Gifts that scream cheap or are just plain irritating!!!

by free2beme 29 Replies latest jw friends

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  free2beme

  As the holiday season approaches, we often hear the term "bad gifts" or "useless gifts" being thrown around in stories of Christmas past. I was sitting and thinking of different gift ideas and stories I heard in my life, that truly stink or are just plain irritating. If the thought counted, then these gifts are thoughtless. Some of you might have heard of ones like this too and please add on terrible gifts you heard of, as well.

  A woman I worked with once gave as her gift to female friends, a free Mary Kay make-over, hoping to get these woman to enjoy the free make up session so much that they would soon sell or buy her products. Her friends did not take her gift and use it, which irritated her as she felt they did not appreciate her offer (gift).

  A man I work with rented XBOX 360 games from Blockbuster and wrapped them for his nephews and explained after they opened them that he would be around in seven days to return them.

  My neighbor at my old apartment complex was elderly and actually put coupons in her Christmas Cards that she cut out from newspapers and so on, as a gift. Sometimes they were expired.

  So can you add on, I think these ones are just plain cheap or irritating.
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  changeling

  Cheap yes... but what creativity!!!!

  changeling
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  cognizant dissident

  Those are pretty funny. A sales opportunity masquerading as a gift. Kind of reminds me of when I was a very righteous pioneering dub and we would gifts of literature to "worldly people". I'm embarrassed to say that once I gave a woman from work who had a baby, a copy of the Bible Stories book. In my defense, I tucked it in with a real gift, I bought, a cute baby outfit! I cringe to think of it now.

  Worst baby gift I got, Mcdonald's toys from happy meal. Worst personal gift I ever got, a free pen from a man who wanted to date me, but it was obviously a "sales pen" someone had given him for free. Needless to say we didn't go out. There's thrifty and then there's just downright cheap!

  Cog
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  ninja

  2 batteries with a note saying..."toy not included"
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  Jourles

  Both cheap and irritating?

  
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  cognizant dissident

  If you soak the fruit in enough liquor it becomes quite palatable!
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  lisavegas420

  what about a vacuum cleaner ...the gift that keeps sucking

  lisa
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  WTWizard

  This is my idea of blatant cheapness: We had cousins that would give us toys that were obviously used. They weren't always in good condition, either. That suggested that these items had been used until their own kids got tired of them or lost a piece, and then the items were regifted.

  No, I am not categorically aganist regifting. Often, there is something that you get that doesn't fit your needs but fits someone else's perfectly. The item should be in new or lightly used condition (having been tested or prepared for use is acceptable). Even if the recipient knows it's a regift doesn't itself make it tacky. However, it should not have been used up and be in rather poor condition or have pieces missing, or be excessively dirty or otherwise impaired.

  If you are going to clean up toys for disuse, I suggest giving them to the Salvation Army or some other charity. These are often better than nothing, and with the recalls of Chinese toys this year, a toy that has had a couple of years' use and is safe is better than a new one that isn't. Under no circumstances should anyone regift or donate a toy that has been recalled for safety issues, particularly those drug beads. You are making extra work for the charity in doing so, and making needless hazard for the recipient.
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  Sad emo

  A man I work with rented XBOX 360 games from Blockbuster and wrapped them for his nephews and explained after they opened them that he would be around in seven days to return them.

  Oh, I love that one! In fact I think it's a great idea as long as you give them something they can keep as well - for example, the XBox. Logically, if you don't know what sort of games your kids will like - its a great way for them to try them out - maybe buy them the game they like for a New Year pressie instead? Or also, most kids have these games sussed out within a week anyway and then they get bored of playing them, so its pointless wasting money on the games.

  I see endless reasons why this isn't a bad idea!
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  valkyrie

  Both cheap and irritating?

  I beg to differ! I made and decorated (with marzipan) 3 fruitcakes (products of a single recipe) last year using a JWD-poster's recipe, and -- with the exorbitant prices of dried fruits and heavily taxed brandy (initial soaking of the fruits, then regular drizzles of brandy over 6 to 8 weeks) -- they cost me approximately $50 USD apiece to make! Irritatingly expensive, rather!