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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to return work Christmas gift

225 replies

Noodella18 · 21/12/2018 09:25

Given an expensive hamper from work for Christmas (very lucky as it's been a tough year for them (small business) and I know lots of people don't get anything at all from their work.)

Hamper is from large department store. WIBU to return it and use the store credit for something that won't make us fat? I don't have the receipt, so is it even possible?

OP posts:
Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 21/12/2018 10:21

That's incredibly rude!

If you don't like it then pass it on to a food bank or similar and let someone actually appreciate it!

PuppyMonkey · 21/12/2018 10:21

OP, top tip for showing a comment is supposed to be lighthearted is to put a Wink or a Grin or even a “lol.” Your post had none of these and reads as if you’re quite serious, making you sound very rude and ungrateful. Just eat the flipping treats in the spirit they were intended.

And give the inevitable jar of posh marmalade to a food bank.Grin

swingofthings · 21/12/2018 10:25

OK so the present wasnt exactly what excites you. I get it, I also wouldn't care much for a food bumper as don't usually like any of the food in them, but they made a huge effort from what you are saying, so be grateful and don't plot how you could get what you want out of it.

If you don't care much for its content, how about bringing it to work and sharing with your colleagues. That's more in the spirit of things.

SleepingStandingUp · 21/12/2018 10:35

Oooh OP hide all the REALLY good stuff for maternity leave so 3 am feeds!!

recklessruby · 21/12/2018 10:36

I think you should just enjoy it in moderation OP.
I 've recently lost a stone but I work in a school so have chocolates and wine. I appreciate the gifts Smile and am not going to eat the lot this weekend

CookPassBabtridge · 21/12/2018 10:47

Just treat yourself OP, they won't take back food.

SparklyMagpie · 21/12/2018 10:47

Think you're a CF tbh 😂

DarlingNikita · 21/12/2018 10:50

Sorry but you don't return a Christmas gift to pay for your expected child, that's rude.

I agree with this. Accept it graciously or, if you can't, take it to a food bank or something.

BarbaraRoyale · 21/12/2018 10:56

you are having a baby
Put your feet up , have a cuppa and gorge yourself
This time next year you'll be begging for the chance to do it again

loubluee · 21/12/2018 10:58

They won’t accept food items back incase it’s been tampered with.

Sorry OP but you are sounding ungrateful. A company has given you a gift to thank you for your hard work and you want to return it. It’s not down to the company to fund your baby items. Sorry if that sounds harsh but that’s how I see it.

luckylavender · 21/12/2018 10:59

I think you're very rude & ungrateful I'm sorry. In fact I'm quite surprised.

Original poster
Noodella18 · 21/12/2018 11:02

@puppymonkey good tip! Oops! Xmas Shock Blush Xmas Grin

OP posts:
PositivelyPERF · 21/12/2018 11:02

If it’s a case of being short of money for the baby, I can see why you might want to return it. If it’s just because it feels extravagant and self indulgent, just enjoy it OP. Is there anything in it you could regift, such as wine? I’m sure there will be good dates on some of the stuff, so you could put it away for treats throughout the rest of the year. Congratulations on your pregnancy. 💐 👶 🍼 🍷 🍷

rookiemere · 21/12/2018 11:03

You could bring the items along to a store that has a food bank collection point - our local Tesco has one.

TheBigBangRocks · 21/12/2018 11:04

How about appreciating what was a thoughtful gift and then paying for your own baby things. Did you not factor in those costs before deciding to commit to such a huge financial decision that having a baby is?

PositivelyPERF · 21/12/2018 11:04

posh marmalade to a food bank. that’s just nasty. 😠 How could you be so cruel to people in need? Marmalade is vile. 🤢😁

Original poster
Noodella18 · 21/12/2018 11:05

Thanks all for the comments, I'm really grateful for getting a present, I just felt a bit guilty indulging myself when there's so much to buy for the new arrival and thought the right thing would be to spend the value on stuff we really need... Don't think that really came across :) Guess I'm feeling a bit stressed about preparing for it.

But yeah, after feeling so crap for most of this pregnancy sounds like the consensus is that I should crack into the chocolate...! Wfh today so will make a cuppa and enjoy!

Happy Christmas y'all x

OP posts:
Original poster
Noodella18 · 21/12/2018 11:07

@positivelyperf thank you! You've hit the nail on the head... feel guilty indulging when the baby still needs a bed. And buggy. And bottles etc etc etc oh god...

OP posts:
squirrelnut · 21/12/2018 11:10

Take it to the foodbank! If there’s alcohol in it not sure they accept that though so you could regift that to someone else.
I would not return it no.

PositivelyPERF · 21/12/2018 11:11

There are some Facebook selling sites that you can request to join. Can you get a friend or family member, not connected to your work, to advertise it for sake. I’d say it would sell pretty quickly. I can see where you’re coming from. I have £70 bottle of champagne sitting in my drinks cabinet from my last birthday. If my DH was still alive we would have drank it by now, but instead it just sits there being as appreciated as a box of cheap biscuits.

PositivelyPERF · 21/12/2018 11:12

*for sale

Sindragosan · 21/12/2018 11:14

It's worth calling and asking if it can be returned, the supermarkets will exchange food in tins/packets, so other places might. The hamper is a lovely gesture, but many places just give vouchers or cash for Christmas to avoid this sort of problem.

HauntedPencil · 21/12/2018 13:30

I think you should just enjoy it!

I'm not sure you'd be able to get the money for it anyway.

MobMoll · 21/12/2018 13:36

I live in the US where you can pretty much return anything. If you lived over here I would say return it- I understand where you are coming from. Of course it’s a lovely gesture, but I remember my husband getting an expensive bottle of champagne as a gift the same day he got a huge medical bill and most likely feeling like you do!

whatwouldyoubelikeat28 · 21/12/2018 13:46

This is hilarious! Technically, OP's work will be fiunding ALL of her baby stuff!
Yes the thought behind the gift is lovely. And that doesn't change even if you eat the chocolate or chuck it in the bin.
Just get the credit, buy the cot, tell work the marmalade was smashing, and move on. Send your boss a card with a message saying how nice it is to be appreciated, if you want to. No need to listen to the harpies on here who have a yesteryear approach to gifting!
My boss also gave me a hamper, wrapped in 5 million types of plastic, when he knows I live zero-waste - go figure! I will share it with friends at a party, but would have preferred some stationary or a voucher, but I'm not going to tell him that! His geneority stands regardless wether II thought the gift was well-chosen.