Maybe it's because I have a 7-year-old son who's obsessed with LEGOS, but this story about a 7-year-old boy who's obsessed with LEGOS truly brought a (happy) tear to my eye. Honestly, though, any parent (or anyone who remembers being a kid, for that matter) will totally be able to relate to this tale. Because we all know what it's like when a little kid gets a really, really special toy. That top-of-the-list, please please please when can I get it?! toy. Oh, happy day!
And then, if you're that ecstatic kid's parent, there comes a moment not long after said toy is acquired when your child looks up at you and says, "I love this toy so much I want to bring it with me to the [fill-in-the-blank place where you KNOW that toy is gonna get lost]." And the pit of your stomach fills with dread.
That's what happened to 7-year-old Luka Apps' dad when his son expressed a fierce desire to bring his brand new LEGO Ninjago Ultra Sonic Raider set shopping. A LEGO set Luka bought with his very own Christmas money. A LEGO minifigures set. Luka's dad told him it was probably a better idea to leave the LEGO set at home. Luka disagreed. Guess what happened next?
Yeah, Luka lost his prized LEGO guy. And he was really, really sad. But he wasn't ready to give up hope. So he wrote this letter to the kind people at LEGO:
Hello.
My name is Luka Apps and I am seven years old.
With all my money I got for Christmas I bought the Ninjago kit of the Ultrasonic Raider. The number is 9449. It is really good.
My Daddy just took me to Sainsburys and told me to leave the people at home but I took them and I lost Jay ZX at the shop as it fell out of my coat.
I am really upset I have lost him. Daddy said to send you a email to see if you will send me another one.
I promise I won't take him to the shop again if you can.
Luka
Shortly thereafter, Luka received a letter in return, written by Richard, a LEGO customer service representative, who wanted to tell Luka about a little chat he'd had with Sensei Wu (a character from the LEGO Ninjago line):
Luka, I told Sensei Wu that losing your Jay minifigure was purely an accident and that you would never ever ever let it happen ever again.
He told me to tell you, "Luka, your father seems like a very wise man. You must always protect your Ninjago minifigures like the dragons protect the Weapons of Spinjitzu!"
Sensei Wu also told me it was okay if I sent you a new Jay and told me it would be okay if I included something extra for you because anyone that saves their Christmas money to buy the Ultrasonic Raider must be a really big Ninjago fan.
So, I hope you enjoy your Jay minifigure with all his weapons. You will actually have the only Jay minifigure that combines 3 different Jays into one! I am also going to send you a bad guy for him to fight!
Just remember, what Sensei Wu said: keep your minifigures protected like the Weapons of Spinjitzu! And of course, always listen to your dad.
HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT?! I don't know who Richard is, but I adore that man. And you know what else? This story makes me feel a lot better about the fact that I've spent what probably amounts to a down payment on a house on the LEGOS currently threatening to take over my son's bedroom.
Has your kid ever lost a favorite toy? What did you do?
Image via AngryJulieMonday/Flickr
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Comments 26
It's a really cute story--I bet that little boy was so happy, plus he learned that writing a good letter can make things happen. On the part of Lego's--very good PR.
Very sweet, I know how much my 5 year old loves his legos and this would have made his whole year. Amazing for Legos to do and Richard deserves a raise.
What a great story. The only thing I think of when I remember LEGO's is how bad it hurts when you step on one in dark hallway on your way to the bathroom at night! ;-) Now I'll have better LEGO thoughts. Heehee.
to the grinch "what?" commenter up there, I work in PR and we get sob stories for products all the time. You can tell when it's a kid who just made a mistake, or when it's someone trying to extort free things - and generally send things anyway, depending on the product. I can't imagine Lego's profit line will falter from sending a small figurine to a 7-year-old. I thought this was so sweet of Lego.
lauren--I just meant it was a good move on the part of Legos, not a slam against them. Why does that make me a grinch? Yes, I'm sure I don't know as much about PR as you. Perhaps your job is getting to you a bit and you're generally nasty? Not so good, if you're in PR.