Shitty secret Santa presents, AIBU?

[BadSecretSanta]

Ok, I admit I've nc for fear of being recognised!

I've always taken part in the secret Santa at work and I'm thinking of not participating this year because of the amount of crap I get given.

For example, one year I was given a glass picture frame that was chipped all around the edges. Another year I was given a plastic necklace. It was one of those meant to be silver with a jewel on it but plastic and the sort of thing you'd buy from the pound shop for your kids to play dress up in. WTF am I meant to do with that? It went straight to the charity shop.

Firstly (so as not to drip feed), the amount we spend is always negotiated so anyone that wants to take part can afford it. Usually either a fiver or tenner. No-one is forced to take part. If you can't afford it or don't want to its fine, there's no pressure.

So based on that AIBU to feel disappointed that when someone picks my name they think 'oh I know I'll give them that broken picture frame that's been sitting in my cupboard for years'? Really? Thanks a bunch.

I know SS is fun, I do get that! But I do try and give the person something nice for the money. I'd happily have a bottle of wine or some chocolate, I don't care. What I don't appreciate is broken presents or something that clearly came from a pound shop.

I just feel like I try and be nice and clearly whoever picks my name doesn't give a shit. Especially pisses me off as last year I organised the bloody SS!

Why should I spend a fiver on someone when I get some free tat in return?

[LilMissSunshine9]

The first yr i did participate in the person bought a small alcohol gift for me even though they knew i didn't drink.

Past two yrs its been you buy a gift for £5 and it goes in a bag and xmas party you just pick any present - its just rubbish to be honest and so I stopped participating especially since everyone just tells each other who they had to buy for - thought it was supposed to be secret and stay secret hmm

[YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar]

We even tried Secret Santa among the family adults one year. It should have worked out as there were an equal amount of male and females. Everyone bought something nice and frivolous to the value of £20 for the opposite sex. Then each person was handed something randomly from the pile by a child. It worked out well until I was the last person to get a gift. I say last but one person didn't bother buying anything. Everyone was outraged but no one would admit to it. We then figured out it was my mum who didn't buy one. She was the reason we arranged SS in the first place as she had cash flow problems. She happily accepted her gift though. That Christmas i had nothing to open.

[CointreauVersial]

I have the unenviable task of organising it at work, and you wouldn't believe the moaning. I now tell people to stay out of it if they can't enter into the spirit.

I mean, it's not difficult, is it? Bah Humbug people at Christmas give me the rage.

Luckily for me, I've had some nice gifts, although I wasn't impressed when the bloke who sits next to me bought me a bag of gobstoppers (I knew it was him, as he was creased up laughing at his own little joke. He did also buy me some gorgeous smellies, so he was forgiven).

[Twighlightsparkle]

I stopped doing the Christmas present thing spas i have. Colleague, who does party light! Guess what, the free stuff was what she put in, the worst smelling stuff ever.

[catsmother]

I'm self employed now but when I was last employed I used to think of Secret Santa as Shitty Santa ...... well, at least it was in my experience. As others have said, it bloody hurts, that when you work with a group of people you think you get on reasonably well with, that at least one - and probably more - just can't be arsed when they get your name to put a little bit of thought into what they buy. Even if you don't have much time or know the person very well, it's surely easy enough to get something pretty neutral and inoffensive like a box of chocs or a bottle of cheap wine - instead, of something of the "what the fuck" variety like the kids' plastic shopping basket I got one year complete with fake fruit and veg! And then you look round to see what other people get and it's clear that there are some nice, thoughtful people in the group who have gone to some effort and wonder what it is about you that incites such indifference ?

Mind you, the worst thing I saw was one poor woman who admittedly did have a bit of a personal hygiene issue - who was given deodorant in the SS. I don't know if that was a misguided attempt at giving her a hint, or pure nastiness, but she was visibly embarrassed and upset.

Think the ideas for charity are so much more sensible and avoid any potential for hurt.

[WholeNutt]

I'd suggest everyone buys a food item then donate to your local food bank.

Or something a child would enjoy and donate to one of the shoebox charities for Christmas.

[YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar]

Catsmother thats awful. I remember a colleague receiving an email from a company that anonymously lets someone tell you that you smell. I worked with her the most and never noticed anything. She was crushed. She'd been there 8 years but left soon after.

[PigeonStreet]

We do secret Santa in a different way in our team. We agree a price £10 usually. Then we all buy something nice in a general way. Wine is always a staple for some but we always make sure that at least half are not alcoholic. All gifts get wrapped and put in a bag.
Then we put numbered bits of paper in a hat and everyone gets a number.
People take it in turns to choose a gift and unwrap it BUT everyone after the first person can decide to steal a previously chosen gift instead of choosing their own.
Presents can only be stolen twice. And we usually negotiate swaps at the end.
It is usually great fun but people have to have a sense of humour. I've had some amazing presents from it.

[WooWooOwl]

I like secret Santa, but in all the years I've been doing it I only ever received a gift I really like once. Still, it's exciting when you are still hoping that you might get something nice!

[Bakingtins]

I hate it, but I don't want to be thought a Scrooge and it's a central part of our Christmas lunch, which I do enjoy.
I wish I could persuade people to do a charity thing instead.