I can understand the OP being very upset about the camera not being in the box. You paid for it and you should get it. I'm curious how long it was going to take for them to get the camera in stock. If it was going to be several weeks, maybe they could have upgraded you to the next model? At Lowes we do that on appliances in certain situations.

What I cannot understand, however, is how you handled the "Santa" issue. I don't have children and I'll be the first to admit that I have no idea what someone with four children goes through, especially at Christmas, but it seems to me that the situation could have been handled a little better.

Now would also be the time to teach her that things like this happen and while it's crappy, you still have to show respect to others, ie: the grandmother, and the sisters.

I'm sure she was upset though, and I hope she gets her camera.