Really upset over ruined surprise

[smileygrapefruit]

More a what would you do?

DH's birthday is soon after Christmas so I ordered a coffee machine in the black Friday deals for his birthday present. We don't spend a lot on each other at Christmas but I spent £200 On this machine which is a lot of money for us.

Ordered from Amazon and at checkout ticked this is a gift and specified Amazon packaging without product details, in case he was the one to take the delivery.

It came today while I was at work so DH took it and it has come in the branded box with a massive picture of the machine on it.

I'm absolutely gutted. Have rung Amazon and they have extended my prime membership by a month as a sorry but that doesn't really make it any better!

That's annoying but just one of those things I guess.

What would I do? Recognise that there's a lot worse things going on in the world. I would then get over myself.

Annoyed, yes.

Really upset? No.

Is your husband delighted?

And that is why I have things delivered to work not home and why my dad gets presents for my mum delivered to me as they are at home together much of the time.

I wouldn't do anything, there's nothing you can do. It's a shame it's not a surprise anymore but it's not the end of the world.

wow Some work places don't allow personal deliveries

Thanks MotherCupboard. There are much worse things in the world yes. There are much worse things going on in my life (daughter needing multiple surgeries in the next year, my depression, my father being very unwell, etc). Doesn't mean I can't be upset about this. It's an awful lot of money for us and would have been a much appreciated birthday present.

Amazon have really gone downhill lately. I recently came home to a package dumped on the doorstep in full view of the street that wasn't even bloody wrapped, just had a label slapped on the original box.

I'm self employed so home is work.

I'd be annoyed too. Realistically there's nothing you can do about it though. He knows, you complained, got free month membership, just try to get over it now OP!

If the surprise is as or more important than the actual gift you could send it back and get something else? That'll surprise him!

I'd be upset about that too, Amazon has gone downhill and I won't be renewing my prime after having it for years.
It's just not worth it anymore.

I would be upset too OP, its not the point that hes not a child or there is worse stuff going on its the point that what was going to be a really nice surprise is ruined and i think you are right to be upset by that, guess there isnt much you can do now thoigh unfortunately

They’ve totally stripped back their packaging after receiving so many (perfectly valid) complaints for the ridiculous massive boxes they used to send small items in.

There must be a middle ground.

It is annoying, but as long as he's delighted with it, it won't matter in the long run. Think positive!

Yes it's annoying when plans are ruined through no fault of your own. I had a surprise meal ruined once when the restaurant rang me up to ask something.

Rant about it (have a nice cup of coffee with DH? xx) and then let it go.

It is crap service. OP requested plain packaging and didn't get it.

it would upset me too OP
what's the point of having those options if they are just ignored

Yes, this is crap of Amazon. And they probably owe you a couple of months more of Prime for free. BUT your DH is a grown up. It's not like surprise presents are THAT much of a big deal once you're over 12. The thoughtfulness of a gift matters far more than the surprise.

Just give it to him now and enjoy lots of delicious coffee over the festive season. You could buy him a "token" birthday present of some really nice coffee beans for the actual day.

He's had a lovely surprise. It happened a bit earlier than his birthday, but I'm sure he's just as delighted with it now as he would have been on the day.

smiley the EXACT same thing happened to my DSis last year, her DH's birthday is also near xmas and she bought a coffee machine online from amazon and it showed up when she was out and he was home and fully branded box with pic and everything. She was gutted.

I absolutely hate it when a lovely surprise gets ruined in any way at all but to have it ruined by something which you had considered and made a specific request to avoid is especially galling.

We have family prime membership and I got my partner an Alexa device, we already had a different one and he discovered his gift as when he went on the app it asked him to choose a device “partners echodot” or “breakfasts firestick” I haven’t even opened the box but they’ve clearly linked via prime. I was gutted and it didn’t cost as much as your gift, so I understand your disappointment.

Oh I’m sorry OP, that’s so disappointing for you. Was he pleased and excited anyway?