Jigsaw Junkie Brand Comparion

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Hilary Riley
5 years ago
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RATING: 62 GRADE: A REVIEW DATE: 7/16/2016 PUZZLE TESTED: "Christmas Cuckoo Clock", 2016 CUT: semi-randmcut, high variation FINISH: glossy, not seamless $15.

1 RATING: 62 GRADE: A REVIEW DATE: 7/16/2016 PUZZLE TESTED: "Christmas Cuckoo Clock", 2016 CUT: semi-randmcut, high variation FINISH: glossy, not seamless $15.99 PIECE FIT: normal PIECE SIZE: normal CATEGORIES: holiday, fantasy, pets, painted landscapes, collage, birds SUMMARY: LINKS: PLACES TO BUY: Jigsaw Junkie Brand Comparion Vermont Christmas Company Vermont Christmas Company is a fairly young puzzle manufacturer located in the US. Their initial quality in 2013 was a little rocky, but they have improved a great deal so their current puzzle quality is very good. Their pieces are nearly as thick as Ravensburger, and the puzzle cut is a pleasing semi-random cut with a high variety of piece shapes. The image reproduction is very good and they are quickly expanding their puzzle line to include a large number of categories such as fantasy, still life, birds, pets, and landscapes. However, they really shine in their commissioned Christmas and Halloween puzzles. On the downside, the boxes have a flimsy and plain white bottom, the short sides of the box have no image or puzzle name, the artist's name is hard to find on the box, and the box doesn't carry the date of manufacture. On the puzzle itself, the glossy finish can create glare under strong overhead lights. Jigsaw Junkie Coverage of Brand Website Puzzle Warehouse Vermont Christmas Company page

2 Puzzle Evaluated: Christmas Cuckoo Clock Jigsaw Junkie Brand Comparion Brand: Vermont Christmas Company Evaluation Reviewer: Jane Date: 7/16/2016 IDEAL: Sturdy top and bottom, lovely packaging design, box bottom has info on the series/artist/image, sides designed for vertical shelving, all important info is on the box. THE BOX (Exterior) Box is oversized (hogs space) or too small: -1 to -2 based on severity Flimsy top and/or bottom: -1 for one, -2 if both are flimsy -1 Bottom of box has mini catalog (-1), generic info or is blank (-2) -2 Package can't be opened without damaging the box: -1 to -2 Doesn't have a box side of each length that shows: image, puzzle name, artist, piece count, brand logo: -1 if one length side has this; -2 if neither do -1 Publication year or puzzle dimensions missing from the box: -1 for each -1 Artist name is missing from the box: -2 Box image is too small (and no poster included) or partially covered: -1 to -2 Packaging design is ho-hum to poor: -1 to -2 Artist name and puzzle image name both on the front of the box: +1 BONUS POINT: For exceptionally unusual or interesting box: +1 FINAL SCORE: 5 IDEAL: Box contains poster or color catalog. Puzzle pieces are in a sturdy bag, fully separated, with no image life or warping of pieces. There's little to no puzzle dust. INSIDE THE BOX Nothing is in the box but the puzzle pieces: -2 Only a warranty card or other generic items in box: -1-1 Puzzle Dust: -1 to -2 based on severity Pieces damaged: image lift, bend, warped, etc: -1 to -3 based on severity Piece(s) missing: -2 Extra piece in box that doesn't belong: -1 Bonus item in box such as certificate, toy, puzzle glue, etc: +1 to +2

3 IDEAL: Pieces are as thick, dense, and smoothly edged as Ravensburger. (We use Ravensburger for our standard since it's widely known and accepted as a thick quality brand) PUZZLE THICKNESS Thinner than Ravensburger: -1 to -2 based on severity -1 Pieces are too thin/flimsy for assembly to be enjoyable: -3 Cardboard of the piece feels loosely packed and there's fraying on the edges: -1 to -2 Pieces are thicker than Ravensburger and as dense and cleanly cut: +1 to +2 IDEAL: Puzzle has a creative, non-grid cut with lots of variety in the shapes. Pieces are a good size to handle (Ravensburger size or larger). PIECE SIZE AND SHAPE Pieces are smaller than Ravensburger: -1 to -3 based on severity Pieces are oversized and feel clunky or take up too much space: -1 to -2 Puzzle has a standard grid cut: -1 to -3 based on variety of piece shapes in grid Too little variety in piece shapes to enjoy assembly: -3 Some pieces are too small or have points so thin they're easily damaged: -1 to -2 Special piece shapes (bell, Christmas tree, etc): +1 to +2 BONUS POINT: Something unusual in the cut that makes assembly particularly challenging or fun: +1 FINAL SCORE: 10 IDEAL: Puzzle has a snug fit that feels good when you place a piece. There's no confusion over whether a piece goes somewhere or not. You can move small groups of pieces without them falling apart. Finished puzzle is flat and relatively seamless so you can see the artwork instead of cut lines. PIECE FIT Moving small groups of pieces without them falling apart requires great care or is impossible: -1 to -2 based on severity -1 A piece may appear to fit where it doesn't really go: -1 to -3 Final finish on puzzle isn't smooth and seamless: -1 to -2-1 Piece(s) fit so loosely or badly that you're unsure if it really goes there: -1 to -2 Can lift completed puzzle without glue: +1 Special/patented 'fit' that's noticable and satisfying: +1 FINAL SCORE: 8

4 IDEAL: Colors are beautiful and bright, darks are not too dark, lines and details are sharp, and high-res (never blurry). The edges of the puzzle images are precise and match box image. The finish on the pieces is not too glossy (reflective) and feels good to the touch IMAGE REPRODUCTION & PIECE FINISH Glossy surface gets reflective glare under light: -1 to -2 based on severity -1 Finish on pieces feels or looks unappealing: -1 to -2 Image is fuzzy in places and not as crisp as it should be: -1 to -3 Colors are muddy and/or less appealing than box image: -1 to -3 Darks get too dark and/or all dark shapes look alike: -1 to -3 Edges of puzzle image feel 'off', slanted, and/or don't match the box: -1 to -2 Finish on puzzle pieces is unusually appealing: +1 BONUS POINT: Something unusually cool in image repro like gold foil, neon, change in texture, super high-def, or other: +1 to +2 IDEAL: The brand releases a good number of new puzzles on a regular basis, puzzle images represent 'best of genre' and feel fresh and attractive. Brand offers 3 or more categories of puzzles. Brand offers 'new ideas' in puzzle market. IMAGE VARIETY AND ARTISTS New puzzles released inconsistently and/or catalog is small: -1 to -2 based on severity Brand only has a few types of puzzle (less than 3 unique categories): -1 Images in catalogue are commonly licensed and previously released: -1 to -2 Image feel old-fashioned and/or 'dime a dozen' in genre: -1 to -3 The reviewer (subjective) would order few to none of the puzzles from this brand's current catalog: -1 to -3 Brand offers 'best of industry' in a specific category: +1 to +2 1 Brand commissions original images specifically made for puzzles: +1 to +2 1 Brand offers 'puzzle plus' concepts like Find the Differences, Wasgij, Where's Waldo, mystery puzzles, mazes, etc: +1 to +2 The reviewer (subjective) would order 10+ puzzles from this brand's current catalog: +1 to +2 Brand has 1 or more great artists that aren't published elsewhere in puzzles: +1 to +2 FINAL SCORE: 12 FINAL SCORE 62

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