Do you know somebody who wraps presents this way?

[FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper]

We have a family member who is kind, thoughtful and generous - but she has a really weird and annoying habit with how she wraps presents.

Rather than taping the wrapping paper to itself, she will tape it TO the present inside. I'm not talking about just attaching tape to a generic inner brown protective cardboard box or cellophane that would be thrown away/recycled anyway, or even a chocolate box that wouldn't get kept once they've been eaten, but the actual cover of a book, the colourful illustrated box that a game lives in etc. that you would naturally want to keep in nice condition - meaning that, however carefully you remove the tape (and little ones tend to dive right in there and wouldn't notice anyway), the present is instantly spoiled with a torn cover or box.

We've gently commented on it, but she just smiles and says it's a lot easier to wrap things that way. If it's not blatantly obvious to her that it's an 'unusual' and unwise idea, I really don't know what else we can say to her - other than to just accept that she gives presents that are lovely but damaged and thus bring disappointment along with joy as soon as you open them.

I don't want to sound ungrateful at all; she is very kind, but then just dilutes the excitement of receiving her lovely gifts so pointlessly. Before anybody jumps to conclusions, yes we all give her lovely presents that she wants/asked for too, we aren't just there on the grab - but we just wrap them in a way that means we don't needlessly wreck them before she opens them.

Is she alone in this, or is this a more widespread practice?!

I would imagine she has mobility or coordination issues. My grandma used to do this in the couple of years before she died.

Could you buy her a paperweight and suggest she uses that to hold the paper in place whilst folding the rest over and taking the tape?

She could be surreptitously ensuring that you don't re-gift the item or list it for sale.

Instead of pulling the tape off, use a craft knife to carefully cut the tape between the wrapping and the gift. It will leave a little tape stuck to the gift but will be less damaging than pulling off the tape.

No, not at all - she is young, in excellent health, very active and does a lot of sports. That's what surprises me most of all; I wouldn't really have thought any more about it if I knew that wrapping gifts might be a struggle for her.

Leave her to wrap her own gifts the way she wants to. If having a pristine box is so important to you, make sure you have scissors (or craft knife as PP suggested) ready to cut the tape when the gift is opened. Surely this is a non-issue unless you are a regifter.
Surely, a bit of tape isn't 'wrecking the gift'.

I sometimes do this, makes it much easier to stop paper slipping. I'm not bothered about keeping things pristine though.

My daughter does this! She started doing it when she was learning to wrap, as she becomes more experienced she is doing it less.

Yes, we do. We spend Christmas Day with her, so maybe we will need to make sure we have a craft knife with us and tell the kids that we will need to help them with opening any presents from 'Auntie Laura'.

Are you really saying that you genuinely don't care if you have a new book with a ripped cover or similar, when it could have easily been left intact with a modicum of care?

Are you really saying that you genuinely don't care if you have a new book with a ripped cover or similar, when it could have easily been left intact with a modicum of care?
Yes. Hardbacks I take off and throw away the dust jacket anyway as soon as I get them. They annoy me. Paperbacks if it's not a shiny cover so a bit of tape has actually done some damage no I wouldn't be bothered either. All my books get crumpled and corners bent in my bag, spines broken, things spilt on them. Doesn't stop me enjoying them.

So if you were in a book shop and they had two copies of a book you wanted to buy - one in good new condition and the other with a torn cover - you really would just grab the one that was nearer to you regardless?

OK, fair enough, then.

But do you deliberately bash things around a bit before you give them as presents, so that they aren't as nice as they could have been - if the recipient is somebody who cares about things being kept nice?!

Yes. I probably wouldn't notice. If a hardback absolutely as I'm chucking the cover immediately anyway. Paperback is unlikely to have anything other than the most minimal damage from anything stuck to it so yeah, not an issue. Doesn't change the content.

@DappledThings - my inner librarian has just had a heart attack

I'm with you, if it's something that pulling tape off carelessly can damage and is being given to children, it's actively teaching them not to look after their things and I'd be sad about it too.

I don’t know anyone that does it. I think you just have to accept that’s how she wraps her gifts and live with a little damage.

Suggest she uses gift bags?

Give her a big bag of gift bags all shapes and sizes and ask her to pop the presents in there. You can also get fabric bags with pull strings.

Gift her some pretty washi tapes - the MT or paperchase ones are really good. It's like thin
Pretty masking tape so would peel off.

Ha! I have my own library at home. It has 6 different categories, all alphabetically arranged within those categories. All books that have been read and loved.
But not necessarily cared for whilst being enjoyed.

This post needs a trigger warning

Thank her for the gift but hand it back and ask her to swap it for a non damaged one. Do this every time if it's important you.

🤷‍♀️. I love my books, I just don't care what they look like.

No I don’t know anyone who wraps like that and it’s not weird to want to keep your things nice! If you want to intervene in her wrapping technique maybe suggest/buy her furoshiki (reusable fabric wraps) or a set of cute washi tapes (usually less sticky than normal tape)?

My in laws wrap all gifts this way. Pretty labels, instructions, book covers etc have all been ruined by it. It gives me the rage It feels so careless.

Next time you get her a gift, wrap it the same way.
She'll either not care or she'll get pissed off.
If she doesn't care, just use the craft knife in future.
If she gets pissed off it's time for a wide eyed oh, you always wrap gifts this way. I thought you'd be pleased we've decided to do it the same from now on.