[happyhomemaker]

Sometimes I wonder why parents even try to instill conservative thinking in their children since once again they are the “chump” for actually teaching their kids there is no free ride. When I read this article I immediately thought about how my father would have handled this situation with my brothers. It would have never occurred to him in a million years to have them pen a letter to the company asking for a free replacement. If anything he would have had them perform extra chores if they wanted to raise some money for a replacement.

[Albion Wilde]

I agree; the parents should have ensured that the letter from the child would include an offer to pay for the replacement. That said, you can't fault the company for entering into the fantasy that made the child want the toy in the first place and using it to encourage the child to take better care of his toys, rather than make him guilty and ashamed for the first mistake. That was sweetly done. Hope the kid and his parents are suitably grateful.

Also, we don't know if the company sent the parents a bill, but since they had the address to send the toy, they certainly could have.