Regifting: Your philosophy and experiences

[MIB41]

OMIGOD. We had this discussion via email at work. And the answers we got had me on the floor. The BEST one came from my boss. I MUST share!

He's only done the Secret Santa experience once...and with VERY good reason. The woman whom he was giving gifts to (who had no idea it was him) told him DAILY how much she hated the gifts she was getting from her Secret Santa. She hated them so much she gave them to HIM for his wife!
There was only one gift he didn't get back and that was money. He gave her ten bucks on the last day because he felt so bad. The day of the reveal was rough for that lady. She turned about three shades of scarlet.

Another good one was this guy's son who was given a Nativity scene...for Hanukkah! His father said, "It's the thought that counts. I think..."
That got recycled.

And then we had a lady who had forgotten who gave her a blender. She accidentally recycled it right back to her. Oooops! AWKWARD!

Honestly, I only recycle Christmas bags. I'm a pretty easy buy because those who give me gifts know specifically what I like. It's been a very "Mego" Christmas this year.

[Adam West]

I'm really not into regifting unless it is something I know I will not use and it is something I know the receiver will like.

I have been on both sides before. I remember a couple of years ago purchasing what I thought were nice gifts for the employees who worked for me which was a Starbuck Coffee Mug and Starbucks Gift cards for all of them. I only received a thank you from one or two and was so turned off by it I decided not to purchase holiday gifts since. Most of the employees who didn't even acknowledge the gift are gone and I thought to myself today that I really shouldn't still hold a grudge about it especially considering that I have a new staff so I'm going out today and purchasing a bottle of wine for everyone. I figured if they don't drink; they can always regift it and that's something that doesn't bother me (I don't know who does or who doesn't).

On the receiving side, the worst gift was a wedding gift we received from an aunt. It was a cheap porcelain bird. It wasn't even the price that mattered. It was covered in dust as was the box and had a musty smell so it had to have been something sitting in her basement for years. It was the lack of thought that went into it that was disappointing. If it was something that held significance to her or it was a monetary issue; I would have thought differently of it. I remember my mom was highly embarassed since it was her sister and apparently she was notorious for doing this.

[Gorn Captain]

For my last birthday, my sister gave me a box of stuff that I knew was sitting on her shelves last time I visited her. A book, a DVD, all stuff I didn't want or need.
Since we didn't want to pass on the bad karma that came with these objects, we chucked them in the fire. We sent them straight back to hell.
And to think that, during her last break-up with a boyfriend, she would have left empty-handed if I hadn't gone with her to see a lawyer. She eventually got $75,000.
No good deed goes unpunished.

[Gorn Captain]

I hereby welcome all your unwanted (toy) Christmas gifts.
They'll go to a great home....
I know a lot of you will get Retro Mattels that you well and truly hate....

[BlackKnight]

When I get something, I absolutely don't want ..., but know another would enjoy it ..., I re-gift. This doesn't happen much, but if someone else would enjoy it, I see no Crime.

Where Re-gifting can lead to a heated debate ..., is if the item re-gifted , is such of something Nobody wants to begin with..., Then try and take that back to the store, if you can.

[HardyGirl]

One year, my old job gave the whole staff sald dressing making kits, complete w/ decanters. Since I always buy my dressing, I gave it to this one woman I knew would love it as a housewarming gift. She still uses that decanter today.

[Rallygirl]

My flea-marketing MIL usually gives such horrible gifts that they almost always end up in the White Elephant Bingo pile when my extended maternal family does Christmas a week or two into January.

I am shuttering even thinking about what is heading my way in a two days! But on a positive note, they absolutely crack people up during white Elephant Bingo.

[Cmonster]

I do it ALL the time, because I VERY rarely get something I want or need. Admittedly, I'm a hard guy to buy for because I do extreme things. It'd be really hard for someone to track down a certain pair of freediving fins, a specialty, limited run speargun from Portugal, or specific skydiving equipment. Those aren't things you can get anywhere. I guess you'd call them specialty items. I dunno.

That stuff is also not cheap... An ex-girlfriend many years ago, decided she was gonna get me a new chute. She took one look at what they cost, and I wound up with a swatch, which I promptly regifted... When she asked one day, why I never wore it, I simply replied; "You should have went with the parachute..."

If I'm going to give someone a gift, I usually give a piece of my art. A sketch, painting, resin kit, custom figure, etc...

SC

[Gorn Captain]

It'd be really hard for someone to track down a certain pair of freediving fins, a specialty, limited run speargun from Portugal,

Let me check my pile of Portugese spearguns, and I'll get back to you....

[RG]

most stuff I get is from my family ... so it's stuff like underwear, socks, etc. stuff I can use even if I don't like it ... like I have a rainbow of colors in underwear ... sure I feel odd wearing purple breifs but hey at least I didn't have to spend hobby money on a pack shorts myself LOL LOL. I have re-gifted, but stuff I get from like my aunt, episode one childs place setting anyone??? nothing like eatting off the face of Jar Jar ... so I gave it to my cousin's little boy who didn't care who's face he ate off of just as long as it was cartoonish.

[Duncan]

... like I have a rainbow of colors in underwear ... sure I feel odd wearing purple breifs...

Just get yourself a Hulk T shirt, and call it Underoos.

[saildog]

Just get yourself a Hulk T shirt, and call it Underoos.

[kingdom warrior]

It all depends. If it's something good I'll re-gift it for someone. If it's crap it's going into the garbage. I don't give people half *** thoughtless gifts.....

[saildog]

I think the whole gift giving thing crossed a line way back. This whole "Christmas as an Industry" has people giving gifts out of obligation and that has led us to the re-gifting dilemma.

I get called "Grinchy" for my opinions on this quite frequently, but giving gifts out of a perceived obligation is horse**** to the nth degree. No wonder people give ****ty gifts and then pass them on to others. It is the logical eventuality of what has become a farce and proof that the spirit is gone out of this holiday.

If you give a gift....from the heart...you ain't gotta put any freaking thought into it. If you can't give it from the heart you shouldn't have to give one. If you give a gift from the heart, there is no expectation of any gift in return. That's how it works.

[Mikey]

It all depends. If it's something good I'll re-gift it for someone. If it's crap it's going into the garbage. I don't give people half *** thoughtless gifts.....

Yep, same here