Are You A Cheapskate Gift Giver?

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.designtechnica.com/article9117.html' target='_blank'>http://news.designtechnica.com/article9117.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Are you a cheapskate gift giver? Do you recycle gifts? If so, you are definitely not alone, according to a recent BizRate Research survey conducted of online shoppers for comparison shopping search site Shopzilla."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20051223-cheapskate.gif" /><br /><br />We've all heard about your best friend's cheapskate grandparent who gave them a used pair of socks. 8O But now it's time to share <b>your</b> experiences. Have you ever gotten a gift that you just tossed in the trash? Or have you *gulp* been a giver of such things yourself? I'm awful at figuring out gifts, but if I can't, I usually send somebody a gift certificate -- hassle-free and they're sure to get something useful out of it.<br /><br />(Oh, and by the way, for those of you that celebrate a gift-giving holiday at this time of year, your time to get a gift's about up. Maybe it's time to get your loved ones a Pocket PC. Certainly better than socks! ;))

[Ed Hansberry]

well, there is the fruitcake that gets regifted year after year. Yes, the same fruitcake.

[OSUKid7]

well, there is the fruitcake that gets regifted year after year. Yes, the same fruitcake.
People seriously do that? 8O :lol:

I'm not sure if I've actually regifted something, but my family always reuses gift bags. Call it environmental concern, but my dad (and I, too, lately), hates wasting the time wrapping gifts only for them to be torn apart a few days later and throw away (recycle ;)) the wrapping paper.

[PDANEWBIE]

hates wasting the time wrapping gifts only for them to be torn apart a few days later and throw away

Shocking... I found that was one of the most satisfying parts of christmas (right up there with the gifts themseleves almost). Hearing that tearing sound and the anticipation. All of our home presents stay wrapped.

We do however also recycle our gift bags as well, but usually ours comes from extended family and are then given with our gifts to our friends so its a round robin effect.

As far as the worst present I have recieved... Long sleeve shirts! (Oh did I mention I live in FL where we never really have a need for long shirts?)

[mmidgley]

i received a wedding gift that was a dirty (used) and broken electric mixer--one of those that fits into and mixes a single glass.

not sure if there was someone who just didn't like me, or if it was someone who bought something from a store that had been used and returned and the store didn't open it up and have a look before re-selling it. it took a few years for me to find it (because its one of those things i'd rarely use anyway). oh well, it went in the trash.

btw, i do save and re-use gift bags and bows. i have enough of those that i don't think i'd ever need to buy another one in my lifetime.

m. :)

[Damion Chaplin]

I work in a hardware store.

We just had our 'Secret Santa' gift exchange on Wednesday.

My secret santa got me about $10 worth of merchandise from our sales floor. Duct Tape wallet anyone? Big bag of M&amp;Ms? While I won't throw them away, I'm tempted to just return them to the store for credit...

I think you have to put some thought into it in order for "It's the thought that counts" to apply...

By the way, mmidgley, we sell those single-glass mixers at our store, and I can tell you it's extremely common for people to return used merchandise to the store. They probably used it, decided they didn't like it and returned it. We get people who buy bolt cutters so they can cut a padlock and then try to return them. Last week we got a water filter back where the person had obviously put the old used filter in the box and returned it as new... So it's pretty likely that the person who gave you that gift didn't know it was used...

[lcatt236]

I have re-gifted. I get lots of spa type gift bags of soaps, lotions, etc. I am a professional nail tech, so most of those get re-gifted. I like certain brands and that's all I use.

I have gotten some really weird stuff that I have thrown away (dollar store stuff) that I'll never use and wouldn't give to anyone as a "gift". I have given many gifts to Goodwill as well.

One year I got a re-gift of a bagle baker! For one thing I eat maybe 5 bagles a year, next you have to mix the dough and boil them before you bake them! Sorry not for me, that went to Goodwill.

[welmoed]

I have regifted items without guilt; it's better than hanging onto crap you don't need.

Right now we're in the process of downsizing (cutting our square footage in half; moving to a smaller house) so we are faced with having to reduce our possessions by about half as well. One of the BEST resources we have discovered for getting rid of unwanted stuff is called Freecycle (www.freecycle.org). Post what you are giving away, and usually within a day or so someone comes and takes it away!! You are spared a trip to Goodwill (which, in our area, throws a lot of stuff in the dumpster). It's amazing what people give away: cars, furniture, electronics, even a full-sized business copier (we were fortunate to snag that one).

However, I've never seen a PDA posted there. Hmm, I still have my old Casio 125 lying around gathering dust... perhaps I'll post it rather than jumping through hoops to sell it on eBay!

--Welmoed

[JohnJohn]

ok am I cheap?

I recently picked up a new 60gb iPod Video, of course without a plan to sell my 15gb G3 version. I picked my Mom's name in our family gift exchange, $100 limit. She wants an iPod.

Should I have tried to find her a shuffle or just wrap up my G3 with Vaja case and iTrip?

[GoldKey]

Should I have tried to find her a shuffle or just wrap up my G3 with Vaja case and iTrip?

Give her a choice. I often regift my older technology to family. Usually they choose to have old but better rather then new but with less features.

[JohnJohn]

Should I have tried to find her a shuffle or just wrap up my G3 with Vaja case and iTrip?

Give her a choice. I often regift my older technology to family. Usually they choose to have old but better rather then new but with less features.

I aksed her, she was ok with it, but I still feel cheap. :) I'm picking her up some $s for her new iTunes account.

[follick]

I'm awful at figuring out gifts, but if I can't, I usually send somebody a gift certificate -- hassle-free and they're sure to get something useful out of it.

I'm curious, why do people give gift certificates rather than cash? I mean you can think of cash as a gift certificate that can be used in any store anywhere. Yet gift certificates are obviously popular.

[pdantic]

i received a wedding gift that was a dirty (used) and broken electric mixer--one of those that fits into and mixes a single glass.


Don't feel bad. The best man at my wedding gave the worst gift ever. This was in the late 1970's, and we were getting the usual piles of crock pots, crystal decanters (that never get used), etc... When we opened up the gift from the best man, it looked like something that had been made in a grade school craft project - a couple of bottles glued together and painted gold. It went into the trash immediately since it had no apparent use and it certainly looked like crap. We never said anything about it to Chris...not knowing if it was a joke or if this was something he felt was a good gift.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

:) :D

[Ed Hansberry]

I'm curious, why do people give gift certificates rather than cash? I mean you can think of cash as a gift certificate that can be used in any store anywhere. Yet gift certificates are obviously popular.
gift certificates get to be used for something special. cash can just go in the wallet and you forget about the gift because you used it to buy cheeseburgers, gas and groceries.

besides, one can never get to many gift certs from starbucks. i've received 3 so far. :-D

[Janak Parekh]

I'm curious, why do people give gift certificates rather than cash? I mean you can think of cash as a gift certificate that can be used in any store anywhere. Yet gift certificates are obviously popular.
Ed makes a good point -- it feels different when you're buying with a gift certificate. The fact that you're not laying out cash, even if it was someone else's, feels much more gifty.

There are two other reasons I can think of. First, there's the cultural aspect. Apart from certain events (e.g., weddings), giving cash is considered less appropriate. And, second, a gift certificate shows that you went to some effort to get them something different. Some companies actually make their gift certificates visually appealing, too.

--janak

[Steve Jordan]

I'm curious, why do people give gift certificates rather than cash? I mean you can think of cash as a gift certificate that can be used in any store anywhere. Yet gift certificates are obviously popular.

Gift certificates also have the added implication that you want someone to get a certain kind of gift, something they can only get at, say, Circuit City or Starbucks. Of course, this theory only works if the store is considered high quality or very specialized (in other words, no Target or Wal-Mart gift certificates)... :)

[TheZodiac]

My mother recently got a bday gift a few days ago that was a never-opened wedding favor from my sisters receptopn of 15 years ago.

It was so insane, and funny. Plus, the women isnt really THERE upstairs much so, it was pretty laughable.

The real funny part was my mother actually recognized the packaging, the slip and the shop that customized the item.

HAHAHAHAHA.. ok.

[MitchellO]

I'm curious, why do people give gift certificates rather than cash? I mean you can think of cash as a gift certificate that can be used in any store anywhere. Yet gift certificates are obviously popular.
Ed makes a good point -- it feels different when you're buying with a gift certificate. The fact that you're not laying out cash, even if it was someone else's, feels much more gifty.

There are two other reasons I can think of. First, there's the cultural aspect. Apart from certain events (e.g., weddings), giving cash is considered less appropriate. And, second, a gift certificate shows that you went to some effort to get them something different. Some companies actually make their gift certificates visually appealing, too.

--janak

I agree. A gift certificate shows thought and effort. Cash shows nothing.

[Ed Hansberry]

Another thing about gift certs - my boys purchased a gift card from http://shopping.discovery.com - a place I rarely go, so there is no way I'd spend cash there as a rule, but they saw some stuff they thought I'd like and I'll drop by the physical store we have in our local mall, probably with them, and pick some stuff out, and whatever I buy, it will always be from my boys. Cash wouldn't have the same effect.