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OneStepAhead Description

OneStepAhead helps parents with baby every step of the way! We feature clever
solutions to everyday challenges, plus enriching toys for babies and tots up to 3 years.

OneStepAhead Latest Promotions

Save 10% on orders of $50+ at OneStepAhead

Clearance Sale on Baby Items at One Step Ahead

Great Savings on Toys from One Step Ahead

OneStepAhead Reviews

I managed to make my way onto every baby-related mailing list known to man, and
among the hoards of junk, the One Step Ahead catalog caught my eye. One Step
Ahead has a little bit of everything. Toys, monitors, high-chairs, strollers, personalized
stuff, stuff for moms-to-be, etc. After looking though the items, making mental notes,
a little drooling (then gasping at the prices), I noticed they had a website.

Aside from prices, this is a complex, but very well-done website. Navigation is quick
and simple... very user-friendly. There are some really great features here that I really
like. One of those is the ability to have a closer look at items with different views, more
text, and REVIEWS (you can even submit your own) using a pop-up box so you don't
get tangled up in trying to find the page you were on. There's also that old staple, the
product search box.

~FEATURES~

Catalog Quickshop

One Step Ahead (OSA) combines the internet and catalog shopping with their
Catalog Quickshop. If you have one of their paper catalogs, access this feater and
enter the item #. The site will take you to a screen where you can either immediately
add the item to your cart or have a closer look. It also gives the availability of the item.

Shopping Sections

What online store would be complete without sections? Items are divided up by
category and sub-category, and includes dozens of items not found in the paper
catalog. They even have a Twins' Club, featuring strollers, bedding items, toys, etc.
for twins and triplets. Main shopping sections include:

Safety
On the Go
Nursery
Nursing & Feeding
Playtime
Bath & Health
Outdoor Fun
For Parents
Twins' Club
Halloween (Holiday)
On Sale Now

Leaps & Bounds

Leaps & Bounds is a site within a site, and the partner/subsidiary of OSA. This
section of the site features items specifically targeted at the 3-7 year old. As with the
main shopping categories, these also breakdown into sub-categories:

Playtime
Outdoor Fun
School Readiness
Creative Arts
My Room
Bath & Health
In The Kitchen
Travel
Halloween (Holiday)
On Sale Now

Gift Center

Here you can purchase Gift Certificates, either E-certificates for use on the web only,
or paper certificates, get Great Gift Ideas, register with their Gift Registry, and even
choose special Gift Wrapping (at $3.50/item). Great Gift Ideas is sectioned out in
categories from "Moms-to-be" to "Age 8 & up Birthday." The site pulls up ranges of
items appropriate to the category you choose.

Shop Smarter

This feature offers advice on how to choose appropriate and safe items, parenting
issues, etc. Advice can be found on:

New Parent's Checklist
How To Make Baby's Crib Safe & Secure
How to Buy a High Chair
How to Buy a Diaper Bag
How to Balance Breastfeeding & Work
How to Buy a Stroller
How To Choose the Best Toys for Your Baby
How to Make the Most of Your One-on-One Playtime
What the Experts Say About Thumbsucking
How to Choose -- and Use -- a Car Seat
15 Ways to Soothe a Fussy Baby
Halloween Safety Tips
Tips for Safe and Happy Trick-or-Treating

Finders Keepers Program

OSA/Leaps & Bounds is always looking for new and innovative products. Finders
Keepers is a program where you can submit an item, and if they add it to their
catalog, you receive a $250 gift certificate for OSA/Leaps & Bounds.

Free Affiliate Program

OSA offers a basic website affiliate program, much like LinkShare. Just add links on
your site. You earn 8% commission on each item sold, and are able to track sales.

Sales, Specials, & Clearance

At any given time, OSA offers sales prices on selected items, and clearance items
are marked down even more. Since the prices are so high regularly, the sales prices
bring them down to what the items are actually worth, and the clearances are a pretty
good deal. There is always a holiday or special "baby-day" special going, and
emblazoned on the front page of the site.

Shipping

I think shipping is outrageous. I ordered an item that weighed next to nothing (very
small pkg of cloth clothing extenders) for $9.95. Ground shipping was $5.20!
Shipping charges are based on dollar amount ranges unless otherwise specified in
the item description (they are clearly marked). This includes oversized items such
as strollers. 2-Day Fed Ex delivery is also an option. Shipping on my $9.95 item with
Fed Ex would have been $13.20...

Check-Out (Cart) System

This is the basic garden variety cart system. When you go to check out, you are
asked if you have an account. If not, you are taken to a screen to enter your basic
demographic info and choose a password. This is just a convenience mechanism
for return shoppers. It eliminates the need to re-enter that information. After your
purchase is complete, you are taken to a printable invoice screen and are sent an
invoice via e-mail, which also tells when your item(s) will be shipped (7-10 days,
drop-ship 4 weeks, etc.).

Other Areas to Note

This site has a Site Map, Privacy and Security Statement, and Contact Us and About
Us sections. I didn't see anything about return policies or the like, so I assume one
would contact their Customer Service Department. I'll provide those contact numbers
below.

Logimom's Shopping Experience

I saw this nifty product called "False Bottoms," which are basically clothes extenders
for Onesies, creepers, and other baby clothing with the 3-snap crotch. I must say
that's a great idea for monetarily encumbered parents whose kids grow like
proverbial weeds.

Anyway... I figured it would be faster to order online, so I used the Catalog Quickshop
feature. Checkout was a breeze. Not too many screens and no scripting problems
with the cart programming (no "Cannot Be Displayed" screens). I immediately
received my invoice via e-mail, which stated my product would ship in 7-10 days.
I was pleasantly surprised to see the item in my mailbox in 5 days! The product was
exactly as described, and has been a real money-saver.

A very positive experience, indeed.

Contact Information

URL for OSA/Leaps & Bounds: www.onestepahead.com

One Step Ahead Order Toll Free: 1-800-274-8440
Leaps and Bounds Order Toll Free: 1-800-477-2189

One Step Ahead Fax: 1-847-615-7236
Leaps and Bounds Fax: 1-847-615-2478
(credit card number and signature required)

One Step Ahead/Leaps And Bounds:
P.O. Box 517
Lake Bluff, IL 60044-0517

One Step Ahead Customer Service: 1-800-950-5120
Leaps and Bounds Customer Service: 1-888-203-2265
(Monday to Friday 7 AM to 7 PM CST)

Happy shopping, and thanks for reading!
Logimom

Recommended
Yes

Blue Bishop is an affiliate of OneStepAhead.