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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give freebies I've received as gifts?

26 replies

NeonPinkNails · 22/09/2016 08:05

I work in a the gift industry and a perk of this is that I get a lot of very nice freebies at times - excess stock, samples etc. Much of it is the sort of thing I would buy anyway and that my friends and family would like.

WIBU to save some of them for Xmas/birthday presents? I work hard and don't get paid overtime so I definitely feel like I've earned them but somehow giving away things I've received for free feels wrong.

OP posts:
mouldycheesefan · 22/09/2016 08:07

As long as they are not mini samples of cosmetics I think you are fine.

What is the gift industry? (Nosy)

Amelie10 · 22/09/2016 08:08

Yanbu, if it's things that you would buy anyway then i don't think there's anything wrong with it.

cuntinghomicidalcardigan · 22/09/2016 08:11

It's not that different to using coupons and offers and shopping in the sales.as long as it's stuff the receivers will like and not just tat. You're effectively using your staff discount, it's just a better discount than most people get! Smile

Oysterbabe · 22/09/2016 08:53

YANBU.
My sister enters about a million competitions a day and wins some good stuff. Pretty much every gift she gives is something she won. Everyone's happy with that.

MrsCaecilius · 22/09/2016 08:55

I totally would. Makes no difference if you bought it or were given it in my opinion.

Queenbean · 22/09/2016 08:56

I would love this. My old housemate worked for a bit cosmetics company and would always give us those cosmetics as gifts.

It was lovely because she was always more generous than if she was just buying - ie, if the budget was £30 she'd have been only able to buy one thing but instead she would give us 3/4/5 items instead. Was brilliant.

Only1scoop · 22/09/2016 08:58

Yanbu
As long as their is no free gift branding on there

SpookyPotato · 22/09/2016 08:59

YANBU! I would do this. You have been given these lovely things as perks and so it's like a money bonus which is already in gift form. As long as they are given to people who will enjoy them then it's all good!

MatildaTheCat · 22/09/2016 09:00

Sure, no real difference to recycling gifts that you had no need for.

I might feel a bit weird though if someone was over- grateful at my huge generosity or if my gift was far more exessive than theirs to me so not without pitfalls.

TheNaze73 · 22/09/2016 09:29

YANBU

PGPsabitch · 22/09/2016 10:22

As long as they are nice freebies Yanbu. If they were the equivalent of those tiny bottles of impulse for example it would be obvious what they were.

Original poster
NeonPinkNails · 22/09/2016 12:13

They are definitely nice gifts and no evidence that they were free, they come in to us exactly as they would go to a store and are sold all over the high street or have been previously.

I couldn't think of a less wanky term than 'gift industry' Blush. Basically I work for a company that designs and manufacturers a lot of nice things.

OP posts:
user1471461436 · 22/09/2016 12:20

I totally would and do this regularly

KindergartenKop · 22/09/2016 12:23

My grandmother used to do this and her gifts were awful and a family joke.
But if they're nice gifts and not obviously a freebie then it's ok!

KC225 · 22/09/2016 12:25

Give us an example of the gifts, we are curious OP?

ThatsWotSheSaid · 22/09/2016 12:28

It depends on the gift. If it's some beautiful Mac gift set and you think 'oh Jane will love that' then fine. If you are looking at some random bath set thinking 'who can I give this to' then it's a bit off IMO.

YelloDraw · 22/09/2016 12:30

Yeah totally fine!

GlitteryFluff · 22/09/2016 12:30

I agree with pp that if it's something you know someone will love it's fine. If the recipient wouldn't like it, it's just you have it and wanna get rid of it it's a bit rubbish.

Comejointhemurder · 22/09/2016 12:36

I had no complaints when my Aunt worked for Chanel!

Love51 · 22/09/2016 12:39

I'd probably break it up a bit, so occasionally buy people a gift not from my company, else you'll be known for always giving stuff from work. But only if I could think of something they would enjoy!

butterfly990 · 22/09/2016 12:57

My friend as part of her shop gets free vouchers for local activities. She was worried about giving these as presents for when her child gets invited to birthday parties. I told her that it was a great idea but to perhaps include a block of chocolate or a small gift with it.

Original poster
NeonPinkNails · 22/09/2016 13:12

I only tend to give them if they're something I know the person will like and I always buy other things as well, I wouldn't just hand over a load of freebies! Our company also gives a lot of this spare stock to charity so hopefully it's a win-win situation.

I'm trying to be discreet but it's not Mac or Chanel (unfortunately!), more the type of gift sets that you find on the high street at Xmas - look through any of the major stores' gift guides and you'll get the idea.

OP posts:
Butteredparsn1ps · 22/09/2016 13:16

Sounds a lot better than the freebies in my line of work. free pens and post its dont provide quite the same level of excitement.

Are you sure I'm not a long lost relative of your OP?

Original poster
NeonPinkNails · 22/09/2016 20:42

You never know Wink.

Thanks all, I'm aware how lucky I am to get such a nice perk so I'll carry on sharing my good fortune.

OP posts:
Waffles80 · 22/09/2016 21:12

When I was a journalist I used to regift press samples.

Did accidentally leave a press release in a book once, though!