A couple weeks ago, we bundled up in our winter gear, piled into our car, and headed up for a day in the Big Apple to see what’s new on the puzzles, games, and plush horizons.

The New York Toy Fair is always exciting, and this year was no different!
 
TF11 treated us to amazing Lego sculptures:

Mega Blocks creations:

giant flexible balance beams:

TV-screen backpacks:

life-like bobblehead dolls:

and the "world’s largest puzzle":

a 32,000 piece jigsaw!

We’re happy to have discovered several awesome games and new jigsaw puzzle lines which we’re anxious to add to our websites in the coming weeks and months. Make sure to check back often, we’ll be featuring our newest items on the front page of SeriousPuzzles.com!

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

~Native American Proverb

 

 

We’re all trying to be more kind to the earth – and for good reason: when we leave this earth to our children, we want our earth to be as beautiful – or even more beautiful – than when we were children.  To this end, many companies are taking a greener approach to their manufacturing processes than ever before.  We at SeriousPuzzles.com are happy to announce that even your favorite pastime – puzzling – can be more earth-friendly!  We proudly carry several brands of eco-friendly puzzles:

 

 

1) ImagiPLAY

 

Naturally Safe…
Thoughtfully Produced…
Thoroughly Fun…
Toys With Integrity

 ImagiPLAY wooden puzzles are earth friendly and child safe. Made from plantation-grown, sustainably harvested, chemical-free rubberwood, these unique wooden puzzles are hand-painted with safety-tested paints & stains. Each puzzle is heirloom quality, and makes a beautiful, distinctive, and earth-friendly gift.

Majestic Oak – 9 Piece Eco-Friendly Wooden Puzzle

 

 

2) TDC Games

 

Green Pieces collection by TDC

 

TDC’s Green Pieces collection is a series of four 500 piece photomosaic jigsaw puzzles that are embedded with actual wildflower seeds! When you are finished with your puzzle, instead of throwing it away, you can actually PLANT the puzzle pieces to offset your carbon footprint!  TDC’s jigsaw puzzles’ board and packaging is made from 100% recycled paper, printed with 100% soy-based inks, and does not come wrapped in plastic. These awesome earth-friendly puzzles are made right here in the United States!

Green Pieces: I Need A Hug – 500 Piece Earth Friendly Photomosaic Jigsaw Puzzle

 

 

"Eco-Friendly" Collection by TDC

 

TDC’s 1000 piece Eco-Friendly puzzle collection features 8 poster-sized puzzles with original artwork from artists like Dale Klee and Linda Picken. Each jigsaw puzzle is made from recycled, renewable, biodegradable materials, and soy-based inks, and are printed and manufactured in the USA!

Linda Carruth’s Jungle Dew – 1,000 Piece Eco-Friendly Jigsaw Puzzle

 

 

3) Serendipity Puzzle Company 

 

 

ALL of Serendipity Puzzle Company’s jigsaw puzzles are made from 100% recycled material with 80-93% post-consumer content. Serendipity uses Forest Stewardship Council certified paper, ensuring it comes from professionally managed forests. In the printing process, water-based coatings and soy-based ink are used. In addition, Serendipity has reduced its packaging by 33%, their puzzles are easily recyclable, and are made in the U.S.A.

Frog Business - 1000pc Shaped Jigsaw Puzzle by Serendipity Puzzle Company

4) Buffalo Games

 

Each jigsaw puzzle made by Buffalo Games uses 100% recycled paperboard with 90% post-consumer content for both the box and the jigsaw puzzle itself. BGI puzzles are recycleable, and are made in the U.S.A.

The Living Seas: Turtle Play - 1000pc Jigsaw Puzzle by Buffalo Games

 

 

Jigsaw Puzzle Missing Piece Guide

A complete step by step guide to obtaining that dastardly missing piece!
(last updated 9/30/2010)

If you have even a moderate amount of experience with jigsaw puzzles, you've probably encountered the horror of realizing that your beloved puzzle is nearly complete... all except for a MISSING PIECE! [noooooooooooo!]

Fear Not! -- Follow the instructions below and your chances of finding or replacing the culprit jigsaw puzzle piece will be quite good.


STEP 1 :: The Oh Duh's
It seems silly, but it's so easy to misplace or overlook a missing piece.

• Double, triple, and maybe even quadruple check your box to verify the missing piece isn't in there. It's possible the piece could be stuck in the flap or a corner. It could have happened during production, packaging, or transport.
  
  
• Do a thorough search of the room or any rooms that you have used for opening, constructing, glueing, transporting, storing, or even thinking about the jigsaw puzzle. Check under chairs, inside open garbage cans, between the rug & molding; don't be afraid to scour the surroundings for the missing piece.
  
  
• If you've vacuumed recently, check the vacuum bag or garbage can. If you have pets or small children, then your boundary for scanning and searching is far far wider!
  
  
• It could be a practical joke -- a tricky spouse or a child keen on finishing the puzzle may have absconded with the missing piece in the hopes of laying the final piece. Or, they could simply enjoy rendering you confounded on your hands and knees looking for a tiny piece of cardboard. Either way, don't rule out the possibilty of hijinks.
  
  
• And, lastly, make sure that all of the pieces you've placed so far belong where they are. It's very possible that a piece you've already placed may not actually go there. In that case, you're probably missing a different piece -- not much help here, but it will be important later if you're trying to get the right replacement piece.

STEP 2 :: Catch your breath, and start to accept the possibility that it's... GONE...
So you've looked high and low, here and there, in and out, and you've come up with squat. Don't lose hope, there are several avenues left to locate a replacement piece for your puzzle.

If you believe you've lost a jigsaw puzzle piece and it can't be found, or that your puzzle is defective and the missing piece was never there (quite rare, actually, due to the jigsaw puzzle production process and stringent manufacturer standards, but it does sometimes happen) -- then your best course of action is to contact the manufacturer to see about a replacement piece. This is best for most folks because you've already constructed the puzzle and you know which piece you need. Many popular jigsaw puzzle manufacturers have anticipated that you may need a replacement piece and have therefore created programs to replace individual pieces.

There are some caveats, however. Depending on the manufacturer and the specific puzzle design, it's possible that multiple cutting dies were used to produce the same puzzle design, so, it's possible that pieces from same design will not actually fit your puzzle. Manufacturers often replace or rotate cutting dies for reasons such as service, sharpening, or production availability. If this is the case, you still have some options, though. For example, may just replace your entire puzzle.

Before you continue, determine the following:

Who is the manufacturer of your jigsaw puzzle? (Just check the box.)

Which piece is missing?
On most standard jigsaw puzzles you can simply count from the top, and obtain the the number of rows to your missing piece. Then, count from the left to get the number of columns to your missing piece. You will probably need these coordinates to indicate exactly which piece is missing.

Now, find your manufacturer below in the list and follow the instructions provided:

Manufacturer	What to do...
BriarPatch	Phone: 800-232-7427 Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
Buffalo Games	For a defective puzzle* or missing puzzle pieces, follow the instructions below:    1.Cut out UPC code from the box    2.Include one of the puzzle pieces    3.Write the description of the problem on a piece of paper    4.Include your return address    5.Mail to:       Buffalo Games       220 James E. Casey Drive       Buffalo, NY 14206 (Allow 6 to 8 weeks for processing) It's possible they will not ship you back just one piece but will instead issue a replacement of the whole puzzle or a voucher for a free puzzle. *If your puzzle is obviously defective, miscut, or doesn't match the box, AND you purchased your puzzle from SeriousPuzzles.com, contact us and we'll be happy to replace your item directly.
Castorland	Web: goto www.castorland.pl Email: click here to send an email Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
Ceaco	For a defective puzzle* or missing puzzle pieces, follow the instructions below:    1.Write your name, complete shipping address, phone # and email address on a plain piece of paper. Also include the puzzle name and item number (found on the side of the box) and include a brief description of the problem.    2.Cut the UPC code from the box.    3.Place the UPC code and info from step 1 in an envelope.    4.Mail to: CEACO Quality Control C/O Edaron, Inc 100 Appleton St. Holyoke, MA 01040 (Allow 6 to 8 weeks for processing) They will usually send you a replacement puzzle but if that puzzle is no longer available, they will send you another product of equal value and size. *If your puzzle is obviously defective, miscut, or doesn't match the box, AND you purchased your puzzle from SeriousPuzzles.com, contact us and we'll be happy to replace your item directly.
Clementoni	Web: www.clementoni.com Email: click here to send an email Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
Cobble Hill	Phone: 250-592-7374 Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
CultureNik	Phone: 877-568-7257 Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
Educa	Online Piece Replacment Program: Click here to submit a lost piece request.
FX Schmid	See Ravensburger
Great American Puzzle Factory	Online Form For Replacment Parts: Click here to submit a lost piece request.
Geo Puzzle	Phone: 920-475-2002 Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
Masterpieces	Phone: 520-741-1315 Web: www.masterpiecesinc.com Email: click here to send an email Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
Melissa & Doug	Phone: 800-718-5365 Web: www.melissaanddoug.com Email: click here to send an email Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
New York Puzzle Company	Phone: 580-789-9535 Email: click here to send an email Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
Piatnik	Phone: 877-303-1684 Email: click here to send an email Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
Ravensburger	Online Customer Service Form: Click here to submit an inquiry. Phone: 800-886-1236 Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
Ricordi	Email: click here to send an email Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece. This email address is specifically for missing pieces.
Serendipity	Online Customer Service Form: Click here, to submit an inquiry. Phone: 866-270-0552 Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
Springbok	Phone: 816-241-8881 Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
Sunsout	Phone: 866-352-7300 Email: click here to send an email Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece. This email address is specifically for missing pieces.
TDC	Phone: 800-292-7676 Email: click here to send an email Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.
White Mountain	Phone: 800-548-8009 ext. 19 Email: click here to send an email Inquire about obtaining a replacement piece.

STEP 3 :: For SeriousPuzzles.com Customers
If you're having difficulty communicating with a manufacturers or getting a satisfactory solution to your issue in either Step 1 or Step 2, AND you placed your original order for the item with SeriousPuzzles.com, then you may contact us and we will try to provide a proper solution or assist you with replacing the missing piece.

Please be prepared with your order # so that we can locate your order in our system.


STEP 4 :: A not-too-shabby last resort
You're at the end of the line, and there's still a fairly reasonable solution! You can order missing jigsaw puzzle pieces from The Jigsaw Puzzle Doctor^TM. It's a paid service that will actually construct your missing piece! Their prices are extremely reasonable considering how cool the service is. For as little as $9 USD, plus s&h, they'll make your missing piece and send it to you - how neat is that?! [SeriousPuzzles.com is not affiliated with the Jigsaw Doctor]

We’re excited to announce that we have created a paper Serious Puzzles catalog!

Just in time for the holidays, it features a selection of our most favorite brain teasers, jigsaw puzzles, 3D puzzles, puzzle boxes, and more! 

 

 

You can view the catalog online (though ALL of our puzzles are always available for browsing & purchase right at SeriousPuzzles.com).

Or, if you’d prefer to receive your very own glossy copy, just shoot us an email at info@seriousshops.com

Make sure to include your mailing address!  :)

Adam, Dan, and I headed up the NJ Turnpike for an exciting trip to New York City to visit the New York Toy Fair being held in the Javits Center in Manhattan. This was Serious Shops' third year (and best yet!) visiting NYTF.

  

NYTF is a fantastic place to meet up with some of our current vendors, find new products and toymakers, and even catch an early glimpse of the next big thing in the toy world. Of course bringing home toy samples for the kids (and ourselves, of course) is a major plus!

 

The highlight this year had to be getting my photo taken with Robert Pattinson - you know, Edward Cullen from Twilight? 

 

Okay, it was just a cardboard cutout, but cool, nonetheless, right?!

 

We visited the amazing Lego display:

 

Best item of the show had to be the prototype of the soon-to-be released Rubik’s Slide puzzle on which we’ve spent the last few days mastering the easy level. 

 

I’m sure it will be a big hit this holiday season! Great brain teaser!

We collected catalogs, tested out puzzles, watched a skateboard demo, shook plenty of hands, walked what felt like miles of aisles, ate super-expensive mediocre food, saw some really unique toys, puzzles, & games, and overall had a really fun, productive time!

Next up: choosing which products to add to our line-up this year.  Stay tuned for new additions like Heye and EuroGraphics jigsaw puzzles!  I’m already looking forward to next year.  

We’re in the midst of our busiest season & so excited to be here!

Our extended hours are en force, holiday decorations are up, and everyone is in good spirits. The warehouse crew is super busy packing & shipping… just a few short weeks left until Christmas! 

 

We took some photos on Monday of this week - enjoy!

 

SeriousShops.com front office:

 

Monday's outgoing packages:

 

Monday's afternoon warehouse crew (nice job guys!):



SeriousShops.com holiday season outgoing packages in 2003!
(Why yes, that was our garage, and yes, we have grown!):

When the Plasma Car arrived here at Serious Shops, we felt the need to actively test it out before offering it for sale.

 

This was of course, solely to be certain our customers would be happy with their purchase.  Okay, who am I kidding? We couldn’t resist racing a futuristic looking muscle-powered scootmobile around the warehouse!  We don’t think you’ll be able to resist either… one ride on the Plasma Car, and you’ll be hooked!

 

We all gave it a good number of tries out in the warehouse – from the smallest weighing in around 40 lbs to the biggest weighing in around 180 lbs. Adam currently holds the record for fastest trip around the warehouse at 26.2 seconds!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The best part of the Plasma Car is the adaptability to different riders.  Little to big can ride; no matter how short (or long!) your legs are – with no adjustment required.  The Plasma Car holds up to 200 lbs; so Mom, Dad, and kids can enjoy – you just need to be able to turn the wheel! The ride is smooth and super-easy to control – just lean to turn & put your feet down to stop!  Exercise has never been this fun!

 

It’s cooler than a big wheel, safer than a scooter, and more fun than both combined! We’re sure you’ll love it as much as we do!

Welcome to October at Serious Shops!  I’ve finished decorating around the office to welcome Autumn:

 

    

We’re all so excited to be moving into the 4^th quarter - you can really feel it around here. The weather is cool, the air is crisp, and everyone is busy!

 

My friend tells me she’s just made the switch from iced lattes to hot. Now, while I still drink mine iced every morning, the sentiment is understood: Fall is finally here & it’s Fantastic!

 

Aside from my decorating, here are a few more exciting seasonal things at Serious Shops:

 

Fall Garden Flags

Pumpkin Spiced & Maple Vanilla Lattes

Halloween Stuffed Animals

 

Today, we're making good on our new shoe subsidy program. We're paying warehouse workers up to $40 for any eligible shoes they've bought in the last 30 days and until 9/18/2009.

A lot of other industrial companies and safety minded firms are using similar programs to incentivize safety or to provide a nice perk to folks who are putting a lot of wear and tear on their shoes. Healthy feet are productive feet! We're not the first ones to try this program out, in fact, you could say we're following in the foot steps of other shoe subsidy programs (har har).

 

For a great place to pick up your shoes, try: http://www.zappos.com 

They sport free shipping, free returns, and excellent customer service. 

Not to mention they are run by one of my favorite business people - Tony Hseih

And, now for my obligatory goofy image that is sort of related to the post :)  
It's a picture of Shoe Money, of course!

 

Disentanglement puzzles, aka disentanglements, are the brain teaser puzzles that usually require the removal / extrication of a ring or long oval piece (known as a shuttle). These puzzles will often employ chains or ropes for complexity and/or aestetics. These types of puzzles have a long, long history dating back at least hundreds of years.

 

In general, these puzzles, at first glance, will appear to be unsolvable without force. However, upon closer inspection there are "weaknesses" to be discovered in the design. There are design weaknesses of many kinds, but some of the more common can be described as "loose" joints, "suspicious" gaps, or "pull-overs". The more difficult disentanglement puzzles could require the exploitation of more than one of these weaknesses in concert to reach the solution. In fact, some of the more challenging disentanglement puzzles even use recursive procedures to arrive at the solution (like Patience Puzzle, a super classic, http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/patiencepuzzle.html)

 

ex. of the "Pull-Over" weakness
http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/conestogas.html

ex. of the "Loose" joint weakness
http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/iron.html

ex. of the "Suspicious" gap weakness
http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/ring.html

 

IMHO, the best disentanglement puzzles are the intersection of visual simplicity and obscurity of weakness. They may not be considered the most challenging puzzles. They look strong, sturdy, and simple. Their weakness is difficult to describe, uncommon, and hard to "see". Here are some of my favorites:

http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/satansstirrup.html

http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/wiseguy.html

http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/rope.html

 

And of course, who can forget the Classic Horseshoe Puzzle...For sale at http://www.seriouspuzzles.com/luchorshoes.html

This puzzle still mesmerizes me. It uses a slip and twist motion only made possible by the links between the horseshoe. With the ring nearly in stand still while the horseshoes twist and slip between it, the horseshoes are suddenly side by side and the ring ready to slip off!

 

SPOILER Alert -- solution for Lucky Horseshoes here:
For a slow mo video, check this out.

Horse Shoe Puzzle Secret Explanation How To Solve It