Image Description – Crazy: a red cardboard packet with the following text on it: “Zuru Tangle – Twist, Shape, Fidget”. Beneath the main title, there’s a subtitle “Crazy” (the subtitle indicates which type of Tangle it is), there is also a transparent window in the centre of the packet displaying a red-pink-blue-clear textured Tangle.
Image Description – Classic: a red cardboard packet with the following text on it: “Zuru Tangle – Twist, Shape, Fidget”. Beneath the main title, there’s a subtitle “Classic” (the subtitle indicates which type of Tangle it is), there is also a transparent window in the centre of the packet displaying a pink-blue-clear smooth Tangle.
Item: Zuru Tangle – Crazy and Zuru Tangle – Classic
Category: Review/Feedback
Cost: AU $4 each
Store: Kmart
Location: Keilor Plains
Review:
~Problematic Marketing: While I’m not strongly affected by the usage of “Crazy” as a descriptor for items, it does come across as contempt for one’s marketing audience. Zuru and Tangle Jr can do better than this and refraining from using Crazy as a descriptor is not a high demand. I refuse to believe that Zuru and Tangle Jr don’t have Public Relations departments, and I refuse to believe that Zuru and Tangle Jr don’t know or aren’t aware of the ableist implications of their subtitles.
~Tis The Season: I want to point out that I bought these Tangles during the Christmas season, so I’m not sure if the store at Keilor Plains still has them. I get the impression from staff that, with displays like these, what they’ve got in store is what they have available. I happen to like the colour schemes of the Tangles pictured above, but if you were after a specialised one (for example, a sparkly one), it might take you a while to rifle through the large display.
~Online Option: If you’re considering the online ordering system, please be aware that the delivery system is a little complicated. When I ordered some other items from Kmart and arranged to have it delivered (it’s a flat $10.00 shipping fee for delivery), due to my previous experiences with Australia Post, I assumed this would take a couple of days.
This assumption was incorrect. The notice failed to state clearly that it would be next-day delivery and I wasn’t there to sign for it. The courier left a notice saying I would have to contact the courier company via their website and re-arrange for them to re-deliver it. For comparison purposes, if I’m not home or I don’t hear the courier people knock (which is more likely to happen), the Book Depository courier people usually just leave my package by my front door, I’ll acknowledge that is unsafe but it’s also less irritating.
~Zuru Tangle Jr – Crazy : The bright colour scheme of this Tangle was what caught my eye first, then the textured links. I love the feel of this Tangle around my hand, it’s very stimmy and enjoyable to run my thumb over the textured links. As tactile as this Tangle is, I’ve observed that the movement of this Tangle is quite stiff, this isn’t a problem for myself (in fact I enjoy stiff Tangles), but this might be a problem for others.
~Zuru Tangle Jr – Classic : I’m not usually a fan of the pastels, but I’m quite fond of this colour scheme. The movements of this Tangle were also stiff, so stiff in fact that, when I tried to reposition the Tangle back into the four-loop position, one of the links popped out of place. It wasn’t a big deal, it connected back up again, however, I feel stiffness-factor should be pointed out (I need to figure out a sliding scale).
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