Wedding Etiquette Forum

Help me shop

What would you get a 52 year old dad for his birthday?
He doesnt like sports, or hunting, or any of the typical "guy stuff"

He loves star trek and law and order, but wont watch a rerun, or a movie twice.

He owns a transportation company (taxi, limo, towncar) and is super busy all the time.

BUT I'm stuck and dont know what to get. The only thing I can think of is work related.. and I hate doing that. what should I get?

What would you get your dad?
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Re: Help me shop

  • We stopped buying our parents gifts years ago.  We just send cards.  They don't need anything you could pick out and then you end up giving them something they don't really want but feel obligated to like or try to use.  Undecided

    How about a gift card to a nice restaurant in town, or to his favorite restaurant?  Or if he and your mom go to movies, maybe a movie theatre gift card with enough on it to buy 2 movie tickets and some popcorn and drinks. 
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  • My dad is a PITA to buy for.  What he does not have he will buy himself because of the good deals right now.  It's annoying.

    My dad is an engineer, so I got him a bunch of DVD's on Engineering Diasters, Architectural Wonders, etc.

    Can you ask your mom (or his wife)?  Last yeat my dad really only wanted work shirts.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • edited December 2009
    my mom told me to get hims sock. ha.
    and my parents are lame. deff don't go to movies:(
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  • Does he read?  What about electronics?






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • oh.. he's into music! but I feel like he's got alll he can get for that..
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_shop-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ecf620e3-84b5-4aa9-97ab-b5fee3b7428bPost:8bf1170b-4c05-4166-9774-bea9f305d0fc">Re: Help me shop</a>:
    [QUOTE]oh.. he's into music! but I feel like he's got alll he can get for that..
    Posted by kkchisholm[/QUOTE]

    Does he use ITunes or Amazon to download music?  You could him giftcards for one of those.

    For my ILs, the four of us just do a fancy dinner out together as our Christmas presents to each other.  Can you suggest and plan something like that?
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  • Going off of Kate's suggestion - does he drink? What about a nice bottle of scotch or wine?
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  • All jokes aside I think I may actually get my dad a home brewing kit to make beer for Christmas.  He might only use it once but at least it's something different.  They're only $30 for the simplest kit, too.  Parent shopping definitely gets harder year after year. 
  • Gifts I have bought my dad - cds of artists he likes on the cbc, obscure kinds of beer from europe, tie clip, books about history or interesting people, kitschy stuff.
  • I like the alcohol suggestion if he drinks.  He can enjoy it at his leisure.  A nice bottle of scotch or whiskey/bourbon.
  • I dont know about there but the liquor store here sells TONS of gift sets of alcohol, with nice glasses  for whatever kind of alcohol it is. What about a hat? tickets to see a show or go to a convention type show he might be interested in (food fest, beer fest, home show, home and garden)? slippers? gardening tools? info/hobby books?
  • I actually like the hat idea. we don't have liquor stores here, I'd have to go to New Hampshire for a gift set and I would have no idea what to get.
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  • Can you ask your mom what he likes to drink or if he does at all? A lot of men like wiskey, rye, bourbon, etc. Maybe even gin?
  • I've gotten my dad so far, a garmin, new pots and pans, a gift card for the grocery store, and some old folk music CD's that he LOVES.
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  • Are there any magazines he likes?  You could get him a subscription.  What about food?  Cookie of the month club, or fruit or something like that.  My dad golfs, so I can always default to that stuff. . . golf glove, golf balls, whatever.  You said he likes music. . . concert tickets?  Does he play/record?  If so, what about something for that?  If he just listens, maybe some ipod accessories, or even an external harddrive to backup his music on.
    DIY & Planning | Married 

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    Dresses may be easier to take in than let out, but guest lists are not. -- kate51485
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