To sell this on ebay

[athrobbingpairooftrousers]

Ok it’s a bit of a first world problem but it has caused me no end of stress.

I recently had a big birthday and some friends clubbed together and got me a family gift experience. Now I appreciate that it was very kind of them and I said thank you and all that but ....... I have absolutely no interest in doing this thing. My family also has no interest. DH has already done one through a team building day with his work and didn’t like it. My teenage kids looked flustered and said they really didn’t want to do that.

So my dilemma is I really don’t want to force me and my family to find the time to go and do this experience when none of us want to. We do plenty together and there are enough moans trying to get us all doing things we actually like.

I cannot get a refund on the voucher. I could go back to the friend group and ask if anyone wants to do this with me (even though I don’t want to) but it is limited to a certain number of people so who do I ask without offending the others. And would they be offended anyway because my family aren’t interested. And everyone else is so busy it’s a nightmare even trying to get a suitable date for a night out.

I mentioned it to a separate group of friends who all thought it was great and I should do it and they would come with me and give me the money. But then I just feel bad about that because I still don’t really want to do it and I certainly don’t want them to feel obliged to pay for it.

So could I just sell it on ebay and hope that the original givers never find out. If they ask if I’ve done it or enjoyed it, what would I say?

I don’t want to state what the experience is as I’ve probably outed myself enough though I’ve name changed.

Gawd I never knew a present could cause so much anxiety.

I’ve done a few, the rooms are not small, the door can be shut but left unlocked or even open. It’s just like being in your office at work, your bedroom or living room. It’s not a tiny suffocating little space, honestly it just like being in a themed room in a house!

yes op you might be able to watch your friends doing it on the TV camera - might be fun especially if they split into two teams?

I think HowLovely is right tbh.
I've been to two escape rooms and the rooms were large, well lit, spacious. They were no different from being in a sitting room. And you could go out and back in at any time either by waving your hand in front of a screen or asking into an intercom. It's such a shame that neither you or your family were willing to try it.
But I don't think it is a reflection on how well your friends know you. If they've taken part in one then they'll know it's not claustrophobic or anything like completing a crossword.

Oh I adore escape rooms!

I'd go with friends

Just give it to the group of friends who were enthusiastic about it and ask them to brief you about it so that you have something to say if the original gift-givers ever ask

Very surprised that close friends bought you an escape room gift if they know you're claustrophobic!

@dontcallmecharlotte a fire happening in the escape room is very unlikely, and that is just scaremongering. A fire can happen anywhere - not just an escape room. Nightclubs, concert venues, hotels, workplaces, airports, train stations, your HOUSE, ANYwhere.

But I agree, if the OP doesn't want to do it, she is within her rights not to.

Just be honest with yr friend about it. Maybe she forgot yr fear? Then if she wants to use it or get a refund/ exchange then she can. If you don't invite her to the escape room day won' t she be suspicious/ upset? Or she might ask how it went and it's not an easy thing to lie about as you would need details. Don't beat yrself up. It's not worth it.

My DH was given a spa treatment voucher by his sister. He had the same dilemma as well, couldn't exchange it, didn't want to do it, didn't want to tell her, didn't want to lie.

In the end he was honest with her as a spa voucher for a fella at this particular venue was so ridiculous and inappropriate it felt better just to be honest. She got a refund and got him something else.

You could say you are finding it really tough to get your family to commit to a time to do it with you - teenagers eh? aren't they silly! - and was wondering if they could get a refund on the voucher?

Or yes, pop it on ebay, no one will know.

Is this place anywhere near a coffeeshop/restaurant/pub?

Your (other) friends sound quite keen (and willing to pay something), so why not meet them afterwards for a drink or a meal that they pay your share (then you will get to hear all about it and hopefully have a pleasant time with your friends).

I don't think you are physically locked in any room BTW.

OP I think you're getting yourself into a tizz over nothing. I get it, I do the same thing, but this really is not a big scary deal. Hundreds of people do them for fun - I have twice, and I'm so claustrophobic I can barely use the tube. They ramp up the tension along the "escape or you'll hang!" lines to draw people in but it's not like you're locked in a cupboard and under hideous mounting pressure. It's a large room - most of them are big enough for groups of about eight to move around freely in - and as others have said, they don't actually lock you in. They are really good innocent fun and I think you need to give your kids a boot up the backside and at least attempt to enjoy a harmless hour of family bonding! Agree that if you're not enjoying it after 15 mins you can all bow out and no harm done, but I bet you're fine in the event, and even if you wouldn't do it again I really doubt you'll be traumatised.

Just read the link and that sounds horrifying.

I think what I’ll do is sell it on eBay and give the money to charity to assuage my guilt.

Lots of people really seem to love these so I’d rather the voucher went to a good home where it’ll be used with delight.

Have to admit I would hate a spa day. I would rather have a microlight flight or balloon flight tbh. (Did a balloon flight 10 years ago and LOVED it!)

Well I wouldn't do something that I didn't want to do , just to please the gift giver.

If the gift has been given with no real context ( you've never expressed a desire to do this, you've never been interested in logic puzzles and challenges etc ) then that is another fair reason to not do it.

Life is to short to do this kind of thing out of politeness.

I would do it with the group of friends, and accept their contirbution to it, but don't insist, and use the money to take family out for something you all like, then write to the original group of friends and say:

thank you so much for my lovely family gift. We had a great time last saturday. (whether saturday is the day you did it with your friends or the day you went out as a family is up to you!)

but do check you can't exchange it. We got ds a driving experience and all over the website are options to switch your voucher for a different one.

Oh whoops, missed a page with the bit about claustrophobia.
Then give it to the group of friends who would like it, and ask them for a contribution, and take family out to something you like. Treat the family evenign as you friends gift

where are you OP?
dd1 is desperate to do one for her birthday!
I'd buy it off you!

Yanbu to sell it, but, and I know this isn't what you want to hear, you could just try it.

I had a gift recently that was to do something. I am an extremely anxious person and was dreading it to the point I was annoyed at the person who bought it for me. It wasn't a ME thing at all, it felt highly inconvenient and the whole thing was eating e up.

I did end up going, and incorporated it with going for some food, and I surprisingly enjoyed it.

I’ve pm’d those who are interested in this. It’s for use in Glasgow or Stirling

Sorry Stirling is closed it’s Glasgow or Dundee.