Used gift from MIL

[Winenotindeed]

AIBU?! Just been made to look a right fool..!
In-laws came for a special family meal and bought a gift. Was a room spray from White Company. She's bought this fragrance before and don't use it as non of us like it.
So I went to the shop to ask for an exchange as it's too expensive not to use and they have done lovely scents. Only to be told at the checkout that they can't exchange because it's been used!! There was much less in it when she held it next to the full bottle.
So made up look like a t*$t in the shop AND she couldn't be bothered to buy me something new. (She can definitely afford a room spray, don't expect gifts etc)

ummm why would you be bothered returning a room spray anyway? Presumably she din't give you the receipt if it was used, would anywhere exchange something without a receipt?

Was the give an event specific present eg birthday or anniversary? Or just, as I would do with friends, "here someone bought me this and I dont use it, have you any use for it" sort of gift?

I think it's funny you took it back for a refund/exchange and you're complaining about her cheek

I wanted to exchange because it's an expensive make, they have lovely fragrances and it's a waste if someone's spent money on a gift.

Correct, no gift receipt but that doesn't necessarily mean it's second hand

Correct, no gift receipt but that doesn't necessarily mean it's second hand

It doesn't but I wouldn't imagine a shop would take something back without a receipt

Isyourgooglebroken - why is it a cheek to exchange a gift that's not your taste to something you can use? Otherwise total waste of the givers generosity

Use it in your bathroom, your family will prefer that fragrance to other bathroom smells

Arya - they would have, the only reason they didn't was bc it was used

You can often return for an exchange (not refund) with no receipt. I would have done the same if it was expensive and I didn’t like the scent.

Bit cheeky, though as PP said it depends whether it was eg a birthday present, or just a little simething for no real reason.

No receipt... what were you expecting?

Throw in cupboard.

It's perfectly normal to ask to exchange something you don't like.
However it should have been patently clear it had been opened as WC stuff comes wrapped in cellophane and often with a biw

*bow

Give it back to her for her birthday...but spray it a bit so there’s a little less than when she gave it to you. She may then do the same and eventually, after a few years, there’ll be none left! Sorted!

Modge - it was a for special event

Curtains - expected my MIL to have given me a unused gift! Which is clearly unreasonable given all your replies!

What's MIL trying to imply by giving you a room spray?
I personally wouldn't have tried to exchange with no receipt. Lots of people re-gift nowadays and you just never know if there's no receipt.

Giving a used gift is totally different from regifting

This item doesn't usually come wrapped or boxed so wasn't obviously used - until I saw it compared to a brand new one

Just give it to a friend who likes the scent?

A room spray is a bit of a shit gift anyway.

People may have sprayed it in the shop as a tester and MIL just picked it up as it was at the front of the display?

Could you not tell it was used? Just put it in the bathroom

Surely it's totally normal to exchange a gift without a receipt? Have often done so with things I've lost the receipt for and shops don't bat an eyelid if it's branded as it must have been bought from them!

Really ?

as it must have been bought from them!

Could have been bought on eBay
Or it could be a fake

Sell it on ebay.

winenotindeed I'm with you on this. If I'd been given a present that I didn't like, I'd definitely try to change it. But you do have to have some form of proof of purchase. How did you know which shop it was bought from? You could take it back to CF MIL and say, " hey MIL, I think you gave me your old room spray by mistake. This one's half empty!"

If it’s Flowers I’ll have it!