(OP here). Wow. I never realized what a big purchase this is. Thank you so much for all the input, this is really helpful. I have a lot of homework to do tonight.

Craigslist. Soooooo many on there. Whatever you buy will be on there in about 5 years, too, for about 1/10th of what you paid for it.

Do you want it set-up or do you want to do the set-up? Big price difference... If you can do the set-up yourself, Costo is cheaper. If you want it done for you, go to a Rainbow ($) dealer. We used Dogwood builders in Leesburg and they were fantastic. We still buy the playground mulch from them. If you can find one on Craigslist, I believe that they can move it and install it for you, for a lower fee.

FWIW, ours was expensive but a year after we put it in a large tree fell on it and demolished the slide. Insurance paid to replace the slide. Dogwood came out and repaired, inspected the whole thing. Had we bought at Costco and done it ourselves, I think we would have had to replace the whole playground.

Costco

I second getting a 2nd hand set from Craigslist.
Save more than 1/2 the price for the same thing.

Be aware that the good ones go fast. So you do have to monitor the postings relatively frequently.

Craigslist.

Anonymous wrote:how is the are the ones from costco


http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?ec=BC-EC11007-Cat4060&pos=0&whse=BC&topnav=&cat=4062&eCat=BC|50126|4060|4062&lang=en-US


http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11700600&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|50126|4060|4062&N=4047212&Mo=17&pos=0&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=4062&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC11007-Cat4060&topnav=

Going on 5 years now and ours is sturdy-we live in a child invested community on a cul-de-sac and this playset has had kids all over it. We did an extra layer of sealant on it and it is in great shape. If we moved and had to buy a new one, I'd do it all over again.

Only drawback is that I had to find a landscaper to do the prep work (leveling the ground, making a retaining wall, and then dumping a few inches of gravel and THEN rubber mulch on top of that-perfect because they can play on it right after it rains and there is no mud at all). The prep work cost as much as the playset and the rubber mulch cost MORE than the playset.

how is the are the ones from costco


http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?ec=BC-EC11007-Cat4060&pos=0&whse=BC&topnav=&cat=4062&eCat=BC|50126|4060|4062&lang=en-US


http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11700600&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|50126|4060|4062&N=4047212&Mo=17&pos=0&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=4062&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC11007-Cat4060&topnav=

The place in Chantilly has open play sometimes where you can try out the different sets. Also it is totally negotiable--ask them what else they can throw in for the price or if they will take XXX for this or that set.

Three years out, we're very happy with our smaller, lower-end Creative Playthings set. We spent just over $1k during a winter sale for a set that at the time "usually" ran closer to $2k. It has held up well with 2 big active boys and looks great despite no maintenance so far. If you have more to spend, you can certainly get something higher end; alternatively if your budget is constrained but you have DIY skills and flexible space, check out Craigs List since people often put these up for sale or for giveaway.

We got an expensive set from Cedar Works ( as a gift) and don't think it was worth the $$ spent. We had to reinforce it as the beams were rotting. It is not pressure treated lumber which is good..but now I have to tell my kids to be gentle with it so it doesn't fall down!

Sorry the place is in Chantilly:

http://playnlearn.com/locations/chantilly-va/

Politicalgal wrote:Any suggestions on where to look? Ones to stay away from? Brands that are good? Thanks.

This and only this: http://www.rainbowdirect.com/

There's a Play N Learn in Sterling that sells them. May be other locations.

You can get (much) cheaper from Toys R Us or Costco or wherever, but you truly get what you pay for.

Any suggestions on where to look? Ones to stay away from? Brands that are good? Thanks.