NWR: Speaking of gift receipts and gift giving

indianaalum · March 2014

What do people think of re-gifting? Tacky, or the thought that counts?

Here is a scenario I encountered:

I received a gift ffor a holiday from someone that literally still had the gift tag on it that indicated that the person who gave it to me was the actual receipient of the gift. It was a nice gift and I actually felt kinda guilty that they bought me such a nice gift until I saw the "gift tag" that said to THEM, from another person.

So if that happened to you, would you be INSULTED or have the "AT LEAST THEY THOUGHT TO GIVE ME A GIFT" belief???

I admit I actually felt a little hurt

indianaalum · March 2014

shrekspeare said:

indianaalum said:

What do people think of re-gifting? Tacky, or the thought that counts?

Here is a scenario I encountered:

I received a gift from someone that literally still had the gift tag on it that indicated that the person who gave it to me was the actual receipient of the gift. It was a nice gift and I actually felt kinda guilty that they bought me such a nice gift until I saw the "gift tag" that said to THEM, from another person.

So if that happened to you, would you be INSULTED or have the "AT LEAST THEY THOUGHT TO GIVE ME A GIFT" belief???

I admit I actually felt a little hurt

Hey, free stuff is free stuff. I don't super mind. It might bug me for about half a second, but then I remember it was free! Even if I don't like the gift, I can always regift it to someone else. Of course, I would take the tag off it.

I edited to clarify in case this makes a difference. It's not like the person randomly gave a gift. It was for a "gift-giving" type of holiday where I also gave that person a gift, in case that makes a difference

netskyblue2 · March 2014

I think it's tacky. I know it's the thought that counts, but I can't help seeing it as the giver didn't WANT to get you a gift, and decided instead to give you something that they themselves didn't think was worth keeping.

I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions, but that's the impression I get.

grumbledore · March 2014

It was tacky as hell to leave the old tag on - the thoughtlessness of that would annoy me.

ScoutF · March 2014

I'm not opposed to it. The giver obviously thinks I would like it. If I don't, I'd try to return it or just forget about it. It's the thought that counts.

My grandma gave my sister and BIL a set or Corelle dishes that had been sitting in her garage unused since before my sister was born (so at least 25 years) as their wedding gift. Will they ever use it? Nope. But they were still very thankful that my grandmother thought of them, especially since it's so hard for her to get out now.

kgd7357 · March 2014

I'm okay with regifting if at least you re-wrap it!

KeptInStitches · March 2014

I'd at least take the tag off!

Cookie Pusher · March 2014

For me, it's dependent on how "me" the gift is. If it's generic, I'd be pretty peeved. However, if it's something that I would have picked out for myself while out shopping, I don't mind. But at least have the courtesy to take the tag off!

tammym1001 · March 2014

Was it a tag on a gift bag? I would never re-gift anything, but I have re-used cute gift bags. I would be mortified if I forgot to remove the tag from the bag and the person thought I had re-gifted something to them.

photokitty · March 2014

I am totally fine with regifting - giving or receiving. I think the regifter should go out of their way to make sure the recipient doesn't know it is a regift and the original giver doesn't know you regifted it.

HisGirlFriday13 · March 2014

I am fine with re-gifting, either giving or receiving, as long as the person has disguised the re-gifting.

Ex.: At Christmas, DH's BSC grandmother gave me a grey cardigan sweater that was size PL (petite large). I am 5'7" tall and a size 2. There is NO universe in which that was bought for me. As I was unwrapping it, I found the tag that said 'To Mom From Aunt' which clearly showed me DH's crazy Auntie had bought it for her mother for another holiday. (Also, crazy Auntie recognised it).

That was basically par for the course for granny, but I thought it was shitty.

indianaalum · March 2014

tammym1001 said:

Was it a tag on a gift bag? I would never re-gift anything, but I have re-used cute gift bags. I would be mortified if I forgot to remove the tag from the bag and the person thought I had re-gifted something to them.

no, it was a bubblebath gift set that actually came with a pre-made "gift tag" attached to the giftset. It was clearly to HER from someone else.

Blue_Bird · March 2014

I don't see anything wrong with it, but not taking the tag off is tacky. I think I'd be extra careful to make sure that didn't happen. I'm anal about gifts and presentation though. The only time I've ever re-gifted anything was for one of those "Chinese Gift Exchange" games, where some of what you get is going to be garbage anyway. What I thought was a throwaway gift, the woman actually loved though. Go figure.

On the other hand, I've received a couple of re-gifts (I'm assuming) from a co-worker. I assume this only because they were kind of oddball and smelled like mildew, lol. At first I was annoyed, but then I realized that this was one of those employee gift exchanges and none of us has a lot of money, so who am I to balk at a free gift? I couldn't use the wallet though. It just smelled too awful.

Blue_Bird · March 2014

Additionally, I have a cousin who buys things new (I think at Marshall's or something or HSN), and always leaves the expensive price tag on- always. No one is fooled. I think that's a lot more tacky than re-gifting.

larrygaga · March 2014

Yeah why the heck wouldn't they take the tag off??

s-aries8990 · March 2014

Yep with something as generic as a bubble bath set, I'd be pretty peeved too.

I think that re-gifiting is OK as long as the new recipient will ACTUALLY enjoy it.

afox007 · March 2014

I have no problem with re-gifting, but like a lot of PPs said they should at least put in enough time and effort to remove any evidence that it is being re-gifted.

I'll be honest I usually have a small stash of gifts to cover my ass in case I see someone I wasn't expecting around a holiday or bday. Some are unopened gifts that I personally wouldn't/couldn't use (thank you grandma for still thinking I am 16) and others are just things I've bought during a great sale and added to the stash. That said I always make sure that there is no evidence it was bought for me and I make sure to put some thought into who gets what.

LondonLisa · March 2014

It was really tacky to leave the tags on, but just for another perspective: A friend of mine graduated and was given a really nice necklace that was rather expensive from her aunt. Inside the bottom of the box was the tag from when it was given last to her aunt. She mentioned it to her mum (aunt's sister and showed the necklace). It turns out the necklace was something the aunt really, really wanted (it was a Bday gift to her a few weeks before, the mum was there when she opened it), but had recently lost her job and couldn't afford a gift for my friend so she regifted. Yes, she should have removed the tags, but money is tight for a lot of people now, so maybe just laugh it off and enjoy your gift. Try to give them the benefit of the doubt.

kitsunegari89 · March 2014

They might not have had the money to buy you such a nice gift, so rather than keeping it for themselves, they passed it on to you. I might have been a bit more careful about tags showing, but I think their intentions were pure. My solution in this and most other instances of questionable etiquette is to let it go. Very rarely do I encounter a situation that requires me to point out someone's blunders to them.

Inkdancer · March 2014

I have re-gifted in the case that it is something they would really love. One of my very good friends is a Jane Austen fanatic (did her senior thesis on Austen), so I re-gifted an Austen figurine to her. She loves it, and it stands on her desk at work. To me, I would much rather see something in hands that will use it.

Sars06 · March 2014

I would think, "Ooh, how embarrassing for them!" but it wouldn't actually bother me.

AllOnOneDay · March 2014

As long as the gift fits the occasion, and tags are removed, I'd rather someone enjoy whatever than me getting annoyed with it and trashing it eventually.

Two exceptions

1 - My best friend wigs out on regifting. We are snarky and crass. It's hilarious to create tags that something was regifted 10 times or whatever.

2 - Any soap, bubble bath, body wash, etc - a group of us gather those up every few months to donate to local shelters. Really, I don't need four bottle of lemon spring dew lotion, but there are far more who will get the enjoyment and be thankful.

NWR: Speaking of gift receipts and gift giving

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