babble: Barbie's never-ending credit card

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Topic: Barbie's never-ending credit card

Doug
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 44

posted 08 October 2007 06:18 PM

quote:
Fashion Fever Shopping Boutique, the correctly named Barbie toy, features a built-in credit card swiper and a life-size credit card for young children to use when buying outfits for their dolls. According to the Amazon website, "Once the balance hits zero, it will reset so you can continue to shop."

http://consumerist.com/consumer/indoctrination/barbie-teaches-credit-cards-101-you-never-run-out-of-money-308326.php

Way to teach kids about money!

From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

Sven
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9972

posted 08 October 2007 07:13 PM

There's only one thing more idiotic than a toy like that: The parents who buy it for their kids.

From: Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!!!! | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

Polly Brandybuck
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7732

posted 08 October 2007 08:08 PM

On a not really related note, my teenage son got a job at Zellers last summer. Two weeks later he received an HBC credit card in the mail, with a $200 limit. And he didn't even have to apply.

I thought it was a bit much.

From: To Infinity...and beyond! | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

kropotkin1951
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2732

posted 10 October 2007 01:23 PM

Must be a new corporate idea. My teenager was sent an unasked for credit card from Save-On Foods - his employer.

From: North of Manifest Destiny | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged

arborman
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4372

posted 10 October 2007 02:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by kropotkin1951:
Must be a new corporate idea. My teenager was sent an unasked for credit card from Save-On Foods - his employer.

That has got to be illegal, especially if there are annual fees and other nonsense (as there always are with the store cards). Not to mention the extreme interest rates that store cards charge.

I've been told that repeated applications for credit can affect your rating. Is that true? If so, another mark against the stores for doing it to the kids.

From: I'm a solipsist - isn't everyone? | Registered: Aug 2003 | IP: Logged

kropotkin1951
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2732

posted 10 October 2007 02:50 PM

I don't think there were fees and he was already 19 years old. He ripped it up anyways but I am not sure it ws illegal, unethical in my opinion but not illegal.

From: North of Manifest Destiny | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged

Polly Brandybuck
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7732

posted 10 October 2007 03:53 PM

Yes, repeated applications for credit can affect your credit rating and lenders start to worry that you are "credit seeking" and will get over your head. (I used to arrange financing for cars).

The card my son got had no fees unless you used it, and on my advice he cut it up before he was tempted. I don't think having the card affected his rating though since he didn't apply and never used it. I suppose the smart thing to do if you wanted to build your credit would be to start with that card and pay it off entirely each month etc.

Or just buy what you can afford?

Then, yay, you can borrow money easily when you are old enough.

From: To Infinity...and beyond! | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

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