Worst Christmas Gift

Ro041

Bored at work soooooo.....what is the worst Christmas gift you (or someone you know) has received?

Last year, my mom gave FI the entire Alien anthology on blu-ray.  He has never seen those movies, has no desire to, and we don't own a blu-ray player.  They went from the gift bag directly into the Goodwill bag.  

short+sassy

Ooooohhhh...I have a doozy.  I have an ex b/f who was the worst with gifts.  Though more on the "he was a thoughtless, selfish a**hole" side than "he just had bad taste" side.

We went out for almost three years.  Never gave me a birthday gift.  Ever.  Always promised to take me on a carriage ride through the French Quarter for my bday.  Because I REALLY wanted to do that and had never been in a carriage.  Never followed through.  That's okay.  Next guy did and my H also did, when we were dating.

For Christmas one year, the only thing I asked for was a CD tower and to just surprise me with whatever else he thought I would like.  But I told him I wanted something fun and quirky for the CD holder.  I literally said, joking because it was so obvious, "Whatever you do, just don't give me one of those super boring black plastic ones."

He gave me a super boring black plastic one.  And that was ALL he gave me that year.  He apologized he had been too busy to shop for more presents and we made a date to hit the after X-mas sales and he would buy me a few more things.  Appeared to have no clue the only thing he gave me was exactly what I told him not to.  On the night we were supposed to go shopping, he was supposed to be at my place at 6PM.  Didn't return my numerous calls wondering where he was.  Finally showed up at 8:30PM.  Too late to go shopping.  How convenient.  Never made up for it and took me shopping.

He broke up with me in May the following year.  It happened to be at the same time I was moving to another apartment (we didn't live together).  I used that ugly black CD tower, but I hated it because every time I looked at it, I was reminded of how thoughtless he was.

The day after we broke up, especially since I was moving anyway, I took that boring black, cheap plastic CD tower down to the dumpster area.  Stomped on it until it was in smithereens.  And threw it away.

SO SATISFYING!!!!

mrsconn23

My aunt gave us this terrible statue the year we got married.  (The kiddo's my stepson, for those who don't know.  But I've been raising him since he was 3.  So I guess it was supposed to represent 'us'.) It was of a man, woman, and child all holding hands in a circle, but it was so ugly.  

We used to have a croquet tournament every year, and it became the 'trophy' for the tourney.  IDK what happened to it.  I bet it got purged in our move. 

bleve0821

My mom has terrible taste in clothes (IMO), but every year she buys me clothes.  I don't have the heart to tell her I hate the garment, so I'll keep it and only wear it when she's around (never outside the house).  One year, she picked up this sweater because it had a design she liked (which was awful), but to humor her, I put it on.  It was weird all the way around, from the style, to the fit, to the design.  It had buttons and zippers and sleeves that weren't short and weren't 3/4 either.  And it was short.  Almost accidentally so, because the amount of tummy it revealed was really awkward.

Anyway, I put this hideous thing on (buttons front, which we eventually figured out was wrong), and the room just went silent.  Not in a good way.  My brother's GF tried so hard to find something positive to say (she was the one who figured out the buttons were supposed to be in the back), but even when I put it on the right way, she had nothing.

Finally, after like 10 minutes of just standing there, with the GF trying to tuck and pin and pull and just trying to "Make it work," and Dad and brother trying hard not to laugh, Mom said, "That thing needs to be burned."  

She lit the match.

OurWildKingdom

My Grandpa ended up in the hospital with chest pains one Christmas. (He was fine, just scared us.)

Honorable mention goes to ending up in jail one Christmas Eve when I was young and stupid. 

Ro041

@short+sassy - sometimes destroying something is so damn satisfying.  

I recently came across an elaborate pic of ex-FI's coat of arms that was given to him for being a groomsman in a wedding.  It was under the stairs in my basement and had been left there for over 3 years.  It felt so nice to shred it, piece by piece.  

It was especially gratifying because I had just recently found out that he and his new wife had dumped his adopted dog in a rural area and refused to go pick it up.  I got the call because I was the backup on the chip.  I went and got her and FI and still have her.  She's great and he sucks.

OliveOilsMom

A Chia pet, when I was like 13.

thefanciestbeckler

My grandmother on my dad's side is notorious for giving terrible gifts just in general. When we were little she'd bring us "souvenirs" from her and my grandpa's vacations and it was always things like toys from a Happy Meal or a pamphlet from a conference she attended.  

Christmas is no exception. She's been known to buy mug sets (like the kind that go with sets of dishes) and give one mug to each family. Stuff like that. One year, she gave me a fleece mock-neck pullover that had a polar bear airbrushed on the front of it. AIRBRUSHED. I wore it to a tacky Christmas party. I'm going to find a picture and post it ASAP.

short+sassy

Ro041 said:

@short+sassy - sometimes destroying something is so damn satisfying.  

I recently came across an elaborate pic of ex-FI's coat of arms that was given to him for being a groomsman in a wedding.  It was under the stairs in my basement and had been left there for over 3 years.  It felt so nice to shred it, piece by piece.  

It was especially gratifying because I had just recently found out that he and his new wife had dumped his adopted dog in a rural area and refused to go pick it up.  I got the call because I was the backup on the chip.  I went and got her and FI and still have her.  She's great and he sucks.

Thank goodness you were on the chip also!!!  I can't even watch those videos I sometimes come across where a person abandons their pet somewhere.  And some sweet dog looks devastated and starts running after the car or person.  Ugh!  Tears me up every time.

I suspect something like that happened to my dog.  We got her from the pound when she was about 18 months old.  All they knew about her was she had been brought in with a group of stray dogs who'd been loose on the streets.  But her behavior showed she was used to people and living in a home.  She had some quirks that made us suspect she was ignored or possibly even abused in whatever home she started in.  Hence why I think she was abandoned somewhere as opposed to just getting lost.

We've had her for a few years now and it was so gratifying to see her blossom into a happy, confident dog.  Happy endings for both puppers and their people!

ShesSoCold

I gave what is now probably a "worst gift ever".

I got my tattoo, which was personal to me, just before Christmas (holy shit ten years ago now). My boyfriend at the time was a total loser and hadn't gotten me anything for several occasions and I'd told him I wasn't getting him a Christmas gift. After I got my tattoo, he said he wanted one. I responded sarcastically with "What? A Kool Aid man tattoo?" and he said sure. To call his bluff, I told him I'd pay for it. Well, it was not a bluff. I broke up with him three months later via cheating.

I sure hope he doesn't still have a little green Kool Aid man on his upper arm.

charlotte989875

ShesSoCold said:

I gave what is now probably a "worst gift ever".

I got my tattoo, which was personal to me, just before Christmas (holy shit ten years ago now). My boyfriend at the time was a total loser and hadn't gotten me anything for several occasions and I'd told him I wasn't getting him a Christmas gift. After I got my tattoo, he said he wanted one. I responded sarcastically with "What? A Kool Aid man tattoo?" and he said sure. To call his bluff, I told him I'd pay for it. Well, it was not a bluff. I broke up with him three months later via cheating.

I sure hope he doesn't still have a little green Kool Aid man on his upper arm.

I'm spiteful like that, so I'd probably hope that he does. 

Ro041

@thefanciestbeckler  - I have a good friend whose grandma always gave us used bras and old newspaper clippings she thought we would like.  It was so odd.  

Also, my grandma gave my aunt a set of used sheets for her wedding.  

Maybe it's just a grandma thing?

thefanciestbeckler

@Ro041 It definitely could be just a grandma thing. Mine also gave my brother stamps all. the. time. She was convinced that he collected them even though he never did.

I found this gem after a little digging. Please enjoy rare photo evidence of the legend that is the polar bear pullover. Oh to be that skinny again. Lol

Edit: I forgot to mention that everything she bought anyone was always at least 2 sizes too big.

debbeau

My ex husband gave me one of those reel push mowers for the lawn. He said since I liked to work out he thought I would like it it would give me a good workout when I mowed the lawn. I should not have been too surprised. His mother gave me coupons she cut out of the newspaper for Christmas.

CMGragain

I came from a family where gifts were valued more than people.  Lots of money was spent on Christmas gifts, and we were expected to gush about how much we loved the gift.  It made me feel uncomfortable.
DH and I rarely exchange gifts anymore.  We spend our money on our travels.  My favorite part of Christmas has nothing to do with gifts, trees, decorations, or Santa Claus.  I like singing traditional carols at church on Christmas Eve.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

I do like buying gifts for the grandchildren!

OurWildKingdom

@CMGragain, buying gifts for kids is the best! I always have a blast shopping for FSD and the niblings.

@thefanciestbeckler, you look adorable even if the pullover is cheesy!

ernursej

My now MIL gave me an odd pair of Shoppers Drug Mart earrings for Christmas 2 years ago. They were animals in 'gold' like metal with orange pearls hanging off the end. I never wear gold coloured jewelry and rarely anything that dangles. It was so odd. Especially odd since she had asked for a few gift ideas. I gave her 3 very reasonable ideas - things to scrapbook with (ribbon/stickers etc), a pocket book I had my eye on or something edible from Hawaii since they were there right before Christmas. I have a feeling that she forgot about me and had to run out the night before.

She has improved since and might even take us up on our offer of doing a group donation next year instead of presents. Progress!!

thefanciestbeckler

Thank you @OurWildKingdom!! That was so many years ago! I've always loved a good tacky sweater party though I'm sorry about your worst Christmas gifts. Hospital visits are always scary. Glad he was ok though!

OurWildKingdom

OliveOilsMom said:

A Chia pet, when I was like 13.

Do you still have Kmarts? Kmart here in Ohio has Don King Chia Pets.

lyndausvi

My uncle and his wife gave me a ski hat.  I was living in the islands for over a decade at the time.  Never traveled in the winter to cold areas because it was our busy season.  At the time I didn't even ski.

lovesclimbing

My SIL sent us a platter for Christmas that broke in the box. The box was a very tight fit and there wasn't a lot of packing. For something glass like that, she really should have used a box bigger than the platter and way more packing. 

missfrodo

short+sassy said:

Ro041 said:

@short+sassy - sometimes destroying something is so damn satisfying.  

I recently came across an elaborate pic of ex-FI's coat of arms that was given to him for being a groomsman in a wedding.  It was under the stairs in my basement and had been left there for over 3 years.  It felt so nice to shred it, piece by piece.  

It was especially gratifying because I had just recently found out that he and his new wife had dumped his adopted dog in a rural area and refused to go pick it up.  I got the call because I was the backup on the chip.  I went and got her and FI and still have her.  She's great and he sucks.

Thank goodness you were on the chip also!!!  I can't even watch those videos I sometimes come across where a person abandons their pet somewhere.  And some sweet dog looks devastated and starts running after the car or person.  Ugh!  Tears me up every time.

I suspect something like that happened to my dog.  We got her from the pound when she was about 18 months old.  All they knew about her was she had been brought in with a group of stray dogs who'd been loose on the streets.  But her behavior showed she was used to people and living in a home.  She had some quirks that made us suspect she was ignored or possibly even abused in whatever home she started in.  Hence why I think she was abandoned somewhere as opposed to just getting lost.

We've had her for a few years now and it was so gratifying to see her blossom into a happy, confident dog.  Happy endings for both puppers and their people!

Ugh, I feel you.  This may make me a horrible person, but I get so much more emotional about animals than people.  Child's been abused by his parents?  That's awful.  Dog was thrown out on the street or tossed in a garbage bin?  Those people must burn in hell!  It makes me want to hunt them down personally and punch them in the face.  I don't have a rescue--we got our puppy from a breeder we interviewed--but if anyone were to lay a hand on her, I'd end up in jail for assault.  

My brother's present to my H this year said "Look in your room."  He'd put a Five Nights at Freddy's plush (super creepy game) on our bed, and hidden another one in the closet.  The presentation was a bit creepy, but the plushes aren't so bad as long as I don't look directly at them or think about the game in any way.

OliveOilsMom

OurWildKingdom said:

OliveOilsMom said:

A Chia pet, when I was like 13.

Do you still have Kmarts? Kmart here in Ohio has Don King Chia Pets.

Yes, we do.  But I haven't been in one in ages!  Most have closed, but there is one still open about 15 minutes away.  I'm a Target gal, so that's where I go!

OurWildKingdom

OliveOilsMom said:

OurWildKingdom said:

OliveOilsMom said:

A Chia pet, when I was like 13.

Do you still have Kmarts? Kmart here in Ohio has Don King Chia Pets.

Yes, we do.  But I haven't been in one in ages!  Most have closed, but there is one still open about 15 minutes away.  I'm a Target gal, so that's where I go!

Target is 10 minutes from us, so we're Target girls too!

Ro041

@thefanciestbeckler - I agree you do look cute even in the oversized polar bear sweater!

@ernursej - your story reminds me of the time that my mom gave my sister a pair of ugly earrings from Claire's when we were teenagers.  My sister threw them in a box that went into the garage, unopened.  Imagine my sister's anger the next Christmas when my sister opened up a gift and it was the same pair of earrings (mom tried to pawn them off as new again).  Side note - I thought it was so funny that I kept them in my room and then wrapped them a third time for sis.  

DrillSergeantCat

I'm notorious for shaking my presents to try to guess what they are. One year, there was a box that was pretty heavy and I could not figure out what it was. My exH was so excited! He kept saying, "That's going to be your favorite present ever!" So Christmas morning comes, I open this "favorite present ever' and it's a giant box of Twizzlers. Needless to say it was not my favorite ever. I think the same year, I had given him a list that included some paisley shaped cake pans and even said where to buy them. He got me a brownie pan from Walmart because that's remotely the same thing.

Heffalump

Old timers will remember that my MIL was so awful at gifts.  There was the red romper she gave me, grown-up sized, but with snaps in the crotch.  I returned it to Walmart for a store credit and bought laundry detergent with the proceeds, LOL.  There was the ladybug pendant, and when you pushed the antennae, the wings parted to reveal a digital watch.  That was special.  Oh, and the tapestry bag, in a horse print.  It looked like those rolling bags that old ladies use to haul their groceries.  But in horsey tapestry.  I gave it to a friend whose daughter was really, really into horses at the time.  (She is a freshman in college now, which makes me feel super old.  I wonder if she still has the bag?)

Like this:




But in a print like this:




¯\_(ツ)_/¯

SaintPaulGal

I have a much-older half sister that I pretty much never see, not out of any hard feelings but just because we have nothing in common besides a bit of DNA and she lives super far away with her 9 (nine!) children.

She is famous for sending the most bizarre presents.  When I was a young teen I got a floor length purple nightgown with a little bow on the neck.  And purses. Good lord the purses.  Everything was always small-child-meets-old-lady styling.  She was a beauty pageant person and went on to work in retail merchandising before becoming a SAHM, so I know she knew better.  My sister has had even worse.  She is quite a bit younger than I am, which apparently means she is perpetually 5.  She is 19 now, and I think this is the first year she has gotten something other than a preschool sort of toy.  (This time it was an ugly scarf.)

Oh, and this year she sent an ornament of two snow-folk cuddling that says "engaged 2016."  We got engaged in 2015.  But oh well. We are indeed engaged, and this is 2016.  Best present ever from her.

ppgbeb

The worst thing I have gotten was during my teenage years, my father sent me a princess coloring book and a children's book on how to save money and budget.... With ages 4-10 on it.. I was 15 years old.... Lol

TheMostHappy15

Not a regular poster over here but this thread has cracked me up so much I wanted to join in, hope that's cool! I've gotten some strange presents from my extended family- one year when I was about 16 one of my aunts sent a gift that was addressed to both me and my (1.5 years younger) brother, and it was a single blue fluffy robe with stars on it. Still not sure if we were expected to share it or what... but to this day we have a joke where I wear it when I'm at my parents' house with him and he makes a big deal of how he wants his turn with it, lol.

My grandmother started sending me baby things- blankets, stuffed animals etc.- when I was about 17, just "for someday." The worst part was writing thank you notes for stuff like that, because what do you even say?

short+sassy

TheMostHappy15 said:

Not a regular poster over here but this thread has cracked me up so much I wanted to join in, hope that's cool! I've gotten some strange presents from my extended family- one year when I was about 16 one of my aunts sent a gift that was addressed to both me and my (1.5 years younger) brother, and it was a single blue fluffy robe with stars on it. Still not sure if we were expected to share it or what... but to this day we have a joke where I wear it when I'm at my parents' house with him and he makes a big deal of how he wants his turn with it, lol.

My grandmother started sending me baby things- blankets, stuffed animals etc.- when I was about 17, just "for someday." The worst part was writing thank you notes for stuff like that, because what do you even say?

Dear Grandma,

I hope you have been well.  Thank you so much for the baby blankets and onesies.  Have you, perhaps, been watching too many episodes of "16 and Pregnant"?  I promise to not use these for a very, very long time if you promise to stop sending me baby items.

Love,

@TheMostHappy15