We have the standard Scrabble set. But when I played with an old (1980s?) Deluxe Edition Scrabble with raised grids and swivel board, I immediately ordered a Deluxe Edition for myself. But I am greatly disappointed by this new Deluxe Edition.
This item in general is of cheaper make than the older Deluxe Edition. The grids are shallow, so the tiles are not securely anchored in each slot--a major reason for my purchase. The turntable as well as the tile holders are flimsy, made of cheap plastic. (If you use the pedestal for the turntable, your board will rise about 4 to 5 inches above your table!) For [money amount], one'd think that MB would be able to maintain the quality of this classic game, if not improving upon the older version.
That being said, this version still will perform better than the standard edition. So if you want a brand new Scrabble game, this is definitely the one to get. And, if you play on the floor a lot, maybe you actually will like the high-platform game board. On the other hand, if you want a Deluxe Edition because an older set impressed you at some point, this is NOT the one.
One can get the older Deluxe Edition on eBay.
I purchased this game believing it was very similar if not the same as the 80's version; it is not even close... I then returned the game rather than deal with its inferior quality...I later wrote the following to the manufactures.
"I purchased a Deluxe Scrabble game and later returned it when i found the tiles tend to slide along the playing board as the grid is not raised high enough to prevent this from occuring.Additionally the board is much harder to read than the previous deluxe version as the newer editions writing seems dull when compared to the older version.Basicly the operation, look and feel of the new deluxe game seems significantly lower in quality.What year did you start producing these newer (cheaper) versions of the deluxe game?I would like to find an older one perhaps on the used market because this one is just way too cheap.Too bad product development had to change what was once a very good product.Incidently, I noticed this evening that I am not the only person who has complained in writing. The Amazon.com reviews of this game overwhelmingly portray the same story; wish i had read them before i made the purchase.Hopefully someone will recognize this at MB/Hasbro and return the game to its older form or sell the rights to another manufacturer with a greater comitment to product quality..."
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Within 6 months of purchase, the letter distribution strips have become unreadable.The wood tiles are of poor quality, very rough, and the paint on the letters is almost gone on many of the tiles.We have therefore retrieved the tiles from our older "non-deluxe" edition in order to be able to play with readable tiles which feel smooth to the touch.This is extremely disappointing since we paid top dollar for the "best" that Parker Bros. offers in this game.We play in tournaments and are members of the National Scrabble Association, so we expected much better quality.
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It's embarassing that the flagship Scrabble product in the US has been cheapened so much.
Pros:
* turntable feels better than ever
* tiles & racks are decent
Cons:
* board is paper-textured grid prone to getting dirty (permanently)
* printing on board is dull and difficult to read in lower light conditions
* tiles do not stay put
* board surface feels flimsy and cheap
I've owned a Selchow & Righter deluxe board for over 25 years, and it is nearly in mint condition after more than 1000 games played.With it's brightly printed and easy to read special squares sealed beneath the hard plastic grid which firmly anchors the tiles in place, it simply puts the latest cheap product from MB to shame (which I've used at my local Scrabble club).
If at all possible, pick up an old turntable edition at a garage sale -you'll be happier, it will last far longer, and it will cost less.And if you play frequently, buy a set of Protiles (or some similar after market tile set).
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Like many others here, I couldn't be more enthusiastic about the game of scrabble, but this product is dreck. The primary reason to get the deluxe version is the board, which has slots to hold the tiles in place, and a rotating base, so each player can see the board right-side up during their turn. Previous deluxe versions, including the 50th anniversary version, had boards covered with sturdy, clear, molded hard plastic. Instead, this one is some sort of pressed soft plastic abomination; it looks and feels cheap, but worst of all, it barely holds the tiles in place. On first play, my partner and I were constantly knocking tiles out of place, which simply does not happen on the earlier, clearly superior boards. Hasbro should be ashamed, diminishing the quality of this classic to eek out a few extra pennies a game. Why can't corporations leave good products alone?
If you are looking for something truly deluxe, search ebay for the 50th anniversary version or earlier deluxe versions and forget this new one.
We bought this as a gift for our 7 year old son's birthday. What I really like about this set was the instruction video that is included. He learned how to do the tricks without much assistance(no "Mom can you help me" or "Mom I don't understand how to do this"). He has had lots of fun with this set and has played with it many times since his birthday. The tricks are simple, but so cool to him. I would definitely recommend this set for children. This isn't one of those toys that will be played with once and then forgotten.
