Bad Gifts

[BrowderChick]

The holidays are here. Any stories about receiving bad gifts? Or and stories about having to return them?

[VBKatLou]

My mother and sister have this habit of giving me not what I want, but what they think I should have. They start bugging me in November for a list, but I rarely get anything that I put on it. I ask for PC games, I get a canaster set. I ask for art deco posters, I get country folk art. I ask for French Roast or Columbian coffee from Gloria Jeans, I get "Holiday something" with a bunch of cinnamon in it. I still have a whole bag of it from last year in the freezer and I know I'm going to get another bag this year. I just know it.

We have very different tastes a lot of the time. Take bubble bath/perfume. I prefer very light scents; woodsy, herbal. My sister always gets me stuff that smells heavily of coconut. Same with candles/tarts. I like "Clean Cotton" or "New Mown Grass". I usually get something that has a lot of vanilla in it which over powers everything. Did I mention that these are the scents that they like? :rollin:

Now the three of us have wised up over the years and we agree that we each have our own taste in clothes so we don't even bother buying each other outfits.

I don't understand it. We're really very close, but when it comes to presents, they don't know me at all.

[Mrelia]

Every year I get LOTS of bath sets...do my in-laws think I stink that bad??? "Cause my hubby doesn't think so!

All I ever ask for are toe socks and flannel sheet sets. *sigh*

If you can figure out where they buy the stinky candles, sometimes you can exchange them for a different scent, even without the receipt. Just remember to whine about allergies when you get to the return desk! :D

[Judith]

Originally posted by Mrelia
Every year I get LOTS of bath sets...do my in-laws think I stink that bad??? "Cause my hubby doesn't think so!



I think that means your in-laws don't know what you like. Cause that's what you get for someone when you can't think of anything else to get them.

Either that or your husband is sparing your feelings.

:D

[Madre Farbot]

I used to be very generous at giving gifts, but that's not to say that I've stopped being generous. It's just that I bought lots of stuff for my aunt and uncle, mum and friends. Now, this was the kind of stuff that I would've loved to get for myself, but was a bit skint or financially disadvanted. It just seems that this Christmas thing should really be for the kids, and ok, lovers and anyone else who feels like a kid.

I remember buying loads of nice trinkets and what have you for a someone who was special to me. But one day it just hit me, I dunno what made me think of it, I suppose I was remembering all the nice things I used to buy for her and some close friends and then looking down at my rather larger collection of mugs and wondering what the frell is it with these mugs!

So, last year I thought frell 'em all and went to the sex shop and bought 'em what they really wanted. This year, they'll be lucky if they even get a card from. Bunch o'muthas! :rollin:

P.S. I always look after me mum.

[samati75]

Oh bath sets are the worst! lol Anything gift-basket-y that they buy at the last minute with DUST still on it! You know what I'm talking about!!! What else? Hmmm... no that's pretty bad. My mom's hubby's parents get me that every year. I guess I should be thankful, but you know, the REAL grandkids get the good swag, and you have to open your presents in front of everyone, etc. etc....

[fermicat]

Some bath sets are yummy nice! But for a period of several years, I got really tired of getting "sun ripened raspberry" scented Bath & Bodyworks stuff. Enough already (besides anyone who knows me well would know my favorite was their "stress relief" scent).

[samati75]

Bwah, love that smell! But, if I was really nice, someone would get me some Beautiful by Estee Lauder. ;)

[Antrobus]

There's usually not much I want or need at Christmas. People will ask what I want and I'll say that I don't really know, but I'll usually have one little thing in mind.

One year I said that I wanted a pencil sharpener. Now that's a simple small gift, isn't it? Just a plain old pencil sharpener - not an electric one mind you!

So what DON'T I get that year? A pencil sharpener! Go figure.

This year I told me folks I could use a new set of sheets. Guess what I won't get?

[fermicat]

Originally posted by Antrobus
This year I told me folks I could use a new set of sheets. Guess what I won't get?

A pencil sharpener?

[who45]

I once got one of those dancing flowers from a great aunt. All I could do was smile (I tried...really I did) and say "Oh, how lovely". I think that was the time she started going senile.She would give strange things as gifts. Such as, a box of cat food to my cousin who didn't even have a cat and a box of napkins (the paper kind) that had flowers on it to my mother. Whenever she handed you a gift, you were kind of afraid to open it. You felt the urge to yell run, get out while you can.

[mgraylorn]

VBKatLou, you have a lot of stuff to pawn off onto other people at office parties, or white elephant gift exchanges -- or even give it back to the sender the next year!

I have one brother who always sends me a red amaryllis. He's done this for about 5 years. Never a pink one or white or striped - only red. He must think we throw them out after the season, but he should know better since our dad was quite a gardener. Amaryllis are very easy to grow, and the SO already had a couple (which were red), which have since budded more amaryllis, so we have a forest of red amaryllis! We should have a plant sale. Just once I wish my brother would send some other frellin' color!

[witchdoctor]

The assortment of bad processed cheese spreads, summer sausage and sprinkling of hard candies from Hickory farms. Okay, the summer sausage is okay sometimes and the sweet hot mustard is good, but I still have a couple sets of these food gifts in the pantry, that no one is going to eat. I finally opened the mini-danish ham that came in one of those and it turned out to be chopped pressed salty ham (Spam) instead of an actual canned ham. I tried a couple bites, then gave the rest to the dog.

[Clarsax]

I haven't gotten too many bad gifts. However there is this one book I read once and didn't like. I bought a copy and after reading it, stuck it on a shelf. I told my mom a few times about how much I didn't like the book and was thinking about getting rid of it. Not long after that she gave me a copy of that same book for a Christmas present. I let her know a few months later that I had read that book and didn't like it too much. When my birthday rolled around she got me -- another copy of that same book. Then a Christmas later, same book again. Then on my last birthday - surprise - I got yet another copy of that book.

One of the worst presents I ever got was something I already owned. I loaned a book out to someone and she gave it back to me as a Christmas present.

[witchdoctor]

Originally posted by mgraylorn
,,,,, Just once I wish my brother would send some other frellin' color!

So tell him. Or hint by talking about the gorgeous (insert color) amaryllis you saw. Or tell him how great all the red ones are doing, but now you need white or pink one. That way you aren't insulting or belittling his previous gifts.

[Riot Chik]

Candles and more candles . . . they must think I have a lot of power outages. :rollin:

[Shipscat]

So how do you get the amaryllis to bloom again? I've done everything they tell you to do and I can't get them to bloom a second time. They'll grow just fine...

[Antrobus]

Candles can really get overdone! I try to avoid them like the plague when it comes to gift giving. The only kind that I would consider giving are the beeswax candles! They make a nice gift - if you're a bee. Just kidding, they are nice candles!

As for that pencil sharpener, I don't need one anymore since a family of beavers moved in next door!:D

Actually, someone finally did give me one!!

Yea - what about the Amaryllises!? - or is it Amarylli??

[BrowderChick]

Originally posted by witchdoctor
The assortment of bad processed cheese spreads, summer sausage and sprinkling of hard candies from Hickory farms. Okay, the summer sausage is okay sometimes and the sweet hot mustard is good, but I still have a couple sets of these food gifts in the pantry, that no one is going to eat. I finally opened the mini-danish ham that came in one of those and it turned out to be chopped pressed salty ham (Spam) instead of an actual canned ham. I tried a couple bites, then gave the rest to the dog.

Oh I know, doesn't that suck? I have a few of them here and there and I give them right back to them as a gift. That is so tacky but I dont care. Or i just chuck it up and serve it when they come over.

[BrowderChick]

I dont mind the candles, I do burn alot of them. Bath sets are always welcome as long as they are from Bath and Body and in certain scents. I have allergies so most of them go on to become gifts for other people. I will tell people if I dont like something and I tell them I have an allergy to it and ask politely if I may exchange it. My mom is notorious for giving me clothes. Sometimes she gets something I actually like. If its not something I like I give it to my sister and tell mom that it didnt fit me right. This year she said she is buying me a digital camera!!!!!!!! Yay!! Lets hope I actually get it and it will be compatable with my new puter since nothing I had on my old one is. The worst gift i think I ever got (but used anyways) was a tool set with a drill when I moved into my house. I was told to use it for repairs. I also got a bag of costume jewelry. What was up with that? I mean a huge bag of it. When and where am I supposed to wear that? Made $40 at a garage sale with it though. :) I never ask for anything because Christmas is for the kids and I have 27 kids to buy for every year and 1 more added this year. I dont ask for anything but if they insist then I will say get me a gift certificate to the mall. No specific store. I then go and spend it on my daughter or someone who needs something.

[PrairieScaper]

Originally posted by Mrelia
All I ever ask for are toe socks and flannel sheet sets. *sigh* I have a still-unworn pair of toe socks that I received last Christmas and would be more than happy to re-gift them to you, Mrelia! Guess this is just another case of one person's treasure. . . :D

[BrowderChick]

Those are great for lounging around. But they dont keep your feet all that warm. You need your toes together for that. :):):)

[Mrelia]

Are you kidding??? Toe socks keep your toes in individually wrapped comfort!

And for the record, I will be happy to dispose of any unwanted toe socks anyone receives during the holiday season!:D

If you get bath stuff or clothes you don't want, check the phone book for the nearest women's shelter, they're usually very appreciative of nice toiletries & warm clothes of all sorts. Sometimes they've got folks come in with nothing more than the clothes on their backs.

Books I don't care for go either to the nearest book exchange for store credit or to an elder care group. The latter is where all the romance novels I end up buying in box lots so I can get the good SF that's mixed in. Last year I got a tax deduction form from this one charity for the "approximate value" of my donations. Yikes! If I made enough money to pay taxes (I've got a little tax deduction already) I'd have saved a LOT!

[BrowderChick]

I do donate to the local womens shelter. ( I was a member myself once) I also donate all of my daughters old things to charities like the Ronald McDonald house and to local shelters. I have tons of clothes and toys to give them every year. My sister and I read alot of books. What we read, we exchange with eachother and then give them to the library. They have a dept that distributes them to where ever they are needed. (They sort by topic). I admit to keeping a few for my personal library. One of these days I will clean that out as well. It's gottenout of hand. There are so many. I also have a friend who is the Head of Juvenial for the local police and I give things to her for the kids she brings in for shelter. A few years ago we all pitched in for a huge fish tank in the shelter for the kids to learn how to take care of them. Kept them busy and their little minds learned something new.

As to the socks :) I love them! Just for me personally they aren;t good to wear outside in the snow. :):):):):) I prefer the insulated ones for that.

[Mrelia]

Well, you live just a leetle bit to the north of where I do. It probably doesn't get as cold down here. Our high today was 65F.

[BrowderChick]

Originally posted by Mrelia
Well, you live just a leetle bit to the north of where I do. It probably doesn't get as cold down here. Our high today was 65F.

It was freezing rain all day and more snow for tomorrow. It turned what snow we got the other day to ice. I really don't like tht kind of weather. I will trade you. :):)

[Mrelia]

No thanks! :ewink:

[BrowderChick]

I don't mind. I just got a new snowblower to do the deed for me. :) I just wish I could find my car after the plows go through.

[Mrelia]

WooHoo! I just caught my hubby stashing some toe socks in his closet. (He didn't see me)
:D

[BrowderChick]

Whoo Hoo We know what you are getting!!!!!!!!!

:):):):):):):)