Why you should keep your kids away from your computer

balthazarr · 21-05-2009, 04:41 PM

From http://www.theage.com.au/news/techno...498849208.html

Quote:

Toddler accidentally buys $15,600 digger on auction site
May 21, 2009 - 11:58AM

Pipi Quinlan, 3, with a toy digger, a fraction of the size and cost of the $20,000 Kobelco digger she won in a Trade Me auction.
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Three-year-old Pipi Quinlan bought a $NZ20,000 ($A15,600) Kobelco digger on auction website TradeMe, prompting immediate damage control by her mum when her purchase was revealed.

Most parents are used to little ones sneaking treats into the supermarket trolley, but Pipi's deal must take the cake.

Parents Sarah and Reid Quinlan, of Stanmore Bay north of Auckland, were astonished to wake one morning to find Pipi had bought the huge excavating digger in a TradeMe auction.

The technically savvy kid had woken early and, with the rest of her family sound asleep, decided to play with the computer.

With a few clicks of the mouse she entered Internet Explorer and the Trade Me site her mother had already logged on to.

After a few more timely clicks, she had won the most recent auction listed on the site's homepage.

It was for a Kobelco digger, and she had it for $NZ20,000 - money she didn't have in her piggy bank.

"The first I knew about it was when I came down and opened up the computer," says mum Sarah.

"I saw an email from TradeMe saying I had won an auction and another email from the seller saying something like 'I think you'll love this digger'."

"Well, I had a few Duplo Lego play kits on my watch-list, so just assumed I'd won a digger toy-set," she says.

"It wasn't until I went back and re-read the emails that I saw $NZ20,000, and got the shock of my life," says Sarah.

"I called my husband Reid over to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

"I asked him what a Kobelco was and he said 'I think it's an earthmoving digger'."

"I jokingly said to Sarah, well you'll have to move the Honda off the driveway to make way for the Kobelco," says Reid.

Sarah immediately called TradeMe and the seller to report what had happened.

TradeMe has reimbursed the seller's costs for listing the digger and the auction.

While the seller wasn't impressed with Pipi's antics, he relisted the digger again for another auction.

The Quinlans say most people see the funny side, with family and friends already joking about the incident.

They've learnt to keep their computer well out of the reach of prying hands, and now have a great story for Pipi's 21st birthday.

Perhaps it's a lesson for many parents or childminders to keep a close eye on little ones around computers.

Fairfax Media, the publisher of this website, also owns TradeMe.

Rodney Times, New Zealand

Sure beats a Tonka, eh?

Geez Louise · 21-05-2009, 04:46 PM

Could have been worse...They could now own a new commodore.

InfernoSR · 21-05-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geez Louise

Could have been worse...They could now own a new commodore.

Please dont swear on this forum...

vztrt · 21-05-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geez Louise

Could have been worse...They could now own a new commodore.

Its a Kobelco....not really any better.

Jason[98.EL] · 21-05-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Its a Kobelco....not really any better.

haha was thinking the same thing

Jason

PimpMyHubcap · 21-05-2009, 05:43 PM

"Pipi help daddy in the garden??" :eclipsee_

Cheers
Mick

Spanrz · 21-05-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Its a Kobelco....not really any better.

Hahahahahahah ROFL!
Yep, as bad as a Commosnore.

Maybe the kid thought he heard Mum saying "We're getting him a sandpit for Xmas."

:

[Tonko] · 21-05-2009, 10:19 PM

Is that worse than calling your kid Pipi?

underthunder · 21-05-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [Tonko]

Is that worse than calling your kid Pipi?

hahaha :evil_laug

**Dave R** · 21-05-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Its a Kobelco....not really any better.

It probably pulls harder than a Commie V6 though.

And I would have thought there'd be some kind of security code/question required when making large purchases, not just a few clicks...

**DJM83** · 22-05-2009, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [Tonko]

Is that worse than calling your kid Pipi?

:

balthazarr · 22-05-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [Tonko]

Is that worse than calling your kid Pipi?

What's worse is that, according to this website http://www.mybabyname.com/baby-name-...l/pipi/64091/1, only 68,722 names are more popular... (yes, I'm at work and clearly bored)

:

uranium_death · 22-05-2009, 07:12 PM

I read it when it was just posted fresh on The Age, and my only thought was that there is a reason why I don't stay automatically logged in!

This is one of the few sites that I am never logged out from.

uranium_death · 22-05-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [Tonko]

Is that worse than calling your kid Pipi?

Could have called her "Poopoo".
And it appeared she made one!
Expensive.

redranga · 23-05-2009, 09:02 AM

A pipi is another name for a cockle. Why the hell would you inflict your child with a name like that?

SM1DY · 23-05-2009, 11:24 AM

Oh this is priceless, I'd like a Kenne Bell bolted to the top of my Falcon, maybe this kid could go round to my parents place and "Accidently" purchase one for me!!!