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Original poster

OMG I've messed up on the Secret Santa

31 replies

Nopreservatives · 26/01/2021 11:08

I know, it's the end of Jan, can't believe I'm still having to think about it.

Draw done through an app thing early Nov. I was all pleased with myself for getting organised early, but then the gift giving was postponed because of lockdown. Organiser is a very keen senior member of staff, we were never going to get away without doing it. There's been some very complex logistics around getting all the presents where they're supposed to be and we're supposed to be opening them on line this afternoon.

We're only a small group and it's been noted that one man doesn't have a gift. I'm not entirely sure how it happened but I seem to have bought for the person I was drawn (via the same app) last year. I should have bought for this man.

Do I own up? Hastily wrap a bottle of wine and get it there somehow? I'm wfh. Own up and take a proper gift later in the week but then the secret element is gone?

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 26/01/2021 11:10

You need to own up. And say present to come.

steppemum · 26/01/2021 11:11

own up.
Tell them you think you have bought for the wrong person.

Apologise and promise a present.

send something as soon as possible.

Worst thing is for him to sit there and not know why he doesn't have anything!

SallyTimms · 26/01/2021 11:12

You put a card in the gifts to be handed pule saying secret santa very sorry, made an eeoe bought for last years person. The gift bought wouldn't be suitable and a gift will be delivered by secret santa by Friday. Them keeps it secret.

Interested in this thread?

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Christmas Events & celebrations

ancientgran · 26/01/2021 11:13

Who did you buy for, would the present be suitable for the man you should have bought for? Can someone swap them I hate secret santa.

Kinsters · 26/01/2021 11:13

Own up! If the draw was done through an app the organiser will be able to see who was supposed to buy and didn't (on some of them you can anyway)

wowfudge · 26/01/2021 11:14

So 1 person has received two gifts by mistake? The organiser will know who was buying for whom if you've used an app. Contact the organiser and tell them you'll sort out getting the present to the correct person after the opening. You can pay for click and drop Royal Mail postage or Hermes and contact the person with two gifts behind the scene to get it sent to the correct place. It's hardly the drama of the year. Just own up and sort it. The correct recipient need never know who cocked up.

Original poster

Nopreservatives · 26/01/2021 11:15

No, the present isn't really suitable, but even if it was, it's already wrapped and delivered to the person I thought I had, so she'll be getting two.

There isn't a pile anymore, they're all with the recipients.

OP posts:

Original poster

Nopreservatives · 26/01/2021 11:16

@wowfudge

I don't think the organiser knows, that's the point of the app, to keep it secret.

OP posts:

MaggieFS · 26/01/2021 11:16

You're going to have to own up! Message the lady with your one incorrectly so she can open her correct one, and message the gentleman with an apology.

wowfudge · 26/01/2021 11:17

Just send something appropriate to the correct person. If you pull your finger out and have Amazon prime they could have it tomorrow. Or contact a business local to them today and it could be today. You've made a mistake. You're human. Get on and sort it.

LynetteScavo · 26/01/2021 11:17

Own up to the organiser, but not everyone - there's no need for the recipient to know who the gift is from. Get something decent to be delivered tomorrow.
It's easily sorted, it will just cost you more than if you hadn't made the mistake.

Original poster

Nopreservatives · 26/01/2021 11:20

I wish I hadn't checked! Then I would be in blissful ignorance, smuggly thinking I was all organised and someone else had messed up

The saving grace is that he is famous for his love of red wine and I have a garage full of fairly decent stuff, what with Christmas being cancelled

OP posts:

Drowninginwashing · 26/01/2021 11:20

Unless i misunderstand you, the presents have nit been opened yet, so you don't need to own up - just send him an anonymous present immediately. The person who has two will not mind, and neither will anyone else since they all have a present.

Imiss2019 · 26/01/2021 11:20

Why has the lady with two not mentioned it sooner. Email man and explain, ask for his email address and send an evoucher. He's probably be happier with an amazon voucher than some piece of tat that usual comes with secret santa (I know I would!)

SmellyPooHead · 26/01/2021 11:21

Why hasn't the lady who got two presents spoken up or have I missed that? This could have been resolved. I'd just own up & apologise privately if possible, then apologise to the group

Original poster

Nopreservatives · 26/01/2021 11:26

Sorry, yes, I should have said, it has also been noted that one person has two.

OP posts:

Original poster

Nopreservatives · 26/01/2021 11:26

But only today when the presents were sorted.

OP posts:

crumpet · 26/01/2021 11:29

Can you drop a bottle on his doorstep, and push a note through the door from secret Santa?

wowfudge · 26/01/2021 11:30

@SmellyPooHead

Why hasn't the lady who got two presents spoken up or have I missed that? This could have been resolved. I'd just own up & apologise privately if possible, then apologise to the group

Presumably she has, which is how it has come to light. The other sender probably sent their gift JIT rather than weeks in advance.

Lavanderrose · 26/01/2021 11:31

Say Santa’s sleigh has been delayed due to bad weather

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 26/01/2021 11:32

Blames the elves.

They're not as bright as people think, you know.

RestingPandaFace · 26/01/2021 11:36

If he is within driving distance I would leave a couple of bottles of red on his doorstep at lunchtime.

MsHedgehog · 26/01/2021 11:39

Where do you live? Can you send him an UberEats order or something?! Maybe cake and wine?

unfortunateevents · 26/01/2021 11:45

So if the presents are being opened online this afternoon how has it only come to light this morning that one person has two and one person has none? How are the gifts being delivered in time - via the elves?! Honestly, I would just apologise and send something a bit later - it's the end of January and I think a minor mix-up over Secret Santa should be the least of anyone's worries!

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 26/01/2021 11:46

This is why I hate secret Santa!

I would wrap up the nice bottle of red wine and send it with a note apologising and explaining the mishap! Then send the actual present you would have bought him too!

I was the person who received two once. It was so awkward. Someone suggested I give one of mine to the person missing one (the organiser which made it worse!) and I would have done but both people who bought for me asked me not to. I have a very specific interest that they had both utilised for my gift. I went out and bought for the organiser even though I had already bought for my person and brought the present in the following day but the damage had been done.

This year, DH ended up buying for two people because he knew one person hadn’t ordered their gift on time (she did the same thing last year too) so someone would be sat without a present.

So much upset caused for a usually rubbish present from someone you don’t know that well. I still buy Christmas presents for the people at work that I’m closest to so I end up spending more!

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