I personally think it is okay as long as you are not offending anyone. But if do it to the point that you can't keep track of who you got the gift from, then I think it's awful.
My mother-in-law actually kept a gift that my husband and I bought for her for 2 years, and then gave it back to us at Christmas. I was speechless! I didn't know whether to drop it or embarrass her......what would you do??
2007-06-11 10:26:15 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
First, keep track of the "provenance" or "chain of custody" of an item. This should be basic for enduring items. The lack of such is how items of value end up in dumpsters, yardsales and worse. Include a note with the item indicating something like either "I found this in [city & date]" or "I know you enjoy [whatever] and thought you'd like this [whichever] from [whenever].
Now people may cherish what was once owned, even for a short time, by Lincoln or Einstein or Washington. A distant relative of the future might seek out something from *any* of their ancestors, something the person had crafted or a souvenir from a vacation.
Relative to the mother-in-law who didn't keep track, discuss it with your spouse, as to whether this was either a deliberate slight or whether it might be a sign of her diminishing mental capacity.
What should you do? :-) Only give her things that you'd like to receive back again.
2007-06-11 22:17:51 · answer #1 · answered by h_brida 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't bring myself to do it, but if I did I would keep track of where the gifts came from. I've never gotten anything back that I gave someone else, but my husband has. He made some wise crack about how much his gift cost him when he bought it and everyone got a good laugh at the expense of my father-in-law.......never happened again.
2007-06-11 19:11:21 · answer #2 · answered by EvilWoman0913 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like re-gifting if it's done in a considerate manner; if you give me something because you truly believe I will like it, then I may even appreciate it more when it's recycled in some manner (it doesn't even have to be brand-new -yes, I admit I'm a tree-hugging hippie, but I truly think there's too much consumerism, too much waste.. most of my favorite things are used).
However, if someone re-gifts just to get rid of something they didn't like, I think it's very tacky. And to re-gift something to the person who gave it to you is pretty inconsiderate and careless too! It shows she doesn't really care about what she's giving you or what she got from you, she probably just wanted to get rid of something she had left laying around. Either too cheap or too lazy to go find something suitable.
Still I don't think I'd bring it up, it is probably not worth the trouble. Unless your relationship is pretty lousy anyhow, forget it. But it was a stupid thing to do.
2007-06-11 20:02:23 · answer #3 · answered by Sheriam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is fine as long as you don't give someone back a gift that they gave to you. And make sure that the gift is something that the person will actually like. That's always nice.
2007-06-11 18:19:54 · answer #4 · answered by Lissa 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Re-gifting is fine if the gift is actually something nice. I've received beautiful crystal vases and picture frames that just didn't work well in my home (I have a rambunctious little boy) and I re-gifted those (they were still in their boxes). Anything that you don't like or doesn't fit should be returned or given away.
Just be sure you are careful about who you re-gift to! I can't believe your MIL did that...that was very tacky. I would have said something!
2007-06-11 18:16:14 · answer #5 · answered by fun_purple_beach 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, I guess your M-I-L isn't too meticulous about keeping track of her gifts... I would of laughed and told her something like, "Oh, I guess you did not have a use for this gift we gave you". Life is way to precious to get all bent out of shape with her. React to her as you would have with your own mom.
Re-gifting is a great way to recycle...as long as your giving them a gift you think they would like. I don't see much difference from giving gifts that I buy when they are on sale and waiting to see who would like it. It's not like I'm going to give my dad a barbie doll, just because I have it (actually, he may like that).
2007-06-11 17:43:22 · answer #6 · answered by ohbrother 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would def. drop it. She probably really hated it and couldn't wait to give it back to you. What a great passive aggressive move on her part.
Little Story:
My Sister-in-law was given the horrendous turtle lamp for her birthday. I remember seeing the box at her house. Well, 6 months later I opened my birthday gift from her and my brother. Same fricken lamp....it still had a piece of old gift wrap stuck to the box. EEeeee I was pissed. (My brother is very well off so no need to re-gift) So guess when she got for Christmas? That turtle lamp!!! And when she opened I said...and don't you dare try to give that back to me or my sister. ***snicker
2007-06-11 19:15:11 · answer #7 · answered by Yvonne 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is tacky to "re-gift". It makes you appear too cheap to buy a gift and it gives the impression that the gift -receiver is not good enough for a new gift. If you don't like a gift, give it away. Don't disguise it as a gift that you purchased and give it as a present.
2007-06-11 17:32:59 · answer #8 · answered by TwinkaTee 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wait 2 years and give it back to her say you liked the one she gave you so much that you thought it would make a nice gift for her. lol
2007-06-11 19:04:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Whenever I give a gift, I tell the person that if they can't use it, then my gift is that they can re-gift it to someone else and save themselves a shopping trip.
When I receive a gift I can't use, I give it away but not as a gift.
.
2007-06-11 17:33:35 · answer #10 · answered by Kacky 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋