Advice please

[LilBethan]

I'm 19 and when I took my GCSEs my mum promised me a Mac Book Pro if I passed them all.

It gave me something to work towards, and kept me motivated knowing that once the exams were over I had something that I really wanted coming my way.

I'd maybe tell her you will get her one if she continues to revise well and works hard, but don't mention that you've already got her one. Maybe take her to a try on appointment to make sure it fits.

Then give it her after she's finished her last exam, from my experience she will be over the moon!

 

[geoff5093]

Definitely wait to give it to her until after, and also I wouldn't mention that you have it until she passes or works hard on the exams.

If you give it to her now, she has no desire to work as hard to achieve her goal of the Apple Watch, and she knows that if you give it to her now and she fails her finals, she has a good chance of talking you into letting her keep it anyways. Plus, if you tell her about it now it will be that much harder for her to wait.

 

[greytmom]

Wait. Her sense of accomplishment at finishing exams, doing well AND the reward of the Apple Watch are all worth waiting for.

And I don't think there is anything wrong with giving a gift like this. My daughter is an artist and I used to give her one big xmas gift every year, plus some smaller ones. One year she got a kiln... THAT was fun to wrap.

 

[spiderman0616]

Look at it this way--if she breaks the deal, you'll be able to resell that thing to someone and probably for a profit if these shortages continue.

 

[Armen]

Sorry to hijack the thread a little, but you guys are the only ones who will understand this, and also know how much the Apple Watch means to people like us.

My daughter is about to take exams at school (she's 16 so these are O'levels) and I promised her that if she revises hard I would buy her an Apple Watch.

I actually ordered it on pre-order day though she doesn't know this. She has wanted one from the start and is very jealous of mine. Anyway, it is due to arrive today and I have a dilemma - do I give her the watch today and trust that she will keep to her end of the deal (in fairness she has been studying hard, but I don't want that to stop) or do I wait until her last exam (12th June). I know the latter makes more sense but we all know what it's like to be waiting for an Apple Watch so I am really torn.

I would hold off and reward her after she delivers on her promise.

 

[mbern1008]

Wait until she has earned it

 

[Lynnie27]

O-Levels aren't even used anymore, it's normally GCSEs now.

You are so right, I'm showing my age now, I don't know why I said O'levels, it is GCSEs and yesterday she took her first exam which was an IGCSE - I don't understand that either lol.

My daughter's friend's mom has promised to get her an expensive keyboard (£1000) if she gets an A in English. However, I told my daughter that I won't do that as there is too much pressure then. She wants to teach primary school (elementary school in the US?) so she knows she has to get the grades, but her biggest 'fault' is thinking she can do it without studying which is why I decided to take that route with her.

So I may give her the watch as soon as exams end. We're going to the coast for a few days on results day so that will be a treat for passing. Actually, we are going to see The Overtones in concert the day after her final exam so that fell pretty nicely too

I just hope the watch is okay because opening the box and trying it out beforehand to make sure it is okay would spoil the experience for her, I know it would with me. It is killing me knowing I have it and not giving it to her but I think people here are right, it would be much better to wait.

 

[Cuyler]

...
My daughter's friend's mom has promised to get her an expensive keyboard (£1000) if she gets an A in English...

A thousand-pound keyboard?.. I'd never be able to lift that!
Couldn't you get a MacBook for that kind of money (keyboard included)?

 

[Lynnie27]

A thousand-pound keyboard?.. I'd never be able to lift that!
Couldn't you get a MacBook for that kind of money (keyboard included)?

Yes it does sound a bit heavy doesn't it?

My daughter's friend is not an Apple fan unfortunately, the kind of keyboard she is looking at is the sort that plays music

 

[Cuyler]

Yes it does sound a bit heavy doesn't it?

My daughter's friend is not an Apple fan unfortunately, the kind of keyboard she is looking at is the sort that plays music

Ahh.. that makes sense! You mentioned English, so I was thinking writing. Talented!.. you must be very proud of your daughter — I bet she's working hard.

 

[Lynnie27]

Ahh.. that makes sense! You mentioned English, so I was thinking writing. Talented!.. you must be very proud of your daughter — I bet she's working hard.

Yes I am proud of her, she works hard and gets involved with other things too - she taught herself to play keyboard and last week she played and sang in a charity concert at her school. Not sure where she gets her talent from!

----------

Wait. Her sense of accomplishment at finishing exams, doing well AND the reward of the Apple Watch are all worth waiting for.

And I don't think there is anything wrong with giving a gift like this. My daughter is an artist and I used to give her one big xmas gift every year, plus some smaller ones. One year she got a kiln... THAT was fun to wrap.

Lol this is the kind of thing I do, buy a huge gift and then have no idea how I can wrap it

 

[5105973]

Good luck to your daughter on her exams. You sound like a fabulous mother-daughter team.

You could call Apple and ask about return policies for gift items. Usually merchants only extend returns for the winter holiday season. But if you explain your situation, who knows what they might be willing to do to accommodate you. It can't hurt to ask, if you're interested. But...

I wouldn't worry about it too much because the warranty will protect you from manufacturers defects, anyway. The return option is mostly for people changing their minds about some aspect of the purchase. Like color, style, model, or deciding the product isn't right for them. None of that seems applicable in your case since your daughter already knows she likes the device.

 

[dctid]

Sorry to hijack the thread a little, but you guys are the only ones who will understand this, and also know how much the Apple Watch means to people like us.

My daughter is about to take exams at school (she's 16 so these are O'levels) and I promised her that if she revises hard I would buy her an Apple Watch.

I actually ordered it on pre-order day though she doesn't know this. She has wanted one from the start and is very jealous of mine. Anyway, it is due to arrive today and I have a dilemma - do I give her the watch today and trust that she will keep to her end of the deal (in fairness she has been studying hard, but I don't want that to stop) or do I wait until her last exam (12th June). I know the latter makes more sense but we all know what it's like to be waiting for an Apple Watch so I am really torn.

my view has always give then any rewards after they have done the work. By letting them know you have it then they know that ultimately they will get that reward regardless

 

[shox2k2]

I would wait. If she hits June and grades are still looking good then maybe reconsider? There's nothing worse than awarding someone before hand just to have them come up short. Its a lot harder to take it away.

A second option could be let her wear it on the weekends but she gives it up during the school week.

 

[maliu]

Wait. It's a reward you said she'd get if she did well. It will mean more when she earns it and gets her new watch. There's a reason you can't open your gift before Christmas, anticipation is half the fun.

 

[bidwalj]

You can give it or wait but the watch shouldn't be motivation or a distraction either way. If you raised her the way it seems like you have, she prob has a good head on her shoulders and knows all her work is for a bigger cause. Getting an education isn't just about pride but also sets you up for a good life. That's what's most important and should be motivation enough to do well.