While Christmas is the most anticipated day of the year for many children occassionally it can become the biggest disappointment in a childs life.
This year my 12 year old grandson was desperate to get an XBOX 360, its all he talked about for weeks and weeks, it was the only gift he wanted. At over $350 it would be his only gift. 
On Christmas Day the excitement was running high, please can we open our gifts now was heard every 3 minutes, his Dad had to feed the animals, shower, get dressed and no telling what else but Nick was getting impatient, I think he gets that from me, we kept hearing.. NOW MOM? WHAT IS DAD DOING? NOW MOM?
Finally the big moment.. Dad was ready, Mom was ready, of course all 3 boys were dancing around with excitement, Dad donned his Santa hat, his yearly tradition, and handed out gifts, Nick could barely breathe he was so ready to see if indeed he got his one wish.. the XBOX 360.
Oh wait .. under that wrapping paper was a cardboard box that said from Aunt Yvonne in Wyoming? what? opening the box.. OH MY GOSH, there it is hiding in a used cardboard box the brand new XBOX 360.. SMILES, laughter .. PURE JOY in his face!!
Fast forward an hour, presents all unwrapped, yes Bryce got his scooter he wanted, Matt got the Mindstorm science project he wanted, we hear over and over from an excited Nick, CAN WE PLAY THE XBOX?? NOW DAD? PLEASE??
Being the great Dad he is... he hooks it up and Nick is in a 12 yr old bliss...he allows his 10 yr old brother Matt to play with him. Around 2pm his best friend, Will calls, can you come over? My mom will come pick you up? So Will his brother and his mom come over... And Will tells us that he too got an XBOX 360.. but it only worked about 1 hour and froze up. From the look on moms face I'm not sure who was more disappointed Will or his mom? . .Mom planned and prepared to buy this for Will. She was very disappointed for her son Will.
My daughter and soninlaw tell Wills mom, "we have heard alot about the XBOX 360 being unstable and having alot of returns. One friend said he returned 4 before he got one that works properly."
Nick and Matt go home with Will and his mom, taking the XBOX with them, since the big feature is how easy it plugs and plays and its suppose to be portable. Now at Wills house and all settled in to play several hours of games best friends sharing a good time, this was about 5PM, then at 7PM Nicks XBOX 360 FREEZES up. Devastated the boys get to argueing .. who broke it.. was it someones fault? Alas, best friends almost in a fight. Wills mom soothed and diverted the boys.
Today, with ruffled feathers smoothed down, the boys friends again, we take the XBOX 360 back to the store, no questions asked, the store replaced it. There is almost a pallet of returned ones sitting there. WHAT on earth is MICROSOFT THINKING? to sell disappointment to so many children.. I'm almost outraged that a corporation would be so money grubbing they would break childrens hearts with such an inferior product.. Keep it in the factory and get the dang thing stablized before selling them. In our experience, 2 boys, 2 XBOX 360 and 2 factory rejects... If I did my job so poorly I would never work again I'm sure.
While I commend the replacement it shouldn't have had to happen. Where is pride in workmanship? Are there really so many replaced that its just to be expected? No big deal? Well it is a big deal.. it was Christmas, the boys had a major fight and disappointment raged, best friends in a rife? ... that is a big deal. Microsoft should be ashamed of their corporate self.
I hereby award Microsoft Corporation the FRYING PAN AWARD of CHRISTMAS 2007
CLUNK!!
starting from my planner my day goes much smoother, of course always leave room and expect changes, flexibility is the key when you need to run out and meet a new client.
Lets try these again.. :)
