to want the free gift too?

[scaryjane]

My MIL very kindly asked what I would like for my birthday last month. They are a lovely sort but get in a bit of a tizz if you don't tell them exactly what to buy you. Please don't think I'm a grabbing sort by stipulating exactly what they should get - they get quite cross and pouty if you say "I don't know" or "nothing much" or "just a box of chocs will do".

I asked for a magazine subscription to a particular magazine that is around the price they would usually spend. I tore out a page from the mag with details of how to subscribe for MIL - so I know there was a free gift with every subscription, over £40 worth of beauty products IIRC.

I got a card from the magazine people saying that I would be receiving my first copy in November. I wondered about the gift then, and thought it may come with the first mag - it hasn't.

Now - I know I shouldn't EXPECT anything for my birthday, be grateful for my gift etc but if they were happy to get the subscription, do you think I or they should get the free gift, which is an incentive to subscribe, after all.

Wondering where my bubble bath is, AIBU?

I got a subscription to Bass Guitar Magazine for DH's birthday, the free gift was strings so no inclination for me to keep them. They sent a copy of mag with strings to me - and one to him, with strings, for the first month only. I think because that gift came with the mag I thought this would. Ah well.

Think I'll call/email the mag and leave MIL alone, regardless of whether they tell me it went to her or not.

Thanks guys :)

Yep, YABU. The gift was hers to keep. Nice if she did give it to you, but I wouldn't expect her to. Don't call the magazine, just accept the lovely gift you got and have that be that.

Don't they normally come after a while ie not with the first magazine?

ZombiePlan makes a good point too. Maybe she'd feel a bit cheap giving you a free gift as part of your present.

Don't think I'd feel cheap giving someone a free gift worth £40 . . .

Tbh, they probably won't give you details even if you did call them, because it's not you who paid for it. I think you need to drop this and just be happy with the gift you got.

yeah, ok, I am BU then

thanks all

YABU though I can understand you wanting the free gift.

Ringing the magazine seems like you know you aren't entitled to the free gift but you want to con them into giving you another set.

YABU.

If she paid with her tesco vouchers she wouldn't have got a free gift at all.

Also with subscription editions you don't get all the lovely things that are attached to the front of the mag

I don't agree that ringing them makes it seem like you know you weren't entitled to the free gift... it says you are and it hasn't turned up - why wouldn't you ring?

In general - I think if the mag comes with a free gift then the gift is part of the mag and should go to the person getting the mag it's mean to keep it yourself.

As Nagoo said she may have gone a different route to get it and not have got the free gift. If you do tesco vouchers you dont and sometimes you can get good online offers too

I'd phone and enquire too. I did a magazine sub as a present for DP and as part of the process they asked if it was a for me or for someone else. I told them it was for DP and he received the free gift about the time of issue 3.
Don't assume she has kept it.

I had a sub for myself on another magazine when pg and the free gift never arrived. I rang and they were very nice and sent me a second set. The original set then turned up out of the blue 2 days later .
They did send the 2nd set by recorded delivery, first one was std post - I think perhaps they allow one to go missing?

Anyhoo - just call and explain and at least you'll know what has happened.

Oh and totally agree - with a sub you do miss out on the freebies in the front of the wrapped mags at supermarkets. Not sure the freebies are worth it though.

I disagree that you miss out on the freebies if you subscribe - I had a sub for Mother and Baby and got all my freebies.

Not sure about this TBH, but then I remember a couple of years ago, I spent quite a bit of money on some beauty products for a friend's birthday, and in John Lewis that day, they were giving away a free mini bottle of a nice perfume if you spent more than £75 on other products. It wouldn't have occurred to me to give that to my friend as well TBH. Maybe I am just a grabber though, but ist just didn't cross my mind, I just thought, cool, free perfume.

D

I think I've decided to leave it, and just wait to see if it arrives one day. She did subscribe over a month ago - the mag comes every 2 months.
I won't mention it to MIL, unless it gets sent to me.
Mrs Ridcully - love the name you give me hope it will turn up one day
Deliaskis - I agree that I wouldn't have given the freebie away in those circumstances - not sure why I feel differently about this . . .

i have had this but the other way iyswim
my lovely nan who passed away a few years ago, was not known for spending a lot on pressies and was very careful with her cash.
one christmas i got a nice watch from her and was a bit suprised and probably went a bit ott with my thanks.
later she confessed - she had the watch as a freebie after spending £s on her own make up.