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Original poster

Let my son down today and feel like shit

24 replies

LapinDeBois · 25/09/2013 23:20

It was DS1's 6th birthday this week, and as we're hard up ATM I was chuffed to pick up a scalextric set in a charity shop a few weeks ago. For reasons I cannot fathom (I'm usually quite anal) I didn't check it before wrapping it - it had a big sticker saying it was in full working order. Anyway, we duly set it up this afternoon after school, and it was totally defunct.

He held it together well at the time, but when we were having our bedtime cuddle I apologised again and said I'd replace it, and he burst into tears. He asked when he could have the new one and I said as soon as I could get it, but he got even more upset and said he couldn't have it now because his birthday's all finished. I said of course he can, because he's just swapping his birthday present for one that works, but he just cried more and was adamant he didn't want to have it until Christmas.

I feel totally awful. Obviously I've done plenty as a parent that I haven't been pleased with, but this is the first time I've upset him through sheer, avoidable negligence. And it feels really bad.

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MiddleRageSpread · 25/09/2013 23:24

OMG, that sounds very painful. Poor you, poor your DS.

Bastard bastard people sending it to the shop not working .

Are you sure there isn't some Scalextricky complication that needs to be applied to make it work?

RhondaJean · 25/09/2013 23:24

Oh dear.

It's one of those things isn't it. I can imagine me doing that.

How much are scalextric? When you can replace it he will forget all about this I promise.

Original poster

LapinDeBois · 25/09/2013 23:29

No, definitely dead. Strong smell of burning electrics when we plugged it in. The money is the other thing, of course - this one cost 30 quid, but same thing new would be about 90. Though this evening I'd gladly sell a kidney to cheer him up.

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sleepyhead · 25/09/2013 23:31

Is it definitely totally gubbed? From memories of my brother's set, you had to make sure all the metal strips in the track were properly connected and it could be tricky.

Google "troubleshooting scalextric" and there's loads of stuff.

sleepyhead · 25/09/2013 23:33

Ok, gubbed then. Might still be worth googling in case there's a spare part you could get that would save buying a whole new set.

RhondaJean · 25/09/2013 23:35

I'd be taking it back at £30 marked working.

If you get your money back could you stretch to this one?

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9148279.htm

Also argos 3 for 2 on all toys so if you had another £20 you could probably sort Xmas for him!

I know it's a lot but th scalextric is half price too.

RhondaJean · 25/09/2013 23:40

In fact is this the same one for £10 less?

www.amazon.co.uk/Scalextric-Start-C3164-Pro-Racing/dp/B004NSGK6S/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1380148749&sr=8-12&keywords=Scalextric

There's a James bond one even cheaper on amazon, I don't know your views on bond though.

Original poster

LapinDeBois · 25/09/2013 23:47

You're all really lovely people, thank you. Off to bed now but will look at links tomorrow.

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RhondaJean · 25/09/2013 23:51

Take that one back too!

Original poster

LapinDeBois · 26/09/2013 06:57

Yes, I will definitely take it back. I feel kind of bad taking something back to a charity shop, and if it had just been a couple of quid I would have let it go, but £30 is a different matter.

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SavoyCabbage · 26/09/2013 07:07

I'm glad you are going to take it back and I hope you manage to get another one.

It's just a mistake, don't beat yourself up over it.

WillSingForCake · 26/09/2013 07:22

Aw, that sounds miserable, poor him and poor you! But once that new one is up and running he'll forget all about the one that didn't work!

pizzaqueen · 26/09/2013 07:34

my wee boy got this one at xmas and it's great for £19.99. Not the real one but the Chad Valley version but it works great. It's also in two for £30 if you can stretch to that and add another toy to make up for the disappointment.

www.argos.co.uk/m/static/SpecialOffer/partNumber/9075146.htm

or there's a bigger one with loops for £30.

I would take it back to the charity shop. It's not your fault.

(sorry about links on my phone)

MiddleRageSpread · 26/09/2013 07:49

We had a very bad experience with the Chad Valley one. It worked for about a day.

mummyxtwo · 26/09/2013 09:34

Take it back to the charity shop! What were they thinking, selling something electrical that doesn't work? Charity shops have very strict rules about selling electrical equipment so that is a big error on their part. Don't feel bad taking it back.

How about this one on ebay for £39.99? It's brand new and from a major seller with excellent ratings. I've bought from them before. Any problems and you can return it.

I totally feel for you regarding your son's tears and imagine that must have been utterly heartbreaking. Ignore his saying he doesn't want it now till Christmas, that's just a child being a touch dramatic when sad about something. If I were you I'd get the one above asap, wrap it and produce it as a surprise - build up to it by telling him there is something better on its way in the post to him, it'll be being sorted in the post depot right now... Ds1 always gets excited at the idea of something being en route to him. Sending you a hug.

Qwertypants · 26/09/2013 13:14

I have sent you a message. Ive never sent one before so please let me know if youve not recieved it!

Original poster

LapinDeBois · 26/09/2013 17:09

You're a lovely person Qwertypants, thank you again.

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TantrumsAndBalloons · 26/09/2013 17:17

I'm pretty sure my ds1 has a working one in the loft.

I'm just on my way home from work, so I will check when I get back but honestly, I would be happy to send it to you.

It's up there with all the stuff I need to freecycle/charity shop so it would actually be doing me a favour.

And don't upset yourself. It's not your fault.

Original poster

LapinDeBois · 26/09/2013 18:49

Lovely Qwerty has already offered me one, but thank you so much anyway .

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Snazzyenjoyingsummer · 26/09/2013 21:32

Ah you lovely people who have offered things . I would still say take it back to the charity shop even if you get one from another source. £30 is too much to lose on a totally non-working item. Hope you get it sorted. And of course you are not a neglectful parent - no-one who cares this much about making their son happy on his birthday is that.

cory · 27/09/2013 07:54

A faulty electrical item isn't just wrong marketing; it's potentially dangerous. Take it back to the shop and make sure you mention about the smell of burning electrics.

BalloonSlayer · 27/09/2013 08:10

When I worked in a charity shop they would never accept electrical goods because their safety/quality couldn't be guaranteed. Electrical goods IIRC have to be sold with a guarantee so, as charity shops can't offer guarantees, they couldn't sell them.

I'd wonder whether the person who accepted and priced up your set realised that it was actually electrical. Eg maybe they thought it was a car version of a push along train set or something, or something like hot wheels that you use gravity? Sounds unlikely but I have seen quite a few charity shop volunteers who ahem don't appear exactly au fait with modern technology and toys. Otherwise I can't think of how it came to be sold.

I'd let you have our old one but it's a complete bastard TBH and would have him in tears all over again. We hardly ever used it as it was so hard to get the hand pressure right. It'd be: car not moving, not moving, not moving, moving two inches, not moving, moving two inches, flown right off the track, car put back on again, car not moving, not moving, moving four inches, not moving, completes three quarters of a circuit, hooray, flown right off the track, tantrum occurs etc.

Original poster

LapinDeBois · 30/09/2013 22:18

I took the Scalextric back today, so I thought I would report back. They gave me a refund without (much) quibbling, although they did point out that it said 'fully tested' on it. I said yes, I know, but it didn't work, and after half a second of hesitation, the woman said well, if you say so then we will of course take your word for it and refund it. I said (nicely) that I was surprised they sold electrical items, and she said they have an electrician visit once a week to test any items they've been given. I resisted telling them to change their electrician (!), and suggested that perhaps he would be able to mend it and they could resell. Anyway, to alleviate my conscience at returning goods to a charity shop, I then spent a few pounds of the refunded money on some other (non-electrical!) items that I needed.

Qwerty, thanks for the message. I will PM you once it arrives to say thank you very much again.

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stopthebusiwanttogetoff · 30/09/2013 22:47

What a nice ending to this thread! Could have happened to anyone - even if you had bought it new, things sometimes don't work, and we don't always manage to buy the right bloody batteries so they can't work on the day etc. of course your ds was disappointed but don't beat yourself up!

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