Mandala Delight – Page Publications – 500 pieces

I pride myself on not making snap judgements about a brand after only working one of their puzzles. That ends now. Sssssnap! This brand is TERRIBLE, please do not waste any of your precious puzzle budget on any Page Publications puzzles.

Trying new brands always gets me excited, in the back of my brain I’m always hoping for a great quality puzzle that would add to the list of brands I can confidently buy any puzzle from. This was such a colossal disappointment – there aren’t enough words in the English language to tell you exactly how much.

Let me list the problems….

• Extremely thin pieces
• Flimsy chipboard that is easily bent and split
• Fuzzy backing with a ton of puzzle dust
• Too shiny finish that creates glare
• No variety in shape at all, every piece fits everywhere
• Horrid, extremely loose and spongy fit – even worse than Norman Rockwell
• Doesn’t lay flat -not even close

My regular readers know that I normally try to find something positive about every puzzle. That just isn’t possible with this one; there’s nothing here that’s good in my opinion.

There have been quite a few new brands pop up in the last two years to take advantage of the increased demand for puzzles during the pandemic. This one is new, and from the looks of the puzzle I just assembled Page Publications doesn’t seem to be at all concerned about the quality of their product.

Look at how this puzzle lays; the fit is so bad that the pieces don’t really connect and lay flat together. Absolutely atrocious.

As with the Norman Rockwell puzzle, I got a bee in my bonnet about finishing this even with the ghastly quality. Perhaps it’s because I knew I would be giving it an awful review, and wanted to show you a finished puzzle. Perhaps it’s because Stacey is stubborn as a mule. Mostly, it’s just because my weird brain is in charge; sometimes I have to finish and I’m not sure why.

Please, if you love jigsaw puzzles do NOT purchase any of this brand. Ever. If you come across people handing out free Page Publications puzzles – eyes forward and keep walking, while chanting LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR CRAPPY PUZZLES!

We deserve better. So much better.

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Details:

• Title:                  Mandala Delight
• Artist:                Unknown
• Brand:               Page Publications
• Piece count:     500 pieces
• Size:                  Approx. 20 x 25 in. (51 x 64 cm)
• Purchased:      New

Quality:

• Board:               Poor
• Cutting:             Poor
• Image:               Fair
• Box:                   Average
• Fit:                     Poor
• Puzzle Dust:     Large amount
• Piece cut:          Grid cut
• Piece shapes:   No variety, pieces fit everywhere
• Finish:               Shiny finish, does not lay flat

Overall Rating:      Very poor quality, not recommended