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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this father shouldn't get a free Xbox One for making a mistake?

157 replies

Topaz25 · 10/12/2013 13:36

"A teenager who was scammed into buying a photo of an Xbox One on eBay for £450 has been given the real thing by an electronics store.

Peter Clatworthy, 19, was planning to surprise his four-year-old son with the newly released Microsoft console but received a picture of one instead.

The teenager, from Bilborough, Nottinghamshire, was given a full refund by eBay but still lamented that Christmas wasn’t going to be Christmas without an Xbox One.

But now a CEX outlet in Nottingham has stepped in and gifted him the video games system, which is sold out in the UK."
metro.co.uk/2013/12/09/teenager-scammed-into-buying-450-photo-of-xbox-one-on-ebay-gets-given-real-one-for-free-4223279/

OK, so he was scammed but the listing did say it was for a photo and he received a full refund from eBay. I think that's where this story should have ended. It's gone too far now. He shouldn't be rewarded for making a mistake and a four year old doesn't need an Xbox One! If CEX wanted publicity, they could have donated the console to a charity.

AIBU to think he shouldn't get a free Xbox One for making a mistake and he was trying it on by saying Christmas was ruined because he couldn't get a games console for himself for his four-year-old son?

OP posts:
Mabelface · 10/12/2013 13:38

It's more newsworthy for CEX than a charitable donation though.

NotYoMomma · 10/12/2013 13:39

dont be so bloody miserable.

it was nice of them as it was sold out,
they get some publicity
the father and son will be grateful.

admit if it was you you would be delighted that someone did that for you

cantheyseeme · 10/12/2013 13:39

Haha just good publicity for CEX really, hes an idiot tbf but the shocking thing of the story.... he is 19 with a 4 year old Hmm

sutekidane · 10/12/2013 13:41

I think it's a nice gesture. If the console is sold out, his refunded money isn't going to get him one in time for Christmas. It's all for publicity anyway though. CEX will get more attention for this than a donation.

Original poster
Topaz25 · 10/12/2013 13:41

If it was me I would be annoyed at the scammer, annoyed at myself for not reading the listing properly and delighted to receive a refund from eBay. I wouldn't go to the papers with a sob story about how Christmas was ruined because I couldn't get a console.

OP posts:
RedLondonBus · 10/12/2013 13:41

its also raising awareness of the dodginess of ebay

you sound bitter op!

sparklysilversequins · 10/12/2013 13:42

Yes right, he's 19 and that X Box is definitely for his four year old isn't it? What a load of bollocks.

MmeCinqAnneauxDor · 10/12/2013 13:43

I agree with canyouseeme. Good publicity for CEX and I was a bit shocked at him already having a 4yr old at his age.

The Xbox isn't for the 4yr old. It is for daddy, who isn't quite a grown up yet.

LambinsideaDuckinsideaTrout · 10/12/2013 13:44

Did you want to get an xbox one or ps4 for your household for xmas but can't seem to find one or what? I agree you sound a little bitter...

thatstoast · 10/12/2013 13:46

I hope they throw in a copy Grand Theft Auto 5. That's what all Nineteen four year olds want for Christmas.

JingleMyBells · 10/12/2013 13:46

What has this got to do with you OP? Are you annoyed because you want one and they are sold out. I can't see how this affects you in any way.

ZombieMojaveWonderer · 10/12/2013 13:47

Haha 'it's for my 4 year old...honest' Wink
What a numpty though Smile
Nice of cex of course, my 6 year old needs an iPhone 5s....hmmmm Wink

Ifcatshadthumbs · 10/12/2013 13:47

Oh don't be so miserable. He didn't ask for a freebie and was obviously willing to pay full price when he bought one on eBay.

So what if he wants it for himself? Meh to all you joyless whiners!

HettiePetal · 10/12/2013 13:49

I thought Ebay/PayPal (not sure which) refunded him his money?

In the original articles they said they wouldn't tolerate this kind of thing on the site, and that they'd be refunding him and taking action against the seller.

So he gets his money back & another Xbox?

Not that it matters - whoever it was for, that was a particularly nasty scam. I'd have been devastated if it had happened to me.

This does remind me of a Judge Judy ep where someone tried exactly the same thing:

Ifcatshadthumbs · 10/12/2013 13:50

Of course he's not all grown up yet but he's 19 with a 4 year old son.

There's plenty of posters on here complaining about their middle age man child who sits on his arse all day.

ZillionChocolate · 10/12/2013 13:53

Could someone please sell me a photo with a yacht parked up at a private Caribbean island please?

WorraLiberty · 10/12/2013 13:53

God how miserable.

I think it's great what CEX did and good luck to the guy.

As for a four year old not needing an XBox one...most four year olds wont actually need half the stuff they'll be bought for Christmas.

Humbug!

HECTheHeraldAngelsSing · 10/12/2013 13:54

Well, it retails for £450 but it costs the shop less than that, so they've managed to get loads of free positive pr just before christmas for a few hundred quid.

They haven't given him the console out of the goodness of their hearts Grin

And yes, he was a plank. But what the hell? He's benefiting, the shop is benefiting and nobody else is suffering any sort of a financial loss as a result of it, so what's the harm?

Some people are not particularly literate. I haven't seen the ad in question, but perhaps it was misleadingly worded. If ebay gave him his money back, they must surely have felt that it was put in such a way as to be intended to create confusion if your literacy skills are not as good as they could be?

It's certainly going to cost this bloke dear, because if I know people (and I do) he will be mocked mercilessly and he will get all manner of bile spewed at him from various keyboard warriors and a console won't be worth that!

Original poster
Topaz25 · 10/12/2013 13:55

Of course I'm bitter! He was just handed a console worth more than my rent, just for whining in a national paper that his kid's Christmas would be ruined without it. His materialism and sense of entitlement is sickening. He had got a full refund and was still throwing a wobbly like a four year old because he didn't get what he wanted for Christmas. This isn't about Christmas, it isn't about his son, it's about him and now he's got what he wants just for whinging about it. A great lesson to teach his son!

OP posts:
JinglingRexManningDay · 10/12/2013 13:56

Is it pronounced Kex or sex? (CEX)

Original poster
Topaz25 · 10/12/2013 13:57

It's pronounced sex, I once had to ring their helpline and had a giggle at that Blush

OP posts:
sutekidane · 10/12/2013 13:58

How do you even know he actually carried on whinging? He might have been happy with his refund but the CEX shop thought "heeey we're in here!", donated the box and the article was written to make it sound as interesting as possible. PR spin and all that. Wouldn't sound as good if they said "Peter was so happy to get his money back in time for Christmas. Ooh bonus! He got an XBox for free too yay for him!".

Panzee · 10/12/2013 13:58

It's true though, innit? The squeaky wheel...

Heartbrokenmum73 · 10/12/2013 13:58

Also loving the 19 year-old 4 year-old getting an X Box One for Christmas! Totally appropriate present for a small child - I mean, just look at the big games on that console - COD, GTAV, etc. Just what every self-respecting 4 year-old is into these days Grin

Think that bloke's done rather well out of this in the end.

LuciusMalfoyisSmokingHot · 10/12/2013 13:59

Why get one from ebay, he shoulda just pre ordered it, now hes up on the deal, and say its for his 4 yr old, kid probably wont even get near it as daddy will be on it all the time.