Opinions please...

[Minnie]

Minnie~ If my son saw this, he would want you to adopt him!
I could repair it but I think he should learn a lesson here, but I like the good case idea.

It's Christmas and I have a soft spot.... and if the phone wasn't in a protective case and at 14 your DS might have not known it needed to be then these phones break extremely easy and an accident turns into an expensive repair problem.

I do understand your point though... how about extra chores to help pay for the repair? Set up a schedule and he can see the $ build until he reaches the amount you determine is fair.

One thought do you happen to have insurance on the phones? We have Verizon and the insurance would cover replacement.

Otterbox makes great cases and the Defender is the most protective case in their line up.

 

[cornflake]

Replace the iPhone with a good DROID. Mine is a Samsung Fascinate and it is indestructible. Made from gorilla glass. I dropped my iPhone from a height of 18 inches and it shattered. I've accidentally dropped my Droid from a height of 5 feet onto concrete. The back flew off, the battery flew out, but I put it all back together in 5 seconds, powered it on and I was back in business.

Gorilla glass huh? The stuff Steve Jobs decided to use for cell phones?

 

[tvguy]

I think whatever you and your son work out on the phone between you is the only option.
In a couple of years he'll be driving, and if he lends his car to someone while he is under 18 and that person crashes it, in every state I am aware of you will be legally responsible. Best he learn to be responsible with his stuff now.

 

[CowboyCO]

Gorilla glass huh? The stuff Steve Jobs decided to use for cell phones?

Yeah, but the glass on the samsung covering the super AMOLED screen is really durable. The iPhone 4 is still very fragile and doesn't perform well in drop tests.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Apple-iPhone-4-be-careful-not-to-drop-it_id12131

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Will-it-break-Samsung-Galaxy-S-screen-put-to-the-test_id12321

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that your DS just learned a very expensive lesson. Some things you do not lend unless you are willing to accept the consequence. In this case it was a phone but as others have pointed out he is reaching an age where friends asking to borrow a vehicle is a definite possibility.

I would try to work out an arrangement so he can pay to have his phone fixed. If he needs to earn the money he will have a very good idea how valuable this tool really is.

 

[ChattaAlley]

Sorry that happened. But no I would not ask the other parents to pay. I saw on Pinterest or somewhere a tutorial on how to replace the screen. It was cheap. Looked fairly easy. I would do as the PP suggested and get a case. I don't have an otterbox but I do have a sturdy case. My phone hs been dropped, thrown, etc and so far no cracks. Good luck.

 

[scrapquitler]

Although I am mad about situation, I think my son should have not let anyone else use his phone and he is responsible

We told our DD15 that the phone, iPod, Nook and Laptop are hers and that SHE is responsible for their care and well being. If something happens to them SHE is the one who will have to figure out how to repair or replace them if anything happens to them so she needs to be careful with them and not allow someone who might damage them to use them.

Did you have insurance on your son's iPhone??

 

[spacemountainmom]

I wonder if your DS goes to the school I work at???

Our middle school has flex time and I am rather suprised at how many kids have the very expensive electronics and how casually they leave them laying around or let others use them. If I had a dime for every time a staff member spends time dealing with a student because they let someone else use their cell phone or ipod and forgot to get it back, I could book a really nice disney trip.

They don't think anything of letting Bobby or Susie borrow their stuff until the last period of the day and then freak out because they need to find Bobby or Susie to get it back. They get all wound up because they can't go home without the gizmo because mom or dad will be angry. Gee, maybe you should have thought about that before handing your expensive gizmo to Bobby or Susie???

I don't think I would contact the other parent, but I would have a very serious talk with my kid about letting other people use their things. I wouldn't fix it either, unless the child was willing to do work to "pay off" the price of the repair. Hopefully your ds learned his lesson about letting other people use his things.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hello all,

Just curious how some might handle this situation. My DS had his iphone in school and let another kid use it to listen to music. Of course the other kid dropped it and shattered the screen.

The phone still works but all smashed up. Repair cost is $150.00. Other kid feels bad but says his Dad wont pay to fix it. My DS wants me to call the parents and ask them to pay.

Although I am mad about situation, I think my son should have not let anyone else use his phone and he is responsible. I refuse to pay to fix it.

The kids in his school are allowed to use their phones for study period/flex time so he wasnt doing anything he wasnt supposed to in school.
DS is mad, said it could be a Christmas present but no way. His presents are all bought.
WWYD?

R-

Well, my dd had her IPOD broke 2yrs ago for being irresponsible with it and I told her she has to buy herself a new one.

No way in hell would I ask the parents to pay for the phone repair and also I would tell son he needs to buy a new phone with his own money.

If he is young he can do chores.

As of yet my dd has not done her chores to earn money to pay for a new IPOD.

Our school also allows phone use too.

 

[sam_gordon]

IMO, DS should be on the hook for repairs. He's old enough to even find ways to earn money (as mentioned, shoveling neighbors driveways & walks would be a good start). My DD brings her Ipod touch and her cell phone to school. She paid for the Ipod herself but hasn't gotten a case for it... she'll probably get one for Christmas. She has a crack on the screen, but hasn't complained one bit because she knows she won't get any mercy from me.

At 13/14, they need to learn there are consequences from their decisions.

 

[Swan4Me]

:

Did you have insurance on your son's iPhone??

I was always told you cant get insurance on a IPhone-details please!



I think High school is too young for an IPhone-this is a mini computer-unless you have a job to fix or replace it when it breaks

 

[dngnb8]

Hello all,

Just curious how some might handle this situation. My DS had his iphone in school and let another kid use it to listen to music. Of course the other kid dropped it and shattered the screen.

The phone still works but all smashed up. Repair cost is $150.00. Other kid feels bad but says his Dad wont pay to fix it. My DS wants me to call the parents and ask them to pay.

Although I am mad about situation, I think my son should have not let anyone else use his phone and he is responsible. I refuse to pay to fix it.

The kids in his school are allowed to use their phones for study period/flex time so he wasnt doing anything he wasnt supposed to in school.
DS is mad, said it could be a Christmas present but no way. His presents are all bought.
WWYD?

R-

Teaching moment.

DD, you are responsible for the care of your phone. You lent it to your friend, accepting the responsibility of how that friend cared for your phone.

If indeed, you want it replaced, you must talk to their parents. In the meantime, you have a broke phone or you have to pony up $150 to fix it. I hope you learned something about lending expensive items to others.

I would allow the child to work around the house to pay off the replacement. I wouldnt not buy it until the work has been completed. I would ask for 15 hours of work (10 bucks an hour)


---

JMHO, kids today have no clue about the value of money. Everything is given to them. Look at this situation,

Mommy, get my phone fixed for me!

I cannot tell you how many times I hear kids talk about what parents give them as if it is a Constitutional Right that they have it.

 

[Keli]

My dd has repaired at least three iPhone's with shattered glass (her aunt's phone first, then an uncles' and then a cousin's, she kept getting asked once word got out she had fixed her aunt's phone, lol.)
DD has no special knowledge but she watched a few you tube videos on how to fix them yourself and ordered a new glass off of eBay for $15 and gave it a shot. She said it was very simple. That's what I would do if I were you for your son's phone.

 

[mhsjax]

I was always told you cant get insurance on a IPhone-details please!



I think High school is too young for an IPhone-this is a mini computer-unless you have a job to fix or replace it when it breaks

My MS DD has an i phone, but thanks for your opinion. I didn't think that is what the OP asked for. BTW< she has never lost damaged or even remotely done anything to harm her phone in 3 years. She got it in 5th grade.

 

[Disney Doll]

Tell him you'll "pay" him $10/hour to work around the house and when he's given you 15 hours of work, you'll pay to have his screen fixed.

And that's 15 hours of work. Work being where you say "DS do this" and he does it until it's finished with no negotiating ("That's too hard can't I do something else"), no whining ("I'm exhausted and I want to go out with my friends and I can't cuz you're making me worrrkkkkkk") and the job must be completed properly.

Oh, and taking out the garbage doesn't take an hour either. I'm thinking more along the lines of rake leaves, shovel snow, clean the garage, wash the cars, help Dad with some Dad job.

 

[mjkacmom]

What a shame. your ds was "sharing" (isn't that what we drilled into our toddlers heads for years???), and yes it was an accident on the other kids part. BUT, if I were the other kids parents, I'd absolutely insist on paying for it (then I'd probably have my kid work off 1/2 the money or something). What a shame that other parent isn't taking responsibility for his kid, and teaching his kid a lesson.
.

"How was your day, honey?"
"Not great - I dropped Tommy's iphone, and the screen shattered."

Really? Do you really think this kid volunteered this information to his parents?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

With my dd we have a list of chores that need to be competed weekly. If she does them she gets an allowance. So far she has not done them. Guess that IPOD is not that important to her.

And when I say she was irresponsible with it, I mean she threw it in a backpack, and it looks like someone took a hammer to it and threw it against the wall.

This was a 300.00 IPOD. Yes, it was "old" but it WAS an 80gig of that version.

 

[scrapquitler]

I was always told you cant get insurance on a IPhone-details please!



I think High school is too young for an IPhone-this is a mini computer-unless you have a job to fix or replace it when it breaks

I got the insurance on mine directly from Verizon, but you can get it from other places as well (I've seen them mentioned here on the DIs, but don't remember the names). I pay something like $8 per month for the insurance, and if something happens I pay a deductible (either $89 or $99 I think) and they'll send me a replacement. Much better than the $500 or whatever it would cost to replace if it's too soon to extend my contract 2 years.

 

[spacemountainmom]

"How was your day, honey?"
"Not great - I dropped Tommy's iphone, and the screen shattered."

Really? Do you really think this kid volunteered this information to his parents?

No.

Then again, even if he did I doubt that many parents are going to call and offer to pay. Years ago two of my neighbor kids destroyed a toy that belonged to my kids while both sets of parents were standing there talking to dh and I. It was only a $10-15 toy, but neither set of parents offered to replace it. I would have if it had been my kid wrecking someone else's stuff.

 

[momof5boys]

I agree with the PP that said replace the screen yourself. I just fixed a shattered ipod touch screen. Ordered the replacement off Amazon $12, watched youtube also. Only needed a sturdy guitar pick and 20 minutes of my time, good as new!

And as the mother of multiple teen boys,nope this would be a lesson to my kid, no way would I expect his freind to pay for it, it was an accident.