Regifting is an art....I get so many wonderful things...I share what I get and often love what I give...I just don't need so much stuff....I believe people are genuinely pleased with the gifts I give them.
I am not somebody who likes stuff, for the most part. Like my mil gets me a little house for my "collection" every year - but the kicker? they are from the dollar store! I just keep those because some day she'll wonder where they are, but still when she has her 100 dollar a piece houses displayed... it makes me a little annoyed because I wouldn't even want an expensive one. I'd rather she just keep her dollar. *L*
I regift things like candles, picture frames, etc. Stuff that I hope the other person can use, when I can't or won't use it. I would never do something blatant.
I prefer to give people things they can use up rather than something that they have to find a place for in their home... gift cards, candles, an experience rather than an item. Because I hate clutter and I do not want to pass it on. Sometimes you have to pass it on though. *LOL*
I do get a lot of stuff from my step mom that I don't need or want (she believes in quantity rather than quality, so she tends to give out a lot of cheap gifts),
My step-mother is the same way! She gets tons of cheap gifts at Wal*Mart, and I don't shop at those kinds of stores. Most of what I use and like are from specialty shops, locally owned or made products, etc.
I regift, but I'm careful about it. I usually only do it with my sister or mother, I only give if I know the person would love it, and I often indicate that it's a 'regift' (or ask ahead of time if the person cares that it's a regift) and supplement the gift with a little something extra.
I have a notoriously cheap friend who once regifted me something she got at a shower ... candles with holders (which I don't use, I consider them to be clutter). The mini-card was in the bottom of the box, and one of the glass holders was broken!
I do think in our era of abundant "stuff" it is important to not waste, and regifting can be a good thing.
I like a nice clear house without stuff.........so I say regifting is fine. If I can't use it then I hope someone else can. My dh is totally agianst it.lol He thinks it is an insult to the buyer. I think if the buyer knows me they know what I can use if not then they shouldn't be upset by my regifting it to someone who can use it.
Also people need to start buying stuff like towels for gifts. They are pretty generic and most people can use more towels and if not they all know someone who can.
I once bought a friend some make-up-y like stuff for a small gift. I remember I was round her house playing "make-over" when she offered me the present I had bought her and said something along the lines of "Here, you can use these. I got them as a present from somebody and I don't want them"
The moral of this story: If you're going to re-gift, keep detailed records!
my mil cant resist sweaters, its better now that she is retired and doesnt work in a clothing store. it took about 6 years of marriage before I was able to say --I can only wear cotton sweaters, no wool, no poly blends. some years she still forgets. For a while it was ridiculous she worked at a clothing store and would shop all year - I'd get maybe 10 sweaters a year. And it just doesnt get that cold here and I am warm blooded, I just dont wear heavy sweaters. But they are really nice sweaters. I was thinking of regifting one for next year instead of just straight to goodwill like I usually do.
I think regifting would be fine as long as it is in good taste. I agree that only if the person who bought it for will never find out and the person you are giving it too would really love it. Also, personalize it as much as you can. Use their favorite color to wrap it in and include a personal note stating how much this gift made you think of them.
How did you find out the balance of the gift card? If you found out by checking the balance, then someone else might have your gift card number and being using it for purchases. I've heard a lot of stories of people who had their gift card numbers stolen and used online. If the person told you "here is your gift card for $18.98" then I would think it is a regift. If you found out the balance by checking online or at the store, you might want to ask the person who bought it just to verify.
It's better to get nothing than to get something obviously cheap and truly useless.
My fiance's friend insists on getting me at least one ceramic 99 Cent Store horse every year for Christmas and another 1-3 for birthdays. I love horses, but there's no way I'd ever set up these tacky things! But my little sister likes them for some reason, so I've given them all to her over the years. It isn't exactly regifting, because I never give in place of REAL gifts. But at least someone gets use out of the ugly little things. :blush:
I think regifting all depends on who gave the gift and why. It's truly awful to find out something you gave with love has been given away.
How did you find out the balance of the gift card? If you found out by checking the balance, then someone else might have your gift card number and being using it for purchases. I've heard a lot of stories of people who had their gift card numbers stolen and used online. If the person told you "here is your gift card for $18.98" then I would think it is a regift. If you found out the balance by checking online or at the store, you might want to ask the person who bought it just to verify.
The PIN on the back wasn't scratched off at all, and the card didn't look new. It was scratched up.
A few months ago, i got my sister a really beautiful necklace. It had a rare-colored one-of-a-kind shaped stone. She loved it and took really good care of it. This Christmas, i opened up my gift from my friend and it was the necklace i had given my sister! My sister had given the necklace to our friend because she hated it! Our friend gave it to me because she thouhgt it was pretty. My sister never told her that i had given it to her before! My sister felt really bad when i came in the house wearing the necklace that she had given away!
Re-gifting is not always a bad idea. I have made very many people happy by re-gifting. I get many re-gifted items also, so it's not bad, as long as you don't hurt someones feelings in doing so!
We regifted a gift card to a fancy steakhouse we got from our car dealer, we gave it to someone who would enjoy a whole lot more than we would. (YES the gift card was brand new and never been used when we gave it to them!) I think regifting is okay if your careful and respectful.
My mil did however give me back a lotion that I had given to her. I figured she just forgot that I gave it to her. She didn't give it to me as a gift, just gave it to me saying that she didn't use lotion.
We regifted a big wallet/purse thing we got as a wedding present (who gives a wallet as a wedding present???) to my MIL and she's using it, so that's great. It was too big for either me or DH and it was a fairly nice item, real leather etc. We gave her choccies too
Speaking of wedding gifts, we got a santa claus cookie jar from my Aunt and Uncle and you could tell it was regifted! And no we didn't get married in December or anything like that. We got married in September! lol. I think its still in my mil's basement somewhere! lmao!
I get many re-gifted items also, so it's not bad, as long as you don't hurt someones feelings in doing so!
