Mum Shocked To Find Amazon Listing Offensive C-Word Balloons Alongside Kids' Toys

A mum has been left fuming after her search for children’s toys on Amazon brought up a balloon bearing the C-word.

Nicola Palin, 38, was looking for gifts for five-to-eight-year-old children via the online retailer when the misplaced product came up on the second page of search results.

Listed between the Lego and the Barbies is The Balloon Printing Company’s advert for 10 Abusive Message Balloons, featuring a bold visual bearing the legend “C***”, spelled out in full, child-unfriendly fashion.

The advert elaborates: “Black C*** Balloons - For the person you love to abuse.”

Mum-of-two Nicola, from St Albans, Herts, immediately contacted the online giant via Twitter on Wednesday evening to express her disgust, also writing on their Facebook page.

She said: “I can’t quite believe what I have just been presented with when searching for Toys and Games for 5-to-8-year-olds.

"Please ensure you remove these offensive balloons from your site immediately and also check that this supplier isn’t including any other highly inappropriate adult items in the Children’s Toys and Games section.”

Inappropriate: Amazon has yet to correct its mistake (Facebook/Amazon.co.uk)

Amazon responded on Thursday morning, saying: “Hi Nicola, I’m really sorry to see this. Thank you so much for highlighting. I’ve now escalated this to our website team so we can have the offensive item removed.”

While Nicola was initially encouraged by Amazon’s prompt response to her complaint, she now feels frustrated that the balloons remain clearly visible on the site two days later - albeit no longer on the second page of search results.

She said: “I sent Amazon a Facebook message and a Tweet when I discovered it and I’ve had a prompt reply to both messages, which was good.

"But they’re not acting quickly enough to remove it for my liking as that listing and other offensive ones from the same supplier are still available!”

Nicola isn’t alone in her annoyance - Gwen Mobray posted on Facebook that her search for Kindle books for eight-year-olds brought up “some deeply disturbed murder stories”.

Nicola has responded to Amazon, asking the supplier to explain the hold up: “I’d love to know what is taking a higher priority that removing something so offensive that is likely to be seen by children!”

Amazon have now removed the controversial balloons from that area of the site, two days after receiving Nicola’s complaint.