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[Rob]

Some of you may have noticed that the website for Bits & Pieces, purveyor of inexpensive (sometimes very nice, sometimes shoddily made) puzzles, has been down for a while. Despite the variability in quality, I've always appreciated them as one of the few mass-market sources for reasonably priced mechanical puzzles.

Over at the PuzzleWorld forums, George Bell posted a link to a blog entry by Ernie Schell at Direct Commerce Systems and Services, about the shutdown of BlueSky Brands.
http://directcommercesystems.blogspot.com/2008/03/bluesky-brands-shuts-down.html

Looks like B&P is defunct.
Check out the comments about the management. What a shame.

[Canuck]

Thanks for posting that Rob, really is a shame

[Peter Wiltshire]

This really is too bad, The last order I placed with them was canceled, the customer service rep said they had stopped shipping to Canada.  I guess without all my orders they just couldn't stay in buisness   Some of there aluminum puzzles are quite nice, I wonder if they will increase in value now that they are no longer available.

[Jeff Chiou]

Does anyone know anything about them coming back up?

www.bitsandpieces.com was down for a while, but here's the message you get when you visit there now:

Bits And Pieces will be back soon! We are currently under new ownership and we are working diligently to get back up and running.

We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please try this site again later.

[Eric Fuller]

Glad to hear and it doesn't surprise me...they had a successful operation from my understanding.

[Robert Yarger]

Honestly, the last few puzzleboxes that I received from Bits and Pieces (I did not order them myself- I just received them for an international customer) were so poorly constructed that I actually felt like vomiting.  That sounds like an exaggeration, but no seriously, I literally felt nauseous and it bothered me so much that it ruined the rest of my day.  If I had ordered them for myself, I would have sent them back they were so bad.

I know that there were other reasons behind why Bits and Pieces went under, but if quality is a factor, they would have been out of business shortly anyway.  Sure, thier puzzles were mostly under $10, but they still were grossly overpriced for the quality you got.  By contrast, we charge over ten times as much, but our puzzles are really a bargain. 

 

[Eric Fuller]

Interesting observation.  I have not bought from them in eons, but I still have several Kamei designs which are VERY well made. I can see how you may be right though - the last box I bought from them a few years ago was pretty junky.  They must have switched factories or something which is a shame.  I really can't overstate how excellent the work used ot be.  It just amazed me they could put out that quality at the price point they did.

[Robert Yarger]

One of thier boxes fell apart in my hands while taking it out of the box, and I had to repair it before sending it on.  Even with my skill, I could not glue it back together well enough to keep from having gaps.  Its not much of a puzzle when the gaps reveal the move required to get it open.

I do agree that they used to be quite top notch.  I remember long ago striving to make a design that was of high enough quality that they would consider mass producing them thier catalog.  In other words, thier quality used to surpass my own at one time. 

However, we will never have a similar problem.  You really take qulity as a high priority on the website and I appreciate that.

[George Bell]

I bought a puzzle box from them that was glued shut.  Talk about a difficult puzzle box!  After much frustration some kind puzzler (maybe Tom Jolly?) sent me a photo of the first move, this is where I discovered it had been glued.  This box remains unopened!

But I bought a Kamei Ribbon box at the same time which works fine.  I am glad that they are coming back.

Their online puzzles and games are quite fun.  They are still active at:
http://www.puzzlearcade.com
I even bought a physical Yali game from B&P after playing it online.  But the online game works better than the physical game!

[Robert Yarger]

George,

If the link is still valid, you should try this puzzle game.

The incredible Machine puzzle was an old share ware program, but is quite fun to play.

( www.bestoldgames.net/eng/old-games/the-incredible-machine.php )

[Jeff Chiou]

I just checked, and Bits and Pieces it back online.  They only have their jigsaw puzzles for sale, but the site says they will be adding brainteasers and their other items back over the next few weeks.

-Jeff

[George Bell]

Good news!  I still don't see anything besides jigsaw puzzles, but I guess the brainteasers are coming.