I have a long-time friend who loves to shop, yet ALWAYS manages to re-gift to me at birthdays and Christmas. Why? What does that say to me about our friendship?
Please do not reply with "It's the thought that counts". That cliche doesn't apply to this situation simply because re-gifting is NOT a thoughtful act. Thanks.
2007-03-28 15:01:14 · 15 answers · asked by stephanieseymore 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I see no problem in re-gifting. I usually buy my gifts but if I recieve something that I already have one of or it isn't my particular taste then why let it go to waste? If I know someone else that might enjoy it then I usually regift it to them. Other times I may regift it at an office party or to someone that is more of an acquaintance. With all that said, money is no option and I have re-gifted things to friends as well as had things re-gifted to me.
2007-03-28 15:25:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know, I don't have a problem with re-gifting if it's cases of "My grandmother gave this to me, but I think you should have it, now, since you always liked it so much." In cases like that, whrere the fact of something's history makes it a better gift, its ok, but it should always be made clear that both parties know the history of the item.
Now, what your friend is doing is SO not on that level, and no, it's not ok. Is she giving things you know she had before, or are they specifically the things that you've bought her? Because that would be especially hurtful- like saying she didn't want what you gave her. I would actually ask her about it. If you've known eachother forever this ought to be a convesation you can have. Good luck.
2007-03-29 01:31:48 · answer #2 · answered by kivrin9 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing wrong with re-gifting. Some of the things that have become fine heirlooms were re-gifted dozens of times.
The only time it is NOT correct to re-gift is to present the item back to the person who originally gave it to you.
Are you aware of how vulgar it is to complain about a gift you've received? A gift is precisely that. It is not an obligation, nor is it an expectation. If you have a habit of making those mistakes, then it is something that requires your attention far more than whether or not your friend recyles her gifts.
2007-03-29 00:14:26 · answer #3 · answered by castle h 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is custom and etiquette in some countries that if one says one likes a piece of jewerly or anything within the home, that thing liked is given to the one who expressed the liking of said item.
There is the underlying assumption that a re-gift is something not wanted by the person doing the giving. If that person doesn't want it, why would I want it, unless said person, being my friend, knew that I thought the gift sitting in his/her home was awesome and so friend wanted to give it to me.
Even still, knowing that the gift was something not wanted by the giver somehow cheapens the giving of the gift to me as if to say no thought was put into the gift being given at all but it was just another way to clean house of unwanted gifts.
2007-03-28 22:28:46 · answer #4 · answered by lidera 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, I do not think it is OK. I believe it is like saying, "this wasn't good enough for me to keep, so here you take it."
I have given away gifts given to me that I know I will never use, but I always say something like, "I got these matching gloves and scarf for my birthday. I know I will never wear them and they are beautiful. Can you use them?" BUT I never just pass something off as a gift.
2007-03-29 04:44:48 · answer #5 · answered by Patti C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is tragic. It's not a matter of; "it's the thought that counts" because, clearly, there WASN'T any thought to begin with. The fact that income is not an issue is what makes this so pitiful.
Give your "friend" a taste of his/her own medicine...and make it nice and strong. Oh yes.
2007-03-28 23:53:55 · answer #6 · answered by Rain 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I give a gift, it belongs to its recipient. If it saves them from having to shop for a gift for someone else, I am glad. I give away a lot of jewelry, and sometimes it might not be to the taste of the person I gave it to, but their daughter might love it. I am glad. I never thought of how it might feel to the person they gave it to.
2007-03-28 22:06:21 · answer #7 · answered by apprenticeidiot 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) How do you know that it's a regift? Unless you know for a fact, I wouldn't really accuse her of anything.
2) She may not always remember to send you gifts on time, and those are the easiest thing to pack. Personally I wouldn't be too insulted if you can use it. My sister-in-law regifted the gift WE gave them at their wedding for our wedding. I was REALLY ticked off at her.
2007-03-28 22:05:12 · answer #8 · answered by FaZizzle 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think re-gifting is horribly tacky in any situation (good friends, office Christmas party, kid's school party, etc.) To me, regifting something to someone is like saying, "Here you go--this wasn't good enough for me, but it is for you!"
2007-03-29 10:42:33 · answer #9 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It seems you've come to your own conclusion here. Your friend clearly seems too lazy to think about what you might like and doesn't care about your feelings enough to worry that she's giving you a gift you gave her. She's not even subtle enough to give it to someone else you don't know.
2007-03-28 22:07:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋