globe cannot purchase it anywhere but on eBay at a ridiculous prices. I did not realize when I spoke to her that there was this message board with so many complaints in this regard, however, I pointed out to her that I have been unable to find the furniture sets (with the "BONUS FEATURE") in any in the stores and that everyone on eBay is bidding them up three to five times the original price (I think that was fairly convincing to her). Dare I say that the omittance of the word "DISCONTINUED" in Mattel's database was completely purposeful because they don't want their customer service representatives telling the consumers that you we can no longer get the activating furniture because they want you to buy up the inventory of remaining dollhouses! I'm sorry, Fisher Price, but not all parents are quite as dumb as you think they are.
For a mother with two toddler girls ages 2 and 3, I am going to boycott Fisher-Price altogether because I think this is unscrupulously deceptive marketing on their part. I cannot return all of the unopened furniture sets and the Sweet Sounds dollhouse, but I certainly will continue to raise an awareness via the Internet.
Final word: If you don't care whether or not the dollhouse makes sounds and talks, then go ahead and spend the extra money, although the feature is otherwise useless. In truth, you're wasting your money because you can buy another dollhouse that doesn't have electronic sounds for considerably less money.
Signed,
MAD AS HECK AT MATTEL IN SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA
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I selected this dollhouse over the classic dollhouse because I wanted one with big enough rooms for the furniture and one that would allow more than one child to play with it at once. I was concerned the classic dollhouse might be too small. But I did not want something as big as the townhouse that was being sold at the time. I was hesitant to order this dollhouse because of the permanant furniture...some reveiws said it was totally in the way. But for the most part it is fine. There is a fixed rocking chair in the nursery that could be a little closer to the wall however it is still possible to fit the crib and dresser, and the kitchen chair could be a little closer to the table, but again not a big deal. There is one other room with a fixed chair and desk that are against the wall and not at all in our way. I was also not thrilled with the sounds feature (must all toys make noise??) but it has grown on me and my kids enjoy it. In spite of those concerns I picked this one and am very happy with it. You will want to get some additional furniture right away but once you have a few rooms you can add addititional rooms more slowly if desired. Our Toys R Us store has a good selection of furniture sets (more than on this site, typically) and I've also found furniture at Walmart and Kohls stores. For some reason it is sometimes hard to find on line.Honest reviews on Loving Family Sweet Sounds Dollhouse
My 3 year old daughter received the Sweet Sounds Dollhouse for Christmas this year. She loves it! This dollhouse, in my opinion, is the best one out there! I researched and carefully looked at each of the 3 Fisher Price Dollhouses, and the playmobile dollhouse, and like this one the best. It's very durable, very roomy, and pretty. Having three girls, we've had 3 different Fisher Price Dollhouses, and a Playmobile Victorian Dollhouse. The Loving Family Fisher Price Classic Dollhouse is nice, but just doesn't have enough room to hold the furniture. We tried this one first, and exchanged it for the Sweet Sounds Dollhouse. I like the Sweet Sounds Dollhouse better than the bigger, more expensive one that has a fireplace that crackles and has sounds and lights, because the plastic is thicker and more durable, and prettier colors inside. I had a chance to play a little with this one as well, and found it tipped easily over and the plastic was not as thick and durable. The playmobile Victorian Dollhouse is nice too, but my kids never played with it much. The colors and style are more of an older styling, and my girls preferred the Fisher Price one's better. My oldest daughter still has the original Fisher Price Dream Dollhouse, which is very simuliar to size as the new Sweet Sounds. The Sweet Sounds comes with the most detailed and adorable furniture, a Dad, a Mom with combable hair, a big sister with combable hair, and a cute baby. 3 pieces of furniture are permantly attached (the rocking chair, little girl's room chair, & kitchen table chair) to the flooring because these are the 3 pieces that make the 200 phases when the people are placed on them. The moveable furniture included is an adorable cradle, highchair, & baby swing. The stickers are very pretty , and there are tons that take sometime to apply but are worth it. A sheet of additional optional stickers are included as well. A nice touch. You will have no trouble fitting in the extra furniture you will want to buy to furnish the house with, because there is a ton of room in this house. The house closes easily and my 3 year old can close it herself. It fold compact for storage and holds the furniture inside. The 200 phases are very sweet. My little girl likes the voices and it gives her ideas of different ways to play. The sound can be turned on or off. Some of the phrases are "how about a big Daddy hug?" and "I like playing dollhouse with you". All the phrases are very loving--like the perfect family! My 3 year old daughter has no trouble positioning the figures correctly to make them talk. Basically she just sits them in one of the 3 pieces of furniture that make them talk and they talk. The 3 pieces that make the dolls talk are the rocking chair, kitchen chair, and the little girl's room chair. Some of the additional furniture sets have extra pieces that will talk, meow, or play music in the dollhouse too. My 7 and 11 year old daughters think this dollhouse is fun too. Take it from a Mom who has tried them all----this is the one to buy!Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Loving Family Sweet Sounds Dollhouse
I have just assembled this dollhouse and am impressed. The victorian styling is lovely and it is much more spacious than other dollhouses.If you are buying this house & matching rooms, you need to know that it has a built-in kitchen (not removable) with fridge, stove, sink, breakfast table, etc. so you do not need to buy the Loving Family Kitchen. I did, and now have to return it.
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