Sigh...the parents never learn

[ivan2]

why don't you buy it for them instead? You got a job and an engineering degree and the better part: the phone is free!!

 

[erub]

Originally posted by: skyking
Yeah, i feel for ya. sometimes parents will avoid bringing you into something because they "don't want to be a nuisance" to you. Most of the time that equals a hell of a lot more nuisance than if they had just called in the first place.

My grandfather first wanted a new HDTV for his lakehouse. He calls me and tells me about this "great deal" on a Philips plasma at Sam's Club. Probably only 720p. Luckily, my uncle told him that he should consult with me before picking the TV. I do a bit of research, and settle on a Samsung LCD (A650 model) from Amazon. We go to Best Buy, he sees it, likes it of course, and we decide on the 46" size. I order it, with Amazon's white glove delivery service he doesn't have to lift a finger to get it installed, instead of dragging a heavy plasma around. Of course he is very happy with it.

He then calls to tell me that he is so happy with this TV, that he ordered the 40" version for his home office (because with the dimensions, that was the biggest that would fit). In his home office he normally sits at the desk, (where he was going to place the TV). Viewing distance anyone? I have to convince him that it is much too large, that he would have to sit at the end of the room to watch it. Ordering him a Samsung T260HD (which will also double as a computer monitor--he's told me he wants a computer in there as well), and save desk space, too.

 

[TridenT]

Originally posted by: apac
Since we all started carrying cell phones a few years ago, I handled the purchasing/account setup and made sure my parents ended up with good phones. Both of the prior times that we've upgraded it was through the Amazon cell rebate plans, which let us get nearly top of the line hardware for free (when the rebates processed 4 months later). Those phones lasted quite a long time and had no issues until they started to wear out.

Last summer my father's phone broke and he went to the T-mobile store. Without consulting me he decided to get a new phone since his 2 year discount was ready, and ended up with a really shitty Nokia. Apparently bad enough that the front flip panel flexes into the internal buttons and calls people when it's in his pocket.

In the last couple weeks it's been time for my mom and I to upgrade as well. After a couple days of research I knew which ones would be best, and picked one for myself. I called mom to let her know what I found and which phones I thought would be the best option for her. To my surprise, she'd already found an article in Consumer Reports that recommended exactly the same phones I'd picked out. So she had a couple in mind, and I let her play around with the one I bought (it was a slider). Problem solved.

Well, she apparently went to the store to get it and was told that they had a "special promotion" running on a "flip version" of that phone ...hook, line, and sinker. She sounded happy with the choice, but I was skeptical. There's nothing online about any special offer, except for a somewhat similar model which is 1) completely different from the phone she was there to purchase and 2) has piss poor user reviews, most notably because it overheats and shuts itself off.

Now I can either tell her to go swap it, making her feel stupid and costing a $15 restocking fee on a free phone, or just let it go and hope she doesn't run into problems. What the fuck.

I think I know how you feel... My parents went off and bought two new phones, Razrs(I think), and now they don't want them anymore. My mother wants a smartphone(she doesn't even realize what they do) and my dad wants a new phone because he kinda broke his Razr.(Fragile thing it is) At least our contract with Edge Wireless will end in May anyway. (I am sure those phones had contracts on them)

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: apac

Originally posted by: effowe
Yeah, damn parents not spending their money how you want them to.

You realize that I am 23, live on my own, have a bachelors degree and an engineering job, and pay 1/3 of the family plan, correct?

ooooh, pardon us, we should have known better than to question you.

 

[GasX]

It's time to realize your parents either have different priorities than you or they don't value your opinion. Choose whichever one lets you sleep at night...