Family left disturbed over what they were sent instead of Mary Poppins costume
A parent has been left perturbed due to what she discovered while opening a parcel that was meant to contain a Mary Poppins costume.
The mum has slammed online retailer CostumeBox for the 'unacceptable' item she received instead of the get-up she ordered as Australia's schools celebrate 'Book Week'.
Her 10-year-old daughter had intended to head into class as the practically perfect nanny - but was sent an ensemble that paid homage to the Supreme Leader of North Korea instead.
The Melbourne-based mum sent a furious email to CostumeBox after opening her delivery to discover a Kim Jong Un costume had been erroneously dispatched to them.
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Kids across the country have been dressing up as their favourite characters for Australia's 'Book Week', which comes to an end on Friday (28 August).
This little girl wanted to pay tribute to the beloved character thought up by Australian-British author Pamela Lyndon Travers, whose book series inspired the hit 1964 Walt Disney film starring Julie Andrews.
So, her mother submitted an order on Sunday (23 August) for a 'Musical Nanny Deluxe' costume costing $59.99 (£31.75) from CostumeBox.
It comes with everything that a youngster needs to cosplay the supercalifragilistic nanny, such as her iconic coat, skirt, hat and bow tie.
Which is why her parent was left outraged when she opened the box to find a somewhat frightening mask resembling none other than Kim Jong Un.
In an incensed email to CostumeBox that was shared online by Aussie TV host Jacqueline Felgate, the mum let rip at the online retailer for the bizarre blunder.
'You sent me a Communist leader's costume?!'
Her email read: "You sent me the wrong costume! My daughter needed the Mary Poppins costume for book week and you send me a Kim Jong Un costume! What is the meaning of this?!
"Her book week parade is this Friday and you sent me a Communist leader's costume?! How is a 10-year-old wearing that for her school book week?
"This is unacceptable. She has her parade in 2 days! And she's absolutely gutted."
In her post, Felgate also included images of the fancy dress costume that was sent to the Melbourne family in error. The packaging seen in the snap describes it as a 'dictator overhead mask'.
According to the New York Post, it costs $80 (£42.30) to purchase this Kim Jong Un-inspired fancy dress and the description adds: "Everyone will know who you are."
Unfortunately for CostumeBox though, this item really wasn't what the customer had in mind.
Felgate shared the post to Instagram on Wednesday (26 August) alongside the caption: "A costume company has sent a Melbourne family a Kim Jong Un costume instead of the ordered Mary Poppins one….The 10-year-old has her parade on Friday - does anyone know where she can get a Mary one in time?"
The CEO and co-founder of CostumeBox, Nikki Yeaman, then left a comment under the post responding to the mum's complaint.
CostumeBox's response
It read: "So...you can choose your own adventure on this one folks.. either: 'A small but determined communist uprising has occurred within our warehouse ranks. Rest assured, the rebellion has been quashed and our righteous capitalist order has been restored'.
"Or; 'A simple but regrettable human error has occurred in our warehouse where two address labels have been accidentally switched. The Mary Poppins customer contacted us at 6am this morning, we responded to her at 9.05am and a new Mary Poppins costume was picked and packed by 9.35am, ready to go out on the first truck today by Australia Post Express Post.
"All going to plan from now on, the costume should arrive tomorrow in time for the Book Week parade on Friday.
"As for the Kim Jong customer, he is right now on his way to the post office to collect his parcel and confirm if he has indeed received Mary Poppins.
"If so, we are poised ready to send him out a new Kim Jong Mask, which he should also receive in time for his event this weekend.
"I hope this covers the matter for you all and the multiple news organisations who have contacted me this morning in their noble quest to report 'The News That Matters'."
The majority of social media users seemed to see the funny side of the mix-up, as one person wrote: "@costumebox amazing response. Accidents absolutely happen and this one is low key hilarious.
"Did they get to keep the mask? Halloween sorted I say, what a bonus!"
Another joked: "You absolutely send your kid to school as the Supreme Leader if this happens."
And a third laughed: "I mean, let’s spare a thought for the person who ordered the 'Supreme Leader' mask and is now faced with wearing a Mary Poppins costume instead!"
LADbible has contacted CostumeBox for further comment.
Topics: Australia, Shopping, Kim Jong-un, Viral, Parenting
Olivia Burke