A crazy situation that happened in my shop today!

[VandyDan]

You know, for those denigrating the father for blowing up at the OP, it is entirely possible that the kid lied to his father about the nature of the transactions and his return to the store.

The dad certainly sounds like a world class a-hole, but he may be reacting as he is due to incorrect information. For example, the kid could have told dad "I was there because the owner saw me walking by and told me to come on in and not tell you about, dad". If I were the dad in that situation, and believed what I was told, I'd be pretty mad, too. Not saying I think this did happen, but there are alternative explanations to the rage beyond "guy is a bad father".

Ugly situation all around. Involve the police and try to move on, and don't let the kid in your store anymore.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Sadly, this mentality of "blame everyone else for the fact that my kid is a screw-up" is becoming the norm. My wife is an elementary school teacher and any teacher will tell you that the worst thing about teaching is parents, (with overemphasis on standardized testing being a distant 2nd), who angrily blame everyone else for the fact that their kid is stupid and/or a juvenile delinquent.

 

[VandyDan]

Sadly, this mentality of "blame everyone else for the fact that my kid is a screw-up" is becoming the norm. My wife is an elementary school teacher and any teacher will tell you that the worst thing about teaching is parents, (with overemphasis on standardized testing being a distant 2nd), who angrily blame everyone else for the fact that their kid is stupid and/or a juvenile delinquent.

My significant other is a teacher, and she has had to deal with this a lot, too. However, in 9 cases out of 10, the 'blame someone else' part comes from the student lying to their parents about the nature of their failings. Parents are, I think, (understandably) predisposed to believe the best of their kid, and thus believe the truth of what they tell them. However, when confronted with the fact of their children's dishonesty, many appear to change their tune and address the problem as coming from both the kid and from their relationship with him/her. I'd say only in the small minority of cases are parents completely and incorrigibly certain that their precious little snowflake cannot be the cause of any problems, though admittedly my sample size is small.

 

[Keyser Soze]

As for advice, you should have called the cops already. The reason so many kids don't get back on the right track is that people, usually their parents, go out of their way to get them out of trouble, so they never have to experience the consequences of their actions, and that only serves to discourage change.

 

[Keyser Soze]

My significant other is a teacher, and she has had to deal with this a lot, too. However, in 9 cases out of 10, the 'blame someone else' part comes from the student lying to their parents about the nature of their failings. Parents are, I think, (understandably) predisposed to believe the best of their kid, and thus believe the truth of what they tell them. However, when confronted with the fact of their children's dishonesty, many appear to change their tune and address the problem as coming from both the kid and from their relationship with him/her. I'd say only in the small minority of cases are parents completely and incorrigibly certain that their precious little snowflake cannot be the cause of any problems, though admittedly my sample size is small.

Most kindergartners are incapable of lying "to their parents about the nature of their failings". Parents automatically side with their children even in the face of insurmountable evidence that they are wrong and blame others as a defense mechanism. When I used to get in trouble in school, my dad would never in a million years believe me over a teacher, now all parents seems to think is "why does that mean teacher hate my perfect little Johnny?!?!" no matter how high the pile of evidence pointing to little Johnny being a turd

 

[VandyDan]

Most kindergartners are incapable of lying "to their parents about the nature of their failings". Parents automatically side with their children even in the face of insurmountable evidence that they are wrong and blame others as a defense mechanism.

Probably so. She is a high school teacher (and they are assuredly capable liars, haha), so my sample is different than yours. Obviously it can change at different levels, though it is certainly frustrating for teachers, and something as a future parent I'm going to try to do my best to avoid. I'm reminded of a "then and now" cartoon I saw. Then "were you nice to your teacher today?" Now "was your teacher nice to you today?". Pretty telling.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Probably so. She is a high school teacher (and they are assuredly capable liars, haha), so my sample is different than yours. Obviously it can change at different levels, though it is certainly frustrating for teachers, and something as a future parent I'm going to try to do my best to avoid. I'm reminded of a "then and now" cartoon I saw. Then "were you nice to your teacher today?" Now "was your teacher nice to you today?". Pretty telling.

Yeah I know I was a better liar in high school, but my parents were also smart enough to know that I was a better liar. And that cartoon sounds EXACTLY right.

 

[TwinGnats]

You only have one option to protect yourself. There was an actual physical threat and a confessed crime. The only smart move is to:

1. File a police report for the theft and the threat.
2. 86 both of them from your store including a written notice place in the mail.
3. File a restraining order against the father.
4. Take care of the theft via the court system, do not try and take care of it personally.

 

[sportscardtheory]

The second the father started raising his voice at me, I would have had a phone in my hand and told him that if he continued, the police would be called immediately.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

So what happened?

 

[ThoseBackPages]

i hope the OP is ok

 

[Super Mario]

My step daughter turns 7 in March, and she's just now starting to pick up on lying. Now it's her stomach hurts before it's time to go to school, because one morning she was actually sick and stayed home, so now she is starting to try and play the game. So I guess it's starting.

 

[jumbojohnny]

Better man than I.

The moment the father mentioned knocking me out I would have laid him flat. Lights out & cold. Dragged him into the street and leave him face down on the sidewalk.

Then again, I have a very short temper...Either way you should call the cops and do that kid a favor by getting him in a little trouble now. He sounds like he could benefit from it.

 

[LazerShow15]

Better man than I.

The moment the father mentioned knocking me out I would have laid him flat. Lights out & cold. Dragged him into the street and leave him face down on the sidewalk.

Then again, I have a very short temper...Either way you should call the cops and do that kid a favor by getting him in a little trouble now. He sounds like he could benefit from it.

And say "bite the curb"

Sent from my XT901 using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[nyc3]

My step daughter turns 7 in March, and she's just now starting to pick up on lying. Now it's her stomach hurts before it's time to go to school, because one morning she was actually sick and stayed home, so now she is starting to try and play the game. So I guess it's starting.

That was me when I was 7. Then my father told me if I am really sick I need to go to the doctors and get medicine shots. If I was not sick they would make me sick for weeks.

That was the last time I tried to call out sick until I was 13 lol

 

[ThoseBackPages]

can anyone call the OP to make sure he is alright?

 

[MansGame]

can anyone call the OP to make sure he is alright?

He probably got arrested and the fed shut down his shop... another dark day for the hobby

 

[Sportsnutcards]

So, here is the update... I talked to the police this morning and they suggested that I try to work if out with the father first and then go to them if nothing happens. The father came back this evening with a much cooler head and apologized for how he acted yesterday and he and I worked out a mix of cards and cash to pay for the boxes, plus I got back the two single cards that were stolen from me. Along with that, the kid is going to write me a written apology and he is not allowed to touch any cards or intereact with other collectors through youtube, ebay etc. Along with that, he will not be allowed to do any fantasy sports leagues because his father believes that it is all tied in together. ( I think was in like 4 different football leagues and at least 3 basketball leagues) He will not be allowed to do anything with cards for a long time until he has a job, and can show that he is mature enough to handle a hobby that costs money. His father is also signing him for addiction counseling through their church and he will probably do customer service through the church... I am satisfied with the resolution and i really hope the kid gets the help he needs now.

 

[ljw29]

So, here is the update... I talked to the police this morning and they suggested that I try to work if out with the father first and then go to them if nothing happens. The father came back this evening with a much cooler head and apologized for how he acted yesterday and he and I worked out a mix of cards and cash to pay for the boxes, plus I got back the two single cards that were stolen from me. Along with that, the kid is going to write me a written apology and he is not allowed to touch any cards or intereact with other collectors through youtube, ebay etc. Along with that, he will not be allowed to do any fantasy sports leagues because his father believes that it is all tied in together. ( I think was in like 4 different football leagues and at least 3 basketball leagues) He will not be allowed to do anything with cards for a long time until he has a job, and can show that he is mature enough to handle a hobby that costs money. His father is also signing him for addiction counseling through their church and he will probably do customer service through the church... I am satisfied with the resolution and i really hope the kid gets the help he needs now.

Glad dad came in and everything got worked out, hopefully this straightens the kid out.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Glad to hear it ended well.