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Original poster

Bought the wrong Barbie Dreamhouse

134 replies

EJ72 · 27/11/2022 21:50

This is actually about a birthday present, but posted here for traffic.

Ok, this is going to sound mad but please be gentle with me.

DD turned 9 today. She’s a young 9, and we bought her the Barbie Dreamhouse, which she is delighted with. Never thought I’d buy such a big load of plastic, but I’ve realised she absolutely loves it and will definitely play with it so all good…

Except I’ve realised we’ve bought the wrong one. I’ve been horrendously busy with my teaching job all term (crazy stress), DH bought this a good couple of months ago on Amazon. I thought, ok that’s fine, job done, though why TF did I not do my own research, as tbh, can never trust DH to buy anything… and now I realise he has bought the 2020 model (only available on Amazon, nowhere else) and my DD has been showing me pics for a few weeks of the one she really wanted. It’s much MUCH nicer (not that I’ve admitted that to her). Just annoyed at myself for letting DH deal with this. He’s irritatingly only interested in getting a bargain and I failed to realise why this one was cheaper 😞

utterly first world problem

Please tell me a) to get over myself b) flog it (beautifully built today) on eBay / local forum and buy the other one (Smyths at £179.99 right now - pretty much what we paid for the old one). PS we don’t buy many things for my DD so it’s not like she’s used to being ‘spoiled’ with loads of stuff…this is the first time she’s been given something she was v keen on. I just feel I’ve messed up and feel sad for her. As she knows it’s not quite the nice one.

OP posts:
Tirrrrred · 28/11/2022 06:45

Having looked at the photos the one she wanted is more modern and has the pool and swinging chair. Could you buy her a pool?

Tirrrrred · 28/11/2022 06:46

Oh I see it does have a pool at the bottom of the slide.

Dinoteeth · 28/11/2022 07:32

Op I'd buy some extra accessories for it car / scooter for the garage.

See if you can get your hands on some astro turf to make a garden.

She's 9 it's likely to be out grown in a year - 18mths. Selling it on you'll be lucky to get £50 back on it.
You definitely can't give her the other one as a Christmas present that's essentially giving her the same gift twice.

Lovemusic33 · 28/11/2022 08:04

I think the people suggesting you sell it and get the other one are crazy. You said she’s happy with it and has been playing with it so I don’t see the issue. She’s got an amazing present and loves it, yes it’s not the exact one she wanted but that life. My niece (7) is getting the same house for Christmas, SIL couldn’t afford to buy the latest one so they have bought her the 2020 on 2nd hand. She will still love it despite it not being the latest one out.

Roselilly36 · 28/11/2022 08:09

What does your daughter think?

Runnerduck34 · 28/11/2022 08:19

If its unopened you can return it to amazon, do that and buy the right version

Runnerduck34 · 28/11/2022 08:22

Sorry just realised she's opened it and played with it.
I understand how you feel. You could ask her if she'd want the other for Xmas.
Or sell the one she has been given and get the right one.

Original poster
EJ72 · 28/11/2022 08:26

Thank you for all the messages. Yes, unfortunately, it is built, not unopened.

I was sad / amused to hear all your stories of presents not quite hitting the mark as children... the locket and the hairdryer! Ouch!

I am going to ask her gently later. It would definitely be a birthday present, like for like, not Christmas.

OP posts:
maeveiscurious · 28/11/2022 08:40

I do thing we underestimate how long our children play, my DCs were still playing quietly into their teens. There is so much value in imagination and play. It will be a landscape of imagination for a long time

MistyRock · 28/11/2022 09:51

maeveiscurious · 28/11/2022 08:40

I do thing we underestimate how long our children play, my DCs were still playing quietly into their teens. There is so much value in imagination and play. It will be a landscape of imagination for a long time

I played with my toys well into secondary school. I was young minded for a long time and never really started going out to bars etc until I was practically 18. My son is 14 and all he wants for Christmas is transformers and sonic the hedgehog stuff. I can't imagine a time where he won't love his toys.

Tirrrrred · 28/11/2022 09:58

maeveiscurious · 28/11/2022 08:40

I do thing we underestimate how long our children play, my DCs were still playing quietly into their teens. There is so much value in imagination and play. It will be a landscape of imagination for a long time

See my dd stopped playing with toys at 8. It was very difficult to buy for her. Dd10 goes through phases of playing with them or putting them away in the loft.

Eightiesgirl · 28/11/2022 10:14

Sorry if already suggested as haven't read the full thread, but if you can afford it then buy her the one she really wanted. The other one is obviously still new so, again only if you can afford it, can you donate it to charity? We have a children's hospice near us and I know they would be delighted with this. Perhaps there is something similar near you. Then you've made another child happy as well as your own and maybe your dh won't feel so bad about it. You sound like a wonderful mum.

Eightiesgirl · 28/11/2022 10:19

Just read someone else's suggestion about letting her keep both, which is another good idea if you have the room. One each for her and her friends to play with.

Dinoteeth · 28/11/2022 10:37

I'd definitely not let her keep both. If she has a friend in they can play together with one.

Tirrrrred · 28/11/2022 10:45

I wouldn't be able to get one of these in our bedrooms never mind two. Tiny new builds 😬😬

Dotingmumandgranny · 28/11/2022 10:53

I would get her the one she wants. It's so disappointing to expect a good present and then get the cheaper version.

LookItsMeAgain · 28/11/2022 12:07

EJ72 · 27/11/2022 22:02

@tickticksnooze yes. Won’t break the bank…
DH will think I’m mad. He won’t get it (but then he never would….).

If your DH doesn't get it, explain it to your DH like this - if he 'gets' games consoles/updated versions of games for the console/movies & directors cut of the same movie, this would be on a par with those for your DD.
She has the basic model of Dreamhouse, and the other one would be the Director's cut with the extra 15 to 20 minutes of movie included for the same price.

Would he get that type of comparison?

SpikeGilesSandwich · 28/11/2022 12:12

I don't even have a DD but I kind of want a Barbie Dreamhouse now! Blush

(I wasn't allowed Barbie as a child, my mum thought she had loose morals Hmm)

Toddlerteaplease · 28/11/2022 12:30

Tough. They are so expensive that she's be sticking with that one. Though I wouldn't spend that much on a child anyway!

Danni675 · 28/11/2022 12:34

Honestly, in your shoes I would contact Amazon, say the dreamhouse was ordered thinking it was the new model, you realised it wasn't when you started to put it together, will they take it back?

Danni675 · 28/11/2022 12:41

Just seen your posts about return dates and stickers. Honestly, given it's Amazon I'd still give it a go especially if you can say it wasn't clear on the website it's the old model. IME they tend to just say yes to everything.

Ciri · 28/11/2022 12:54

Do you have specs in your house for two? The barbie estate house is half price in Argos. It could be an extension…

Dinoteeth · 28/11/2022 13:02

Op does it make you feel any better that the one you have is now more expensive than the other one on Amazon?

mam0918 · 28/11/2022 13:07

Just looked online and the 2020 one looks cooler too me in general although the new one is the wheelchair accessable one right?

is that a feature thats really important? if not I would stick with the 2020 one personally

Holly60 · 28/11/2022 13:09

Yes id buy her the one she really wants. Bless her this has made me feel a bit emotional