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Angry mum slams “must-have” Christmas gift in Facebook post

It was definitely a big surprise...

Christmas is just around the corner, and parents up and down the country will be examining their children’s lists carefully.

Many gifts ideas will be dismissed outright (is any child really going to wake up to a pony on December 25th?) but others are much more reasonable.

One of this year’s must-have gifts for youngsters is the L.O.L Surprise! Big Surprise, which sells for a whopping £60.

It resembles a huge bath bomb, and has multiple layers for kids to unwrap that contain toys, accessories and even clothes.

Some surprises are hidden in bath-bomb type powder, which have to be submerged underwater to reveal the surprise.

But one mum, Ciara Umar from Stockton-on-Tees, found that the high-end toy her daughter Elisa opened was a far cry from the advertisements.

Ciara posted two images – the first showing the sizeable toy in all its wrapping, which did look very impressive.

However, the image on the right showed just a handful of small plastic knick-knacks that came from the centre of the toy. Ciara told Entertainment Daily that daughter Elisa “wanted it as she [had] seen the videos on YouTube.”

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The 27-year-old took to Facebook to issue a scathing verdict, writing: “So Elisa got a big lol surprise today I would definitely not recommend if you don’t want to waste your money the pic on the right is all you get just pre warning yas (bucket not included).”

Ciara then told the Manchester Evening News: “I was mortified when I saw the contents.”It’s an absolute waste of money, it’s not even a full ball either, it’s only half a ball as the back is flat.”

The outraged post has been shared over 7000 times on Facebook, with thousands of comments criticising the company responsible for the toy, MGA Entertainment.

One person wrote: “Disgraceful waste of money… clever marketing by the people who produce these things.” While another commented: “It’s shocking for the price.”

However, some parents commented that despite the price – and knowing full well they were likely to be disappointed – the joy of the kids opening it up on Christmas Day would be well worth the £60.

According to the Sun, since its launch in March this year the LOL Surprise ball had been sold to over half a million customers already – and you’d expect plenty more to come in the run-up to Christmas.

Read more: Man bewildered after kids are given trick-or-treat goodies that went off last millennium

However after Ciara’s unhappy experience has gone viral, perhaps a few kids may be reconsidering their Christmas lists!


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor