Was I wrong to be offended that my boyfriend wanted to give me his old external hard drive for Christmas?

Question

My boyfriend asked me what I wanted for Christmas (cause I never talk about material things that I want, so he had to ask), and I said an external hard drive (cause I don't have one). Last week he told me that he is getting himself a brand new external drive, and that for Christmas he was just going to give me his old one (which is at least a year old, and 80 gigs).

I said, "Are you serious? You're going to give me your cast-off for Christmas?" and he said, "yeah, what's the problem?" and I said, "Can you at least gift wrap it?" and he said, "I didn't know you were going to get so snooty about it - that's a $200 drive! It has firewire!"

Every time I've talked to him since then he's talked about how he's not going to give me the drive anymore because I "snubbed" it.

Was I being snotty? I don't feel like I was.
(Just to give you the other side of the coin, I got him a brand new Wii game, a new DVD, four record frames, and a framed poster).

That drive might have been $200 when he bought it, but an 80 gig drive on ebay now goes for about 30 bucks.

Let me add, by the way, that he is loaded. At least 50 grand in the bank, brand new car, credit limit of 20 grand.

Answer 1

What a jerk! You need to show him that you asked this question on Y!A and let him see how the majority of people believe what he did was wrong. That could be your present to him!

What better present to an a$$hole than to show him that you don't give others used stuff for Christmas.

Answer 2

what an asshole....im sorry but yes you should be offended. he took the time to get himself something but couldnt take the time to think about you. christmas has changed into something terrible these days as giving gifts when it is supposed to be about family time and getting together, but as it has turned materialistic in todays life, ...the so called 200$ drive is only worth about maybe 80$ now. that 200$ he mentioned could get you a brand new 200 gig external with usb 2.0 which is faster than firewire btw and is also cheaper. the only thing faster than usb 2.0 is ethernet and external network drives are a bit more priceyer

Answer 3

You were not being snooty. Your boyfriend was selfish for giving you the old one and giving himself the new one. He should have given YOU the new one. It is a gift after all. The fact that he turned it around and got mad at you sounds like it could be a problem. Don't second guess yourself - your gut instinct is right. He shouldn't have given you an old gift and made you out to be the bad person. Careful with this guy - seems he can be selfish and that can really hurt you in the future, though I really hope it wont.

Answer 4

I think he needs a few lessons in gift-giving ettiquette. Even if it cost $200, I wouldn't feel right giving a hard drive to someone for a gift. It would be more appropriate for him to get you a new Christmas present and give you the hard drive separately. Also if it's a year old, it has depreciated in value and is def no longer worth $200.

Answer 5

Well it sounds like you were kind of snotty, but you have a right to be. I mean look at what your giving him, and he's giving you and old thing, not even buying one for you ? And, buying one for himself ? That is pretty selfish. But I think you could have reacted in a nicer way.

You should tell him how and why you feel this way. Tell him that you got him a lot of expensive things, and you feel like he's giving you just a gift that he has had, which isn't really a gift. But say it all in a nice way. Good luck !

Answer 6

Yes, you were being very 'snotty' to reject this 'hand me down' from your boyfriend. That 'used' hard drive is still worth at least TWICE what you spent on him ... and if anyone offered me a 'used hard drive' for FREE as any 'gift' I would say 'THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.' Computer parts are 'recycleable' and the BEST WAY to 'recycle' them is to pass them on to others who can use them ... if you don't get it now because you 'snubbed' it that's your problem ... but you were a total snot, and you need to apologize until you are blue in the face. Hard drives last a LONG TIME and an 80 gig hard drive is a WONDERFUL gift ... I had a 'hand me down' that I used for four years with NO PROBLEMS ... and I still have it, to give to someone who needs a good hard drive ... because my husband gave me another 'hand me down' with 'only' 250 gigs ... his computer hard drive is only 40 gigs, so it was a WONDERFUL gift!

Answer 7

wow what an expensive christmas.
i guess the way he saw it was that you wanted an external hard drive more than anything else and that would make the perfect present no matter how he gave it. i think us girls like to see everything nice, you know what i mean? wrapped up, looking all special. but your boyfriend probably didn't see it that way. it was just miscommunication. talk it out with him so everything clears up!

Answer 8

well honestly yeah it was because he didn't have to get you anything to begin with... and even thought it's used he coulda sold it on eBay or to a friend or something.. but Jesus is the reason for the season NOT presents sure they are nice and sure you spent a lot on him but like i said christmas is about Jesus's birthday and we should care more about giving than what we recieve so i suggest you appologize and tell him you would love to accept any gift he would like to give you

Answer 9

No, you weren't ._.;; What's his problem? Instead of buying you something nice for Christmas he decides to buy HIMSELF something nice and give you his garbage?

Maybe he's joking...maybe he pissed you off because he plans on surprising you? I hope so...cause if not, that's pretty lousy.

Answer 10

Drop the selfish Bast_ _ _ like he is hot!!!!

When he gives you the drive, I need for you to throw it at his head and hopefully it will knock some manliness into him.