Friend takes presents to charity shop if you don't get her what she wabts

[Happyhappyveggie]

Just that really- I have a friend who always lets you know exactly what she wants for her birthday. She told me the other day that she took a present her sister bought her to a charity shop as she hated it.
I've gone off piste this year and bought her a surprise and when I gave it her it was proper tumbleweeds and I could tell she wasn't happy.
Aibu to not bother in future? I feel quite upset- I got something really lovely and personal that i thought she'd like but I could tell that she hated it because she didn't choose it.

I hate the culture of present buying, because I often receive stuff that I just don't want. I don't know how to tell people anymore without being considered ungrateful, because even when I say I don't want gifts (which I do every birthday and Christmas), I am ignored and end up with a pile of unwanted presents kindly given by friends. It's sweet, and I smile and gush and say thank you, but I really really really really just don't want it.

100% agree. I have family who insist on getting gifts every time they visit. We have a small London house and simply don't have space to store things we don't want. Other people just don't get it.

The culture needs to catch up with the reality that most people don't need more stuff. This isn't 1890 where people have very few things.