November 22, 2008
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Regifting
I had never even conceived of the idea of regifting until I met my wife.
Regifting is where a person takes a gift that they received (hopefully unopened and unused), and gives that gift to someone else. My wife receives these gifts and she immediately thinks she should not open them so she could turn around and reuse them.
I was mortified by the idea. I couldn’t believe she was going to take something that someone gave her and turn around and give it to someone else. It felt like a slap in the face. Now I am a little older and I understand the concept.
Would you feel less special if you knew you received a gift that was regifted?
Comments (118)
Depends on what the gift is and how much I like it, I guess.
Yes. I guess it really depends if the idea behind it was “well I want to return this but Nick would love it.” or “I hate this I’ll just pass it along to Nick.”
The latter would piss me off, honestly.
not really if they knew it was something i liked, but if they didn’t put any thought into it, i’d be disappointed.
Yes, totally.
That woman’s face expression tells it all!
i guess i would feel kind of crappy if i knew, but, otherwise it would be o.k. we get a lot of books and toys (sometimes ones we already have) on Christmas and the kids birthdays. I have actually thought about giving them to their friends on their birthdays… I guess it makes sense, especially if you get clothes and stuff that are the wrong size for your kids and you don’t really know where they came from and don’t know where to return them sometimes. It is also super cool when you try to return something without a receipt and you find that the item is on clearance for 49 cents now, so, you just might as well keep it.
i have sold things on ebay that were new that i received as a gift, that i didn’t like. guess i suck too.
“hopefully unopened and unused”….wishful thinking.
I wouldn’t like it if I knew a gift I had given was regifted because then it’s like: FAIL.
No… sometimes give agains end up really making someone elses day!
Yes, I would.
I don’t think I’d like it if the person TOLD me it was a regift… but I see nothing wrong with having something you know you won’t use or need and knowing someone who will make better use of it.
I don’t think anyone ver regifts things that are of great significance or are from people of significance… but a soap basket… sure.
This reminds me of the story I heard of the man who bought a rubber stamp that said, “Angus McCreish wishes you the same.” Then he used it to stamp all the Christmas cards he received. Finally he wrote on the envelope “Return to Sender” and popped it in the mailbox.
He was either named Scrooge or he was a Scotsman or both!
You know, it’s really not all that insulting. Someone gives you, say an elephant end table. You clearly don’t want to hurt their feelings but at the same time there is no way that you’re proudly displaying an elephant end table in your home. Your friend is an elephant enthusiast so you carefully regift, making sure that those 2 circles of friends don’t interact with one another. It’s quite the social networking tapdance to keep from offending someone. But at the same time you pray that the person who got you the well-intentioned horrid thing in the first place takes a little time to get to know you better so future gifts are more to your sense of style.
Depends on whether i gav the gift for the sake of gving the gift or if i sincerely wanted thm to have it…
i regift… but after i open it to evaluate who would want it the most. Usually those gifts are random… -adieu, stace
@FunnymanGeorge - lol you also pray they don’t ask you what you did with it… where did you put it?
@Grampa_David - lol! cheapoooo… wouldn’t he wonder if there was money in the envelope?
-adieu, stace
I would feel bad… maybe as a white elephant gift
A little bit.
Really depends on the gift. Most of mine are unltra personal like mix CD’S, orange gummy pumpkins, shoes in ther size, clerance jewelry, vials of rose shaped nail polish…or impersonal like gift cards, so I don’t see that happening TOO often.
Though books in my circle of friends seem to change hands all the time. More the merrier, there. I couldn’t care less who’s hands they wind up in.
GIFT RECEIPTS, people!!! I always include gift receipts when I give gifts, along with a note asking the receiver to please return or exchange the gift if it’s the wrong size, color, or they just don’t like it.
I wouldn’t feel bad about receiving a recycled gift, as long as it wasn’t from me in the first place.
depends.
it could potentially be awkward knowing it was regifted
but hey a gift’s a gift.
haahah..i done that before..
Twice..
@Grampa_David -oh my gosh-that’s too funny. then again, he was probably related to our side of the family
I have no problem with regifting-doing it, or receiving. As long as it’s something useful and wanted, why not? The general rule is, you don’t tell anyone tho.
If the gift fit me, I wouldn’t be offended.
That’s a practical use of something they didn’t care for.
(anybody not supporting commercialism/materialism/capitalism is JUST FINE by me!)
No..I might like the regift..
yes totally
Not necessarily. I think passing a gift on to a more interested party can be a very good, practical idea. If I like a gift, I like it regardless of its origins (unless it’s hot). Now if they’re randonly passing out junk, that’s not good. My extended family runs a white elephant gift exchange each year. Occasionally there is re-gifting of junk. If I get a hold of some of it, I throw it away rather than inflict it on someone else the next year.
Now if I found out a gift I’d given had been re-gifted, then I might be disappointed. I’d rather get a bad gift than give one.
My cousin gave me something on which the expiration date had passed, and I was surprised but didn’t say anything. Then later I found a card in the bag, addressed to her from someone else. It was just so clear that she felt she had to give me something because it was right after my birthday, but I didn’t expect anything because we had an agreement not to give gifts. I was more amused than hurt, but if I would ever regift something I’d make sure neither the original giver nor the receiver knew. Still, I’d feel dishonest, so I’d probably not do it.
It wouldn’t bother me. In fact a couple Christmases ago, I was given a regift. I had no problem with it because I liked the gift. I also understand that sometimes people have to regift if they can’t afford to buy everyone something.
Yeah, I would.
Nah. As long as it’s a good gift.
Nope, I mean if they didn’t want or need it, and thought I did, why shouldn’t they give it to me???
Didn’t you ask this question once before?
Anyway, regifting makes sense if you receive something that you don’t really need/want but you know someone who would really need/want the item.
Of course, if you are doing it just to get rid of that Santa tie or that neon beer sign, it would not be that special, unless the you know the person really really wanted one.
Oh, and, no, I wouldn’t mind getting a regift if I needed it or wanted it.
a gift is a gift and I appreciate it anyway. I love gifts.
i’d rather not know, but i don’t think i’d feel less special.
especially this year when the economy isn’t doing so hot and most people are cutting back on holiday spending.
No, because what difference is there between the person taking it back to the store and refunding it for cash that they end up spending on me? None. I mean, if you open up a new pair of size 8 womens running shoes this Christmas…and you don’t wear that size…by all means gift them to me. I won’t mind at all! **The same applies to edible items (not underwear), candles, lotions, and all things girly.
is it a car?
i’ve always wanted to but i want to open the gift soooo bad!!!!
Hmm, depends on the gift & who its from.
If my grandma gave me some granny panties that just didn’t fit her quite right. I might have the throw a question mark to that motive. What are you trying to say grandma?
No, but I would feel bad if I gave something to someone and they gave it to someone else.
Yeah =[
No. But I’m a jerk and I regift all the time.
My cousins, they make more money than us, regift their presents from work and give them to us. It’s kind of annoying. They think we won’t know, but we do. It just makes the person look stupid and selfish.
If it was something I liked then it wouldn’t really bother me, but if it was just a lazy attempt at gift giving then I’d be a bit insulted
yeah
Yes. I don’t always like receiving gifts in the first place, because I generally find them meaningless (when given only because of a holiday). Giving a gift to someone as a perfunctory gesture at a holiday time is very hollow in the first place, but regifting is a slap in the face to the original giver and the final recipient. It basically says that you don’t care about either of them.
If I got a gift they knew I would like… no.
It’s only regifting if you get caught!!
Eh..depends on the gift. If it is from someone who is going to get me
a lousy gift anyway because they don’t know me very well and are just
doing it out of obligation or they are lousy at gift giving then it
doesn’t matter. To a person who loves gifts, “a gift is a thought you
can hold in your hand.” A great gift says, “I know who you are, what
you like, I was thinking of you and thought this would really make you
happy.” While it is possible to regift and miraculously have it
be perfect for the person, chances are high that it will just be an
average gift. I hate it when people have the form or image of the
reality but not the reality itself. Too many things that were inspired
by love or wisdom have become traditions with no pure motivation behind
them. I think God hates it too. We don’t need rules when we act out
of love.
Side note: if someone just doesn’t have the money to do otherwise, perhaps the thought that they made the sacrifice of what they had or wanted to make someone else happy instead should be appreciated. I’m not sure if I would care if someone regifted something I gave them. I don’t think I like it, but shame on me for getting them something that they didn’t think was worth keeping. I better get to know them a little better.
Oh, last year my family did regifting with one another. We all knew we were doing it. We took things that we thought someone might like and added it to the normal presents since we had less money last year. I actually got some great gifts, stuff I wanted, like a used but working flat iron. My hair is straight enough for me to not bother to get one myself, but those things come in handy. My little 10 year old brother gave me gifts that were lousy as far as what I would have wanted, but he had so much passion and love in giving them that it was really touching and meaningful. If a gift is supposed to make someone feel loved, his definately did it.
How did you meet your wife?
unrelated really, but,this post made me think of the crappiest gift i have ever received. One year, I received a Clinique bonus. That was it. The bonus is something you receive free when you buy a full priced item. Usually the bonus has tiny little bottles of stuff. Anyway, I like them, but, thought it was an odd Christmas gift.
If it was a gift that had some thought in it then I probably wouldn’t want to get rid of it. However if it were a gift that clearly was bought as the ” I am supposed to get her a gift so here i is” gift with no thought given ( like the stupid sweaters my FIL used to insist on buying even though we gave him gift ideas) and they don’t give a gift reciept with it, it would be better to give it to someone else than to toss it.
I usually just ask people I know if they want it, I don’t really “gift” it.
Although I find it real funny that she does that, I also think it somewhat takes away from the holiday experience. You know the whole giving and recieving — truthfully! Lol.
Not if it was something I liked or wanted. It doesn’t really matter to me HOW the person got the thing just so long as they know I would like it.
@kenwats - Ha ha ha! So true!!
no a gift is a gift. It wouldnt bother me.
If they knew I would appreciate it a lot more than them, then I wouldn’t really care.
If it’s something small, generally, no. If it’s like, something really beautiful and gorgeous and something I thought someone bought special for me, I might be a little miffed.
If someone gives you something and you don’t really like it or don’t want it then I see no harm in giving it to someone else. It’s your present, do what you want with it.
Yes if it was for my birthday or something, but no if it was like, “Hey, someone gave me this thing, and I thought it was totally you, do you want it?”
Depends on the situation
Like if you’re poor and dont have money to buy extra gifts
Then regifting is the solution
But if you’re rich and you dont like your present
Going: eww who would give _____, think I’ll give it to someone else
Then thats a slap across the face
It all depends on if the gift was something that was more my taste. It may not have been someone else’s taste, but suited me fine, so no I wouldn’t feel less special.
Not at all. Gifts are not something to which I am entitled. The fact that someone gave me a gift is nice enough, nevermind how much they did or didn’t spend on it.
Totally with saitvi (I only read the first page of comments). I just include a gift receipt, maybe because I suck at finding presents and would rather someone find something they actually LIKE. Which is why I’ve gotten to giving people gift cards and a nice card (with a lot written in it — I LOVE writing cards).
It depends on what it was.
Yes it would. Because someone gave that person that gift and its mean?
I think it’s rude and a slap in the face, especially if you regift something that was given to you by someone who knows you beyond just an acquaintence. I only know of one person who does that (my ex step mom) so every year I have to give her a gift, I think of something super cheap and thoughtless because I know she will just regift it anyway. Gift giving to her became just “to go through the motions” rather than searching for the perfect gift that she will actually use/enjoy/keep.
Regifting can be done with a good heart; it’s not necessarily a bad thing. If I get a gift and realize that someone I know would like it more than me (or at all, if I just hate it), then regifting is more like… paying it forward, just more literally.
No.
Probably not. Seems very practical.
Yes.
yeah it absolutely makes me feel bad. in a way i understand it, but i dont do it.
Not at all. I regift all the time, and it’s not because I don’t care about the person, I either just think a) they will like it and use it more than I will or b) I’m far too poor to be able to afford a new gift for the person.
a little
cause most of the times theyre not person specified
depends on the person that gave it to me and the gift
One time, I received my OWN gift back! With the same wrappings and all.
I was happy, because I gift others with things that I think are nice.
But this person never received a gift from me again.
I don’t really care unless I find out. Like the time I got a gift that had been rewrapped but they hadn’t taken the card out that the gift shop put inside the box or the one they put back in there after they opened it.
I think it’s fine if you were giving the gift away because you knew that your friend would love it.
For my birthday, somebody gave me a photo album with their family pictures already in it! That was pretty ridiculous.
Yes. ): The gift wasn’t meant for me and it’s like “trash” – you didn’t even want it. Like used dirty rags!
@XXVl - Oh damn… that’s pretty awkward!!! XD Hahaha… wow, bad move on their part.
I only accept that notion IF the gift you are giving is appropriate for the person you are giving a gift to. It must be in great condition and something that the person would not be offended by in any way, shape, or form.
Only if it was a fruit cake!
Back in the days when I was broke, I loved regifts and also found that having something given to me that was not something I like or was useful, made a wonderful gift for someone else that I knew would like it. I have never seen anything wrong. I ask specifically what people want and get it for them not judging what it is. My mom asked for a stapler one year so I went out and bought her the best stapler I could find and boxes of staples. She still talks about how that was the only gift that year that she got that was something she wanted.
saves money ;]
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
if haphazardly done, yes. but if it was something i would’ve wanted and the regifter didn’t, why should I feel slighted?
I do occasionally regift, but only if I know it will be useful to the new recipient.
I have a friend who is a notorious regifter, and is very rude about it. She often says, “hey, someone gave me this and I don’t want it, so happy birthday!” To top it all off, sometimes it’s already been opened. gee, thanks.
I get the idea of sharing the wealth… but usually most gifts I receive are thought out and meant for me specifically, though I’m not selfish enough to not pass it onto a friend that needs a gift more.
Nah, I’m kidding. All gifts are mines’z!! RAWR!!!
We would totally do that to my aunt. She’s never get us anything good for Christmas, she’d get us the cheapest shit in the world from the bargain bin at SAAN’s or something… I mean, she didn’t even put thought into it, she would just buy us literally the ugliest, cheapest piece of junk ever.
Anyways to get back at her for being so dastardly cheap we just regifted her all the horrible things we got from other people (ie. Tacky gift exchanges at staff Christmas parties, etc). We’ve been doing that for like 10 years now.
lm sure l wouldnt like it.
lf a gift came my way, l would like to know it came with a lot of thought to the gift from the person who liked me enough to put some imagination into it.
…
I wouldn’t feel less special at all. I regift all the time.
Yes. It’s selfish of me to want something brand new, but it’s honest of me to admit it. So excuse me while I pat myself on the back for being honest while kicking myself in the posterior for being self-centered.
As long as it wasn’t from me, I don’t care.
I might like it, even.
I can’t imagine ever doing this, but maybe I will in the future. I might feel a bit upset if I knew someone gave me a gift that was given to them, unless they aren’t that close to me; then I would just be happy to get a gift from them at all!
I do reuse gift bags though, heheh.
I wouldn’t feel less special, but would think the person was feeling obligated to give a gift and just playing along. I did my first regifting a couple of years ago, and got a big kick out of it. Even though it seems kind of a dirty thing to do. It was Christmas, which we don’t pay much attention to, and a friend regifted me with one of those sausage and cheese packs that she had received from her employer. Great gift, I thought – for someone else! LOL.
I think regifting is ok sometimes because if someone buys you a gift that you really cannot use, rather than let it go to waste, you could give it to someone who will use it.
I always hated doing this kind of stuff. I start feeling really guilty but most of the time, my mom and i are broke so we have no other choice but do this regifting stuff. It really sucks but our realtives get really pissed when we don’t give them presents soo….
I re-gifted a wedding gift in a separate family gift exchange for Christmas last year. It was a camouflage blanket, which really isn’t our thing, but several members of my family would love it! So, It put it in the exchange and the person who ended up with it was pretty excited about it!
(re-gifting is theology?)
I’m happy if people don’t give me toenail clippings or something. While it would be better to give or receive something with more thought, I am happy enough to have a gift from an office Christmas party. (notebooks with logos and totebags and such)
i wouldn’t feel less speical if that was a gift i REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY wanted and perhaps the friend who regifted it didn’t need it or wanted it.
@devilscrayon - You’d be surprised how many families have “one of those” family members. My uncle’s ex-wife would buy a bucket of plastic army men for her kids, and 2 new nintendo games for herself.
If I can’t use or don’t like something someone gave me and someone else needs it, I’ll give it to them. Otherwise, I’ll donate it to Goodwill or somewhere similar. Actually, we’d all probably be better off if most gifts were regifted thoughtfully rather than yet more and more brand new clutter being produced that will just end up in a landfill one day.
Hmm, I don’t think I will give too much thoughts to it since I always regift =D
Actually, the older I got, the less I really cared about putting cycles into worrying about stuff like that.
If regifting means wrapping up something that’s been used, than no, I’d rather not have a gift at all. But, unused… no one would really have to know!
if i think it’s useful, i’dve kept it.. if i believe someone else might benefit from it rather than keep it in a box for all eternity, i’d probably give it away.. say maybe a sweater three sizes too small or a generic electronic device.. i think i’d give it away at a christmas party or salvation army
@jhim43 - Okay now THAT’S bad. She probably should have never had kids
And I can see why she’s an EX wife.
not really….if it hasn’t been opened..
If it was something I actually liked, I wouldn’t care where they got it. If it was a piece of crap, then at least I would understand why they regifted it.
That’s why I make sure to regift only to people I don’t know well and who would have no idea that I didn’t buy it brand new myself. See, I can’t stand cucumber melon scented bath products, but some morons continue to buy them for me instead of just getting me a gift card so I usually wind up regifting them.
another life lesson brought to the masses by seinfeld
Depends on who is doing the regifting…
Depends on the gift…
But for the most part- hey, free stuff!
I would feel hurt if someone took a gift that I gave them and gave it away.
I am just going to go ahead and say it; REGIFTERS ARE RUDE AS HELL!
If you don’t like a gift that someone has given you then just tell them in a nice way that it is really not what you wanted. Trust me people this is why we have gift reciepts. If someone does go cuckoo nuts because you tell them YOU DON’T LIKE THE PRESENT, than did you really want a gift from them anyways?
For one thing, if I was the reciever of a regift I would be not only pissed but incredibly hurt because this means that you did not wat to take the time out of your life to actually gfive me a present that has meaning. For another, if I was the person who gave you the gift you regifted than I would be even more hurt because it shows that you do not trust me enough to actually tell me that you did not like the present and give me a chance to rectify the situation.
Grow up people and just come clean. You will have much less drama that way than the other.
I’ve re-gifted. It’s a pretty shit thing to do, but it saved me loads of money.
Re-gift away, just nothing too obvious. I’ve gotten 8,000 body wash/lotion/loofa sets and those scream re-gift.
Yeah sort of.
Yes