This Dad Ordered A Dinosaur For His Son Online, When It Arrived It Was 20 Feet Long
Online shopping has become a pretty ubiquitous method of buying personal goods and gifts for others. When contrasted with the work and effort involved in getting up and going out to shop, ordering online from the comfort of your couch seems like a no-brainer.
However, this dad from Guernsey, an island in the English Channel, learned the hard way that an online product isn't always what you expect it to be when it arrives at your door.
Andre's Son, Theo, Is A Big Fan Of Dinosaurs
Theo might only be 4 years old, but his love for dinosaurs is intensely strong. When Theo asked his dad for the "largest carnosaur he'd ever seen," Andre Bisson was more than willing to fulfill his wishes. Knowing that it would be hard to find such an item in person, Andre looked online to find a model dinosaur.
He Had No Issues Finding What He Was Looking For
Andre didn't have to search for long before finding a good option. His wife noticed that an amusement park on the neighboring isle of Jersey had recently shut down and was selling off their dinosaur statues from displays. It seemed almost too good to be true, so Andre checked the sale out.
Things Worked Out In His Favor
To his surprise and excitement, the park was selling a carnosaur statue. While the price was a bit steep at £1,000 ($1,289), he was convinced that his love for his son justified the cost (in contrast, my dad refused to buy me a PlayStation because it was a "waste of money").
He Faced The Eternal Issue With Online Shopping
The issue with the dinosaur statue being sold online was that Andre had to gauge the size of it based on a small thumbnail photo without there being anyone to ask about the dimensions. Believing that there wouldn't be any major issues, and not particularly concerned about shipping, Andre went forward with the purchase.
Naturally, Problems Arose
The shipping company informed Andre that the statue did not fit into their truck, which was the first indication that the dinosaur was perhaps a bit larger than Andre had anticipated.
Still, that information did not mentally prepare him for when he saw the 20-foot long carnosaur being lifted into his yard with a crane.
Can You Imagine Looking Out Your Window To See A Huge Dinosaur In The Air?
It took the shipping crew a full 40 minutes from when they arrived at his house to properly place it in the yard. Andre was mildly worried that the statue would fall through the roof, which would make for a very uncomfortable insurance call.
He said, "Thankfully he was well strapped in, although when he was being lowered in a gust of wind started him spinning in the air. His tail missed my dormer window by less than an inch."
It Was Worth It All For Theo
Despite all the struggles with the purchase and shipping, Andre considers it a worthwhile endeavor. Theo has lovingly named his enormous statue Chaz and has been playing with the carnosaur non-stop since it was placed in their yard.
Andre said: "Theo didn't want to go to school as he didn't want to leave him, he thought he'd be home alone—he wanted to take him on the yellow crane. Theo and Chaz are best buds—he's got a pet dinosaur."
Grab A Pet Dino Of Your Own
If Andre's story made you think that you want a dino of your own, maybe learn from his mistake and don't get a life-sized version. Instead, grab this Remote Control Dinosaur that you can move around your house and have complete control of.
It won't stand nearly as tall as Andre's dinosaur, but that should make it a little easier to keep in line and make shipping a lot easier.
