DS dilemma
By Humbug25
@Humbug25 (12540)
November 24, 2008 12:58pm CST
So, my aunty sends my sons this crocodile that expands in water. I put the small crocodile in a bucket of water but every time one of my sons put their hand in the bucket the water comes over the rim and onto the floor so I put it in the bath. A few weeks later my friend and her daughter come around to visit. As my eldest son had told her about the growing croc she goes up to the bathroom to take a look for herself. Meanwhile my middle son is playing on her DS but gets stuck on how to do something so he goes to the bathroom to ask her what he should do. Youngest son goes into the bathroom to see what all the fuss is about, does a Power Ranger move on his older brother, up in the air goes the DS and yes you guessed it, straight into the bucket. So the DS no longer works. You couldn't write this stuff could you? 
I even left it in my airng cupboard for a week in the hope it would dry out and then work but no such luck. My friend had mentioned to me before that she was going to buy her daughter a new one as the one she's got has got a scratched screen. On a couple of occassions my friend told me that she was really annoyed by what happened (hint hint).
So what would you do? Would you offer her some money towards the new one and if so how much? Would you think, oh well she was going to buy a new one anyway and think no more about it?
I even left it in my airng cupboard for a week in the hope it would dry out and then work but no such luck. My friend had mentioned to me before that she was going to buy her daughter a new one as the one she's got has got a scratched screen. On a couple of occassions my friend told me that she was really annoyed by what happened (hint hint).
So what would you do? Would you offer her some money towards the new one and if so how much? Would you think, oh well she was going to buy a new one anyway and think no more about it?11 responses
@scarletwitch12 (562)
• Philippines
25 Nov 08
Well it was an accident. You really shouldn't feel guilty about it. Anyway she already said she was gonna get a new one anyway!
1 person likes this
@amanda333 (739)
• France
25 Nov 08
Oh dear, I think i would offer half the money...good luck
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
24 Nov 08
Since you already know that she was going to get a new one, and had mentioned it to you before, you could say "I know that you were going to get a new DS because of the scratched screen, but I'd like to offer you some money to go towards that since my sons have now left you no choice." She may say "no thanks" in which case, you tried. Or she may take you up on it. But she shouldn't expect you to pay for all of it. She knows that you are aware that she was planning on buying one anyway.
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@Humbug25 (12540)
•
24 Nov 08
Hey there rocketj1
Well I did offer her some money and she all but bit my hand off!! If it was me I wouldn't have taken the offer as we ar friends and accidents happen. Her daughter once took a chunk out of a large foam finger that one of sons got as a souvenir at some wrestling thing but I didn't make a big deal of it. I know it is the same as a DS but this was done with intent but the DS was definately a mishap!
Thanks for your response 
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
24 Nov 08
I would sell it on ebay as is for parts and use that money to get a new one. I did that last year with my sons and got $55. I put that towards the purchase of a new one. Of course his was dropped and wouldn't turn on for some reason.
1 person likes this
@katrhina23 (1282)
• United States
25 Nov 08
I agree with this. this would be a great idea. atleast you can have some money out of it.
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
28 Nov 08
I would offer her money to cover for the DS expenses. Yes it was a very unfortunate accident. But these things do happen with young children. I guess that we are responsible for our children's actions. Even if that hurts our pockets sometimes. Instead of a DS it could have been another expensive item. We have to teach our children to be responsible for their actions. That includes diminishing their pocket money if necessary.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
25 Nov 08
Well that is just typical and the sort of thing that is just bound to happen at christmas time! If it was me I would offer my friend some money towards buying a new one, I would probably take it out of any money that my children had saved or any pocket money that they got until a suitable amount had been given!
1 person likes this
@MizzLadyB08 (1174)
• United States
26 Nov 08
I know times are hard but I would at least try to help with half of it if I could. A Nintendo DS is not cheap at all. I seen some for $129 and that is too much for me to afford. So, I would not forget about it even if she was going to buy her another one, I would just try to give her at least half of what it cost.
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@Humbug25 (12540)
•
24 Nov 08
Hi ya p1kef1sh
I did actually offer her £30 so she now only has to find £70 or so to get a new one for her daughters birthday in February. I actually had it in my hand to give her but she no I don't want it now give it to me nearer the time!! I asked her if it was enough and she said yes but I think it would have been hard for her to say no!!
Thanks for your response p1key
@tinkerick (1257)
• United States
24 Nov 08
Ugh I hate these kind of dilemnas. We've had a few - usually involving missing games. Which is why we banned taking games to the friend's house and vice versa for a while. Now, our child who was having that problem is older and more responsible so we've been allowing it again. Thankfully no further problems yet (knock on wood).
I would offer no more than half the money toward a new or used one. An accident is an accident, no one did it on purpose. I would also suggest they go to a place where those kinds of things are cheaper - like GameStop, Gamefly, or similar.
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
•
24 Nov 08
Hello tinkerick
I have actually got my eldest son a DS for Christmas/Birthday and I have got some very strict rules for him when he gets it, like his younger brothers are not allowed to paly on it at all and I think I am going to add that he is not to take it to his friends too!!
Thanks for responding
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
24 Nov 08
Whoopsy! I would most likely offer her some money to buy a new one, I'm not sure how much they cost though because I never bought a DS before, but my sister has one but I forgot how much she said it cost, but I would offer to give some money according to how much the DS cost I would give her a portion of what the DS cost so she can buy a new one I think that would be fair.
1 person likes this
@rlrsktskni (35)
• United States
25 Nov 08
Think of what you would expect if the situation was reversed. granted, she was planning on purchasing her child a new DS but perhaps she was thinking of selling the one with a scratched screen? she possibly could have gotten as much as half of the amount needed for the purchase of the new one. I would have offered her at least that. Maybe her reaction to the amount you offered her was shock that a friend would offer so little in this situation.
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
•
25 Nov 08
Hi there rlrsktskni
To be absolutely honest with you, as you have been so honest with me, if the situation was reversed I would have been annoyed but I wouldn't have expected her to put her hand in her pocket, it was a mistake after all.
Thanks for your response
@Autumnrose2008 (1478)
• United States
24 Nov 08
Well as it was a accident but still caused by your children I would think you would be responsible. At least for half of it since it was an accident. It does not matter that it was gonna be replaced the fact is that unfortunatly it was dropped in a bucket full of water. Well that's how I would handle it any way.
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