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Original poster

Have you ever received a present so shity saying thank you made you cringe?

408 replies

BlueMoonAndRedNose · 09/08/2019 07:40

I turn 50 at the beg of Sept. A friend asked to meet me for coffee yesterday and gave me a gift, she asked me not to open it there and then, but she didn't mean to wait for my birthday either.
This friend of mine turned 50 2 years ago and I gave her a stunning Becksondergaard scarf which she has worn a lot, I see her in photos wearing it all the time.
Got home, opened the present, it is a plain little milk jug. No tag on it, no label, looks unused but old, has a small chip on the handle.
I am not usually materialistic but I think that this is a thoughtless present and nothing, or a £5. bottle of wine would have been more appropriate.

OP posts:
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6
CheesecakeAddict · 10/08/2019 20:52

I always think it's the thought that counts but then one year my grandma got my mum a bin liner full of children's holiday clothes for her 30-something birthday. She'd seen someone was selling the whole bag for £1.50 🙄

Toriadoria · 10/08/2019 20:58

My husband receives a wash bag off my mum! We have been married 19 years Grin

AntHilda · 10/08/2019 20:58

I once recieved a large gift bag of a friend. I was shocked when I opened it. All used make up, dry, used mascaras, half full bottles of hand cream. What an insult I'd rather have had nothing tbh. I think it is cheeky and not thoughtful at all. I would never do that to someone, especially not passing it off as a gift. I might say hey you want these old bits that I've tried etc but never as a gift.

AntHilda · 10/08/2019 21:00

And If someone was so skint I'd rather they picked some wild beautiful flowers n said "can't afford anything but these are for you" that would mean so much more, not used shite.

CallMeRachel · 10/08/2019 21:09

21st birthday from parents - a game of monopoly brought back from their holiday to Disneyworld Paris with my siblings, I wasn't invited. Instead I got a card and £21 inside with a note asking me to mow their fucking lawn. I didn't even live at home then. Angry

My 30th - same shitty parents, two packets of tanning wipes and giant pairs of knickers. Geez thanks.

AntHilda · 10/08/2019 21:19

@CallMeRachel . Omg the cheek! I recieved a card on my 21st with 20 pound coins inside. I'm sure my father's evil wife took that extra pound just to be her usual twattish self.

Juog · 10/08/2019 21:24

Mine wasn't exactly sh...y, it was coming up to my birthday and microwaves had not long come out(yes im old),I had been hinting to hubby for ages,well on my birthday he walked in with a large microwave shaped box,I was so excited and carefully opened it,I couldn't hide my disappointment at the fish tank complete with a little castle and stones,needless to say sh always asks me what I want for my birthday now.

TheCanyon · 10/08/2019 22:55

Dh got me a mug for my 30th birthday.

Ex gave me 3 books for my 18th, same one gave me chanel no 5 for christmas, I was 19/20 at the time and always wore light fruity perfume. Same day ex Fil gave me 4 tea lights wrapped in an old xmas tree lights box.

My gran got us towels/tea towels as our wedding present. I'd lived away from home for 8 or 9 years at that point so definitely owned plenty. Oh and her ancient denby pottery set, it's fucking minging but also i'm scared shitless to break it that it's lived in a box in the attic the last ten years.

I asked dm for a wireless Bluetooth speaker to use in the bath/shower. She got me an alexa. I was very nearly a stroppy tantrumming teenager. This was THE ultimate shit present ever, I NEVER ask for anything and the one time I do... dh bought me one in the end and the kids love alexa.

nuxe1984 · 10/08/2019 22:56

Just say thank you and move on.

I love to give my friends presents. I try and think of what they'd like and don't spend a lot of money on them but try to make them personal. In fact I often send them small things in the post anonymously as it gives me great pleasure. Doesn't matter that they can't send me something back (cos they don't know who sent it) - just knowing I've given them joy makes me feel warm and fuzzy …

DragonforaMIL · 10/08/2019 22:58

I received a child size woolly hat, and my sil received the matching scarf and gloves from the set one Christmas, from our other bil and sil. They hate me, so not unexpected Grin

AnTeallach · 10/08/2019 23:16

I recently celebrated a big birthday with a champagne afternoon tea. I put a lot of effort into it, had caterers in, etc. A very good friend left a bottle bag in a corner containing a bottle of cheap swewine from a Tesco £10 meal deal. It had obviously been lying around for a while as the label looked old and scuffed. The only reason I knew it was from her was because she'd left her specs in the bag. Am I supposed to thank her when I return her specs?!

AnTeallach · 10/08/2019 23:17

*sweet wine

gillys · 10/08/2019 23:23

I had my 50 th recently & my best friend sent a text saying happy birthday, btw is it a big one ? We've known each other for 20 years & she knew full well it was as we'd discussed it a few weeks previously. Received nothing. I KNOW she will expect a big fuss on her 50th next year but it won't be happening!!

DreamTheMoors · 10/08/2019 23:33

On my 18th birthday, my parents took me out for dinner at a place our friends owned - a place we were well known and liked (I thought). When it was time for dessert the waitress (also a friend) brought out a big fat onion with a candle stuck in it and placed it before me. WTAF??? I laughed along but didn’t get the joke or why anyone else would ever think that was funny. 40 years on I still don’t get it or the motive behind it. That was awful.

StoneofDestiny · 10/08/2019 23:35

I recently celebrated a big birthday with a champagne afternoon tea. I put a lot of effort into it, had caterers in, etc. A very good friend left a bottle bag in a corner containing a bottle of cheap swewine from a Tesco £10 meal deal. It had obviously been lying around for a while as the label looked old and scuffed. The only reason I knew it was from her was because she'd left her specs in the bag. Am I supposed to thank her when I return her specs?!

Take the bottle and bag to her and say 'you must have left this behind'. (If really brave add 'did you mean to bring a gift instead?.)

ErrolTheDragon · 11/08/2019 00:02

I've not RTFT but I noticed that the jug is out of stock at amazon, Googled and it seems out of stock or expensive elsewhere for a rather plain jug. Just wondering if the OPs friend had got her mixed up with someone else who had a set of this style and wanted a jug but was having difficulty finding one?

Rachelover40 · 11/08/2019 00:10

funnytoebean, I had to laugh at your mother buying you flying saucers :-). Ah well, it's the thought that counts (so we are told).

I've never had a shitty present as such but obviously gifts are sometimes disappointing. I've had things given to me that make me wonder if the person buying really knows me! However my disappointment is my problem and I don't complain, most people mean well. I'm sure I've given presents to people who wished I hadn't - but I do try.

Many, many years ago a woman with whom I was quite friendly bought me a long playing record (beforeCDs), it was totally obscene! She told me that as soon as you saw it and heard some of it, she knew it was just me! So pleased with herself was she. It was embarrassing but now I wish I had said something to her; it wasn't just that I'd been given something for which I had no desire or use, one gets used to that, but it was really vile, people talking about crude sexual stuff and using all the words. I was too shocked to be hurt. That's an extreme example but I remember it because it's the only time I've ever been given a present that was, frankly, insulting. Small disappointments I can cope with.

I wonder if the little milk jug is a collector's item - have a look at any markings on the bottom.

Devora13 · 11/08/2019 00:20

Maybe something better is coming and this is a clue?

Otherwise, what appalling judgement because:

  1. A milk jug. REALLY?
  2. But worse, a damaged, potentially second hand one.
  3. Which would have been pretty cheap and nasty even if new.

I'd be asking where she got it from as you already have one so would like to exchange it.
😤

MirzyMoo · 11/08/2019 00:28

That plain little milk jug may well of been an antique. Say thank you with grace instead of being such a materialistic snob @BlueMoonAndRedNose

1Wildheartsease · 11/08/2019 00:31

Christmas is always fun here - we have some relatives who are lovely but truly terrible at gift-choosing, and a few who are less lovely or hate us :)

When the children were young we began a secret game 'Worst present most gracefully received' and voted on this after Christmas.

Terrible presents are still received with real delight as they put the receiver in the running to win the (jokey) competition.

Winners from the past unwrapped:
-a plastic belt holder
-fluorescent orange photo frame
-swim shorts with large red roses on
-a single (slightly rusty) coaster wrapped in old paper

Motherofatruck · 11/08/2019 00:33

Is it bad that I saw the post about the house coat and thought how useful that would be? I always manage to splash myself when washing up, or get a bit grubby when I'm cleaning. Do I take the dive and embrace the elderly lifestyle? Grin (I'm 33 Blush)

NomNomNominativeDeterminism · 11/08/2019 00:37

Are you a PG Wodehouse fan? Is your friend confused as to the true nature of a silver cow creamer?

ErrolTheDragon · 11/08/2019 00:45

That plain little milk jug may well of been an antique

The OP posted a link, it's not.

Which would have been pretty cheap and nasty even if new.

Not particularly cheap either from what I googled - £18 or more.

It's a meh modern jug.

Haworthia · 11/08/2019 00:48

“Is it an antique?” is the new “Cancel the cheque!” Grin

ThighThighOfthigh · 11/08/2019 01:28

I have a friend who always gives terrible gifts, like boxes of chocolates that have turned funny because they're 2 years out of date. She's a teacher so i know she must have cupboards groaning with stuff for regifting.

That's got some logic, i can understand how that would happen. What I don't understand though is that she wraps half used hand cream or stuff that's very out of date extremely elaborately with bows and tissue and expensive gift bags - then sits genuinely beaming as you open chocolates that have gone white.