So this week the kids started bugging me about diving toys for our backyard pool. Again. Honestly, I thought we had a bucketload from last year, but turns out most got stepped on or just vanished. Go figure. Needed to hunt down new stuff without totally wrecking my wallet. This ain’t my first time, so here’s exactly what I did, step by step.
The Initial Sweep: What Didn’t Work
First up, I dragged myself to the local pool supply shop downtown. Been there forever, figured they’d know their stuff. Walked in, saw maybe six sad little torpedoes behind the counter priced like gold bars. Seriously? Five bucks each for flimsy plastic? Nah. Passed on that nonsense real quick.
Then hit the big blue & yellow superstore – you know the one. Went straight to the “seasonal” section. Huge mistake. Found exactly one kind of dive stick. Just bright yellow plastic rods bundled in a box. Grabbed a box thinking maybe it was cheap. Got shocked at the checkout. Plus those things looked boring as heck for kids.
Hitting the Web With Caution
Okay, time for Plan B: online. Didn’t wanna risk shady sites though. Started where I usually shop:
- Scrolled the first major online marketplace for maybe an hour. Saw packs of ten cool-looking rings for cheap! Kicked myself when I saw the shipping cost – basically doubled the price. Felt like a scam.
- Tried that huge everything store everyone uses. Tons more options. Got excited about a 30-piece pack with rings, coins, the whole shebang. Price looked great. Read the reviews though. Saw photos people posted… toys broke the first day.
- Clicked over to the general sports retailer online. Even more listings! Filtered for “pool toys,” sorted by price, and boom. Found a set of torpedoes that didn’t look like they’d snap instantly. Price was actually better than the others, plus shipping felt fair. Almost clicked “Buy.” Took a breath though.
The Breakthrough: Remembering Member Pricing
Suddenly remembered my last resort: the big wholesale club. Hadn’t even thought about them for toys. Logged into their app. Searched “pool dive toys.” Almost smacked my head.
Why didn’t I check here first? Found a massive kit. Talking like 25 different pieces – colorful sinkable coins, thick dive sticks in bright colors, heavy rings, even this submarine thing. Price per item was way lower than anywhere else. Checked it wasn’t some cheap knockoff brand. Was a solid brand name.
Even better? It was actually in stock at the local warehouse nearby. Didn’t have to wait on shipping. Just pulled the trigger right there on the app. Done.
Pool Test Results (AKA Kid Approval)
Picked it up later that day. Kids tore into the box immediately. Took everything straight into the pool. Here’s the verdict:
- Dive sticks sink nice and slow – perfection.
- Rings are thick plastic, didn’t crack when they hit the bottom.
- Coins feel heavy, like actual tokens – cool factor.
- The little submarine? Instant hit.
No breakages after a whole afternoon of cannonballs landing on them. Felt like I actually found a decent deal. No shipping hassle, no cheap plastic disappointment.
Moral of this boring story? Don’t even bother with the specialized pool places for simple toys – rip-off. Skip the big seasonal sections at the general superstore. Definitely check online, but only the big, familiar names, and always look at shipping costs and check those reviews like a hawk. And if you’ve got membership to the wholesale giants? Start there first. Saved my wallet some serious grief this time.