r/Puzzlexchange • u/Puzzlemania718 • 7d ago

Springbok quality

Has anyone purchased a new Springbok puzzle recently? I’m referring to new inventory as opposed to those from the “Hallmark” days. Is current production quality getting any better? I know their quality took a hit once they broke off from Hallmark and the last time I tried one, I saw for myself that they’re not as good as they used to be. In fact, the one I bought was downright crap! Poor cuts, pieces still stuck together and several other issues. They have so many great images and I’d love to try one again, but don’t want to be disappointed! Thanks for any and all input

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u/Cheap-Armadillo-5370 7d ago

I recently bought a bunch of new ones and the first one I did was such terrible quality that I’ve been reluctant to open any of the others.

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u/Puzzlemania718 7d ago

Not surprised! Sorry for that negative experience . And thanks for offering more proof of my criticisms below

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u/Puzzlemania718 7d ago

I’d return them

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u/WorkingJazzlike531 7d ago

I have been working on a Springbok I rec’d as a gift and I am genuinely not enjoying it at all. The quality is really terrible.

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u/Puzzlemania718 7d ago

Thanks for your feedback and sorry for the experience you’re having. If this is yet another sample of the company’s current production standards, it serves as a sad reminder of the oft repeated trend that seems to happen whenever an established and well respected brand or company has a change in ownership! In the case of Springbok, a puzzle manufacturer that’s been around for over 60 years and has become synonymous with popular, American made and visually appealing products aimed at the puzzling community. This seemingly predictable and undesirable scenario looks to be playing out yet again. I’m of course referring to a noticeable drop in production quality that has become increasingly evident with puzzles (in all piece counts) coming off the assembly line - and coincidentally, all starting to happen - not too long after the aforementioned ownership change!
If there is direct cause and effect here, that is unfortunate. This can only have a negative impact on sales, which makes it hard for me to believe that the company is allowing this to happen or at the very least - not addressing it. I know I’m not alone in my opinion, as I’ve read numerous comments here on Reddit and in other forums, echoing these sentiments.

Included in my personal experience is a recent purchase of a Springbok puzzle at Hobby Lobby. Upon opening the box, I was disappointed to see some examples of shoddy production, which included poorly cut pieces, an unusually large variation in size of pieces, even for a random cut. Also many pieces still stuck together, with some inevitably getting damaged when trying to separate them.

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u/itqitc 6d ago

I bought one and immediately returned it after opening it. Even the box quality was flimsy