Thinking of ordering online from Bubs n Grubs?
Read this first.

Why this site exists

When you're buying a cot or a pram, you glance at the Google rating and move on. Bubs n Grubs shows 4.3 stars, which sounds like a safe bet.

Read two years of reviews, though, and the picture changes: about 1 in 4 recent Google reviews is a 1- or 2-star complaint, and on ProductReview it's 85%. This site brings those reviews together so parents can see the full picture before they order, and so people with similar experiences can find each other.

Our story

Or: how we bought a cot and became a part-time switchboard

Key findings

1. Complaints centre on online orders and stock

   The most common complaint, in 48 of 145, is paying for an item that turned out not to be in stock, or that arrived weeks or months later than expected. Many reviewers say the website showed the item as available or offered fast dispatch. In its public replies, the store often says the item was marked as on backorder before purchase. How clearly availability was shown at checkout is the central question in these disputes.

2. Delays hit time-critical baby items

   25 of those stock complaints involve cots, prams, bassinets, car seats or similar items, including 7 involving car seats or capsules. Parents usually need these by a due date, and a newborn needs a suitable car seat before travelling by car. A delay on these items affects more than convenience.

3. Reported faults in safety-related products

   At least 15 complaints report a fault or damage in a cot, bassinet, pram or car seat, such as broken parts or mechanisms that don't work. The store replied publicly to 10 of these. In 5 it disputes the customer's account, and in others it says it resolved the issue or apologises for an error. This site hasn't verified any review and makes no claim that any product is unsafe. Under the Australian Consumer Law, goods must be of acceptable quality, including safe, and the retailer must provide a remedy when they aren't.

   If you believe a nursery product is unsafe, stop using it and report it to the ACCC at productsafety.gov.au.

4. Getting a response is a recurring problem

   42 complaints report slow replies or no reply, often through the online help desk. 26 report a refund or replacement being refused or delayed, and some mention a cancellation fee or store credit offered instead of a refund.

5. Most reviews are positive, but complaints are a consistent pattern

   About three in four recent Google reviews are 4–5 stars, mostly praising in-store service and staff. The complaints come mainly from online customers, and they repeat the same issues over two years and across two review sites.

6. How the store responds

   The store replied publicly to 85 of the 145 complaints. In 39 of those replies it says the review is untrue, incorrect or misleading. 20 mention that it is a small family business, and 12 say the reviewer is fake or not a customer. Its replies are shown in full alongside each review.

What customers describe, again and again

These patterns come up repeatedly across both review sites over two years. Each is summarised in this site's own words. The reviews are in full alongside.

Before you buy: how to protect yourself

Whoever you buy from, these steps protect you. They matter most for large or time-critical items.

1. Call and confirm the item is physically in stock before paying, and ask for the dispatch date in writing.
2. Screenshot the product page and checkout, including any stock, backorder or dispatch message. In disputes, the store's replies often rely on what was shown at checkout.
3. Read the cancellation terms before you pay. Reviewers report cancellation fees, or store credit offered instead of a refund.
4. Pay with PayPal or a credit card, so you can dispute the charge if goods don't arrive. Several reviewers say this is how they got their money back.
5. Leave a safety margin before your due date for cots, prams and car seats, or buy from a store that has them on the shelf.
6. Inspect nursery products as soon as they arrive, and report any fault in writing straight away. Under the Australian Consumer Law, the retailer must provide a remedy for goods that aren't of acceptable quality, so you don't have to deal with the manufacturer yourself.
7. If a nursery product seems unsafe, stop using it and report it to the ACCC at productsafety.gov.au.

Ratings in context

Share of reviews rated 1 or 2 stars over roughly the past two years:

The all-time ratings of 4.3 and 2.0 are as displayed by Google and ProductReview on 14 October 2026. The past-two-year averages of 4.0 and 1.6 were calculated by this site from the individual star rating of every review in that period, including Google ratings with no text. Across all 468 reviews from both sites, the average is 3.8.

Had a similar experience?

I'm gathering customer experiences to take to Fair Trading and a consumer law firm. If something similar happened to you, share it below. It stays private and won't be published without your written permission.