Daddy's little liar
Used to work as a "Tech Guy" at PC World. Occasionally people would roll up with PCs that looked like they'd just lost a fight with an angry mob, with Bits hanging off, smashed screens, keys missing, the works. They would try to pass this damage off as a "manufacturer's fault" and covered under a standard warranty, and I would have to argue with them until they backed down.

On one such occasion, a man and his daughter arrived at my desk and produced their laptop. He opened it up in front of me and said "My daughter turned her laptop on today, and it was like this."

It didn't take long for me to ascertain the source of their distress, the screen was absolutely obliterated. It had an obvious point of impact off to one side and massive cracks spiralling away from it with the gloop underneath clearly displaced. I knew where this was going, but decided to initially play innocent and went with the response: "Oh dear, what happened to it?"

"What do you mean what happened to it?" The man snapped back, "It just happened! One day it was fine, and the next it was like this!"

I responded coolly, this was comfortable territory for me. "Unfortunately damage like this cannot simply happen for no reason. The only way something like this could occur is due to some sort of impact or force to the screen."

I noticed the daughter shifting quietly and looking very uncomfortable throughout this exchange, but the father was incensed. "What are you suggesting? What do you propose happened then!?"

"Well, a few things can cause damage such at this." This guy was really losing his composure but I would not "If the laptop is dropped and it lands on its side, often the screen will be impacted. However," I swept my eyes down to the girl who quickly looked away from me. "Looking at the location of this damage it appears that in this case the laptop was shut firmly while something was on the keyboard, pressing it into the screen."

As I said this, the girl let out a sound that can only be described as a "blub", and tears began rolling down her cheeks. Her father turned his head to look down at her and, without looking away, gathered the laptop in his arms, said "I see. Thank you for your time." and swept out of the store with her trailing behind wailing apologies at him.
(UW`, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 10:43, 10 replies)

I know you were right
and that it was the only thing you could do, but I still feel sorry for the kid.

Her dad was a bit of a mug if he really believed
an LCD screen can spontaneously shatter.
( Not Pineapple anymore, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 12:18, closed)

I wonder if he took her there knowing that it couldn't have "just happened".
Either the laptop gets repaired or the daughter learns that lies don't (always) work. Some win either way.
(Pie of Meat ___°¬¯O¯____\o/_____/\_,____Y¯¯Y, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 12:46, closed)

^^what she said
I've got two young kids and they can be little shits at times, but there is absolutely no win in any of this.
(mersault, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 13:21, closed)

There is, if you enjoy humiliating small children.

( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 15:49, closed)

We have 'whatever happens' insurance for that sort of thing
which is pricey but saves a lot of shouting.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 13:18, closed)

Household Contents Insurance does exactly the same, only without adding £100 to the price of a computer.

( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 14:45, closed)

I don't believe this story happened, on the grounds that PC World do not employ people with 'that' level of tech savvy.

( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 14:44, closed)

that any

So far as I can tell.
( Ugi , it's a game of give and cake, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 16:41, closed)

Win.

(Spaff_Quaffer Wise fwom your gwave., Tue 15 Feb 2011, 15:12, closed)

Your story made me sad
I demand a refund.
(leviticus no longer likes the cut of your gib on, Wed 16 Feb 2011, 15:20, closed)