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Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Outside the box.
8-Year-Old Orders 70,000 Lollipops Using Mother’s Phone, Prompting $4,200 Amazon Bill and Viral Facebook Plea
Kentucky mother discovers surprise candy shipment after son misuses shopping app access; Amazon refunds purchase following public backlash
A mother from Kentucky was left in shock after discovering a $4,200 charge on her bank account for an unexpected Amazon order—placed not by her, but by her eight-year-old son, Liam.
The order included approximately 70,000 'Dum-Dum' lollipops, most of which were delivered to her doorstep in 22 large cartons.
Holli Lefever, 46, said she nearly fainted upon seeing the bank transaction.
The surprise intensified when a delivery driver arrived at her home early one Sunday morning, unloading 50,600 lollipops packaged in branded boxes from the Dum-Dum candy company.
An additional 19,000 lollipops, ordered but not yet shipped, were later returned from the postal facility following a cancellation request.
According to Lefever, Liam had learned how to browse Amazon and other e-commerce platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic, when online shopping became part of the family's routine.
She had previously allowed him to explore the site under the condition that he only add items to the shopping cart without completing purchases.
On this occasion, he mistakenly submitted the order.
'He looked at me and said, “Mom, my lollipops are here!”' Lefever recounted in an interview with The New York Times.
She immediately attempted to contact Amazon customer service.
Though representatives initially advised her to cancel the remaining part of the order, the bulk of the candy had already shipped.
Her request to return the goods was denied under Amazon’s non-returnable food item policy.
In response, Lefever posted a message on Facebook that quickly gained traction: 'Hi everyone! Liam ordered 30 boxes of Dum-Dums and Amazon won’t take them back.
So, $130 per case, still sealed.' The post went viral and attracted significant media attention, ultimately leading Amazon to reverse its position and issue a refund.
Lefever stated that Liam’s intent was to throw a party for his friends and distribute the lollipops as prizes.
She described his motivation as a gesture of kindness, albeit an expensive one.
To prevent future incidents, Lefever has since updated her phone’s settings to block unauthorized purchases.
The case highlights the increasingly common challenge of digital literacy among children in households where mobile devices and online shopping apps are accessible.
The incident also sparked renewed debate over consumer protections and refund policies for inadvertent purchases made by minors.
The order included approximately 70,000 'Dum-Dum' lollipops, most of which were delivered to her doorstep in 22 large cartons.
Holli Lefever, 46, said she nearly fainted upon seeing the bank transaction.
The surprise intensified when a delivery driver arrived at her home early one Sunday morning, unloading 50,600 lollipops packaged in branded boxes from the Dum-Dum candy company.
An additional 19,000 lollipops, ordered but not yet shipped, were later returned from the postal facility following a cancellation request.
According to Lefever, Liam had learned how to browse Amazon and other e-commerce platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic, when online shopping became part of the family's routine.
She had previously allowed him to explore the site under the condition that he only add items to the shopping cart without completing purchases.
On this occasion, he mistakenly submitted the order.
'He looked at me and said, “Mom, my lollipops are here!”' Lefever recounted in an interview with The New York Times.
She immediately attempted to contact Amazon customer service.
Though representatives initially advised her to cancel the remaining part of the order, the bulk of the candy had already shipped.
Her request to return the goods was denied under Amazon’s non-returnable food item policy.
In response, Lefever posted a message on Facebook that quickly gained traction: 'Hi everyone! Liam ordered 30 boxes of Dum-Dums and Amazon won’t take them back.
So, $130 per case, still sealed.' The post went viral and attracted significant media attention, ultimately leading Amazon to reverse its position and issue a refund.
Lefever stated that Liam’s intent was to throw a party for his friends and distribute the lollipops as prizes.
She described his motivation as a gesture of kindness, albeit an expensive one.
To prevent future incidents, Lefever has since updated her phone’s settings to block unauthorized purchases.
The case highlights the increasingly common challenge of digital literacy among children in households where mobile devices and online shopping apps are accessible.
The incident also sparked renewed debate over consumer protections and refund policies for inadvertent purchases made by minors.
