What To Do With Gifts You Don’t Want
by Erik Folgate
Filed under Giving, Shopping
We’ve all been in the situation where we are opening gifts in front our aunt or grandmother and open up a checkered sweater that looks like something wore in the show, Charles In Charge. I am sure everyone got a gift this year that they just didn’t want or don’t know what to do with. It’s inevitable, because our society is more concerned with giving gifts rather than putting thought into what type of gift to give. But, instead of letting those sweaters or coffee mugs collect dust somewhere in your house, why not try these options first:
Re-Gift It
This only works if it’s a good gift, but you just didn’t want it or don’t need it. It won’t work for the hand-made, hideous looking blanket your grandmother gave you. Yes, you’ll be called the “re-gifter” by your friends just like Elaine from Seinfeld, but at least you’re being eco-friendly by recycling the gift!
Sell It
eBay and Craigslist should be your first option for re-selling gifts you don’t want or need. If you have a guilty conscience like me, take the money you made from selling the item and buy yourself another gift. Don’t just use the money to pay bills.
Return It
This only works if you have the gift receipt and/or if you know where it came from. If it came from Wal-Mart, they have a lax return policy, but Target has cracked down quite a bit on their return policy. Again, if you feel guilty about returning the item, at least return it and get something else you like, rather than just pocketing the money or using the store credit on everyday essentials.
Donate It
This is the best thing to do with the unwanted gift if you don’t want a guilty conscience, and you won’t hurt the giver’s feelings if they found out you got rid of the gift. You can simply tell them that you donated the gift because you wanted someone less fortunate to have it. How could someone get mad at that?
Disclaimer:
Beware, if you get rid of the unwanted gift, you run the risk of the giver finding out that you don’t have it anymore. Believe me, if they visit your house any time after they gave you that gift, they’ll ask about it. If you are backed in a corner, don’t lie. It only makes the situation worse. Simply tell the giver that you really appreciated the thought, but you are really picky about the type of gift they got you. Blame yourself, then they won’t be offended so much. If you are a picky receiver or you get a reputation of re-gifting or returning gifts, be prepared to start receiving gift cards for the rest of your life. But that’s not so bad, I love gift cards. Anyone else have any good ideas?
I don’t think there is anything wrong with re-gifting, selling, or returning the gift if it’s something you don’t want. Doesn’t do any good keeping it around for no reason.
I think a good idea is to keep a few wrapped gifts on-hand for anyone throughout the year. Using re-gifted items is perfect for this. That way, if you forget to give someone a gift, you have one waiting in the closet! Running late to a birthday party and didn’t have time to pick up a gift? Grab one out of the closet!
We usually re-gift things that we don’t need or want. Often the item is nice enough, just not our taste or something we need. Even if things aren’t our taste, we can usually find someone who will appreciate the gift – and if not – they can re-gift it too!
I try to return whenever possible to get some money back. Luckily most gifts I get can be returned to Wal-mart, which is as good as cash since that is where I grocery shop.
I admit I have several boxes of these gifts in my basement. I need to thin the pile – I have some piles for donation to specific places, and then a few things I am going to Freecycle because I really like to give things away to actual, individual people sometimes.
Although I have never used them, there are some web sites where you can swap gift cards you don’t want for others you do want, for a fee, of course.
And…here’s a bit of trivia I read today on this very topic. Supposedly, after Christmas Cary Grant and Clark Gable used to get together and swap monogrammed gifts they had both received that they didn’t like! Does anyone you know have the same initial as you do? Maybe you can swap monogrammed gifts too!
I too have found that you can return just about anything to Wal-mart. I worked at a certain retail store that does not have specific codes for items, only a department number and price within the bar code. Stores like this will return almost anything as well, and they have to take most of the items unless they can prove it says Target on the bottom.
I appreciate the comment about donating unwanted gifts. There are a number of charitable organizations that post WISH LISTS on their websites. Take a look at the items that they are requesting and then pass along those gifts that you no longer want. In addition to cleaning out your closest, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping others in need.
I received a groupon certificate for 45 dollars worth of soap/lotion products from a coworker who paid 15 dollars for it. I went to the store, and bought enough items for that amount to make three Christmas gifts for friends. So half my shopping list was completed for friends.
You can also try to sell a gift that you do not want on Ebay.
If I don’t want, like or need something it usually goes to my church if it’s an item I think they can use. I attend a 5000+ church so theres usually a need for anything offered.
As far as the person finding out or telling them…that I hven’t figured out yet. Though I do know I wouldn’t lie. Maybe a blank stare and some babbling would come into play.
Peace
I think re-gifting or donating are the ways to go. Selling the item just seems a little callous to me.
Our local good will or church would be more than happy to take the unwanted gifts off our hands.
My mom and her sister would regift to each other every year. They both had families with kids about the same age, so instead of buying new gifts for the other family every year, they would either re gift, or more often, just send a box of ‘gently used’ toys, clothes, books, etc, that they thought would be enjoyed by the other. I never thought of this as abnormal growing up, and I still do the same thing within my family.
I try to keep a detailed list of gifts and who gave them for every holiday and birthday- that way, when I find myself planning to re-gift something, I can ensure that I’m not giving it someone close to the person that I originally gave it to.
You can also trade it. There are websites where you can post things you don’t want/need, and then others can contact you about a trade. This is especially popular w/ giftcards.
Let me tell you one problem I encountered giving away a gift I didn’t really want.
Well several Christmas ago, an aunt of mine gave me a sweater. Obviously she had different taste than I did. Knowing that I won’t wear it, I gave it to Goodwill. However several weeks later, my aunt came to visit and asked me if I liked that sweater. Being a gentlemen that I was, my answer was of course. The problem came when she asked me to wear it for her to see. Awkward moments ensued. From that time on, she hardly talks to me anymore.