I purchased the phone because my daughter loves the laugh and learn house. She plays with it all the time. I had read the reviews before hand and couldn't understand why some people said the volume was bad. Now I know why. In the store it worked great. Once I took the tab off the sound dropped severly. Yes, I did change the batteries but that did not change anything. I am a mom of 3. If I had this for my first child when my house was quieter it probably would have been great. Three children does not make this toy great to play with amongst other people, very hard to understand. I have three other phones all with volume controls-- I understand when I put it to my ear its okay but most children don't put it their ear.