Toys 'R' Us Facing Criticism Over Denying New Year Baby Prize Due to Mother's Residency

Fox News ^ | January 06, 2007 | AP

[CrawDaddyCA]

the girl's mother is not a legal U.S. resident.

Disqualified!!

[conservative cat]

There is something my son wants to buy that is available at Toys R Us or a few other stores. I guess I am going to have to buy it at Toys R Us, now...and send them an email and tell them why I chose to buy it with them.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

in this PC society where everyone is offended by everything, since when do rules matter??

[flashbunny]

I'd wait to see if they cave first.

[stainlessbanner]

Exactly. Read the rules before playing.

[DoughtyOne]

If the mother were from a foreign nation, but had come here through the legal process, she would have won. She didn't. She wasn't qualified to participate.

Toys-R-Us made the right call. And it's refreshing to see a corporate entity make the right call even though it was sure to bring some heat it's direction.

[ninergold3]

eligibility rules required babies' mothers to be legal residents

Case Closed!

[Old_Mil]

They are probably going to cave if the promotional materials said for all expectant mothers to apply - a lawyer will threaten to sue and coughing up the $25,000 bond will be cheaper than fighting it out in court.

[rawhide]

Yuki was born an American citizen

So the baby is an American citizen, but the mother is not, so punish the baby?

[BunnySlippers]

I say they cave. Wait.

[Racehorse]

. . . eligibility rules required babies' mothers to be legal residents.

The Devil is in the details and Mr. Scratch lives and thrives in the fine print.

[ninergold3]

coughing up the $25,000 bond will be cheaper than fighting it out in court.

Another thing wrong with our system. It's a sad day when a person can sue and win - only because it's cheaper for to settle than go through the system.

[BW2221]

I am in marketing and stipulations like this are common: must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the United States, must be a registered driver, etc. There are so many legal requirements that virtually all sweepstakes rules are approved by lawyers.

[upchuck]

In this unfortunate and sad era when illegal immigrants are treated like royalty, it's refreshing to find a corporation pushing back.

Good for you Toys "R" Us! Stand on principle. The Mom didn't abide by the published rules. Tough!!

[Jakarta ex-pat]

has infuriated some Chinese-American advocates.

But I thought everyone was just American.

The hyphenated American is the biggest multiculturalist wet-dream of all.

And the most damaging.

I will not live to see the day we call Somebody in China an "American-Chinese"

How is it ONLY western countries have to put up with this bullshit?

[Alberta's Child]

Technically, the prize probably has to be awarded to the mother -- not the baby. There are any number of reasons why someone has to be a legal U.S. resident to win a prize like this -- first and foremost being that this person likely does not have a U.S. social security number. This might make it impossible for the company to properly document the $25,000 prize through current IRS rules.

Good for Toys 'R Us on this one.

[muleskinner]

If the baby is an American citizen, but the mother is not. The amswer is to give the baby $12,500. Thank you. (The familiy will most likely spend the $$ anyway, thus boosting the economy, so a win-win)

[upchuck]

From the article>

Some Chinese-American advocates say the company's decision smacks of second-class citizenship.

"People are just pretty much outraged," said John Wang, president of the New York-based Asian American Business Development Center.

Albert Wang, an attorney, has launched an e-mail campaign on the issue. "She was deprived of $25,000 intended to be used for her college education because of who her parents are," he said.

Janet Keller, a grandmother of the winning baby, said revisiting the contest would be unfair.

"She was disqualified — that should be it," Keller said. "Don't go changing your mind now."

Memo to John and Albert: Although greatly degraded, this country still, sorta, lives by the Rule of Law. Throw down all the race cards you want and scream victim until your lungs bleed. The Mom broke the rule. Period. End of story. Get over it.

BUMP to Janet Keller!

[SmartAZ]

The only mistake here was announcing a winner before checking the qualifications.

[jiggyboy]

So the baby is an American citizen, but the mother is not, so punish the baby?

Describe the "punishment" if you would please and then tell us how the baby knows it's being punished.