To be annoyed he didn’t bother to use his Christmas present

[Gherkin14]

Last Christmas I bought OH an experience day at silverstone. It was valid for an entire year and yet despite reminding him throughout the year to book a date, he didn’t go. His excuse being he had booked it for this week but his calendar app recently deleted all its data so he forgot. I feel quite upset as I really thought this was something he would enjoy and feel he really didn’t make any effort to go-we don’t even live far from it. He doesn’t seem to think it’s his fault and is blaming it on an app ☹️

My hubby got me a lorry driving one for Christmas last year, and I did it in October, One of the best presents he’s ever bought me I loved it. But afternoon tea ones you can keep.

I’ve bought DH a voucher for dinner somewhere we both like going. We don’t tend to buy each other gifts at Christmas as we just get stuff when we need or want it.

It’s somewhere we both enjoy going and it was a cracking deal, meaning all the more for wine and cocktails.

Pinksmyfavoritecolour where did he get that from? I would love that!!!

Experience vouchers for one are no fun. Much better when its something you are into and can do together or with a friend that is something you do enjoy.

I got a trip up in a helicopter before. Who wants to go up in a helicopter with a bunch of strangers? They can be crap presents.

You can often get a couple months extension for about a tenner

Some people are very difficult to buy for.
My adult DS was once given M&S vouchers, and let them expire, because he couldn't think what to buy. I was cross, and told him I would have bought them off him, as I can always think of something to buy from M&S (you know, the usual underwear or something).
The following year he was given a John Lewis card (instead of vouchers, they have a credit size card with an amount of money loaded on it). He lost it somewhere in his house, because he had not used it after a few months. Similarly, I could have bought it off him, and used it myself, if he did not know what to do with it.
My DH is very difficult to buy for, but this year I have bought a pair of tickets to an exhibition, (which he said recently he was interested in going to). Obviously, I have bought the tickets, so chosen the date, etc, and just hope this is OK.

extend it then put it on ebay or your local facebook selling page

I think you just have to drop this really. If he had been really enthusiastic about the voucher he would have used it, but maybe he was trying to let you down gently.

Perhaps he likes watching motor sport but would be scared to take part? I sometimes like watching it, but you couldn't pay me to go on one of those experience days where they take you around the track. It would terrify me and I just wouldn't do it.

Oh no! I've just bought my mum and her partner a birds of prey experience because she keeps posting footage of this type of thing on Facebook. Think I'd better buy her something else to go with it now! Bugger.

Perhaps he just didn't like the thought of the experience that much 🤷‍♀️

How disappointing, OP. He could have passed it on to a friend if he really didn’t want to go. This year I would buy him something for tge home - something you want!
Katseyes has the best solution if you receive an unwanted gift: give it to a charity. Don’t just waste the buyer’s money.

I get why people are saying it seems he doesn't want to do it but I think it's a dick move to not at least give it to someone else or charity or sell it. You should be comfortable enough with your own spouse to say if you're not into something. It's a lot of money and he's let it go to waste.

Ive had several of these and not one so far has worked. The Cocktail experience sounded fun but was in a city 90 mins away so wouldn't work out, a gin making course was week days only so I wasn't going to take a day off work. I have an Indian Cookery experience thats still in date but to be honest it looks really basic and I'm a pretty keen cook. I feel guilty though

Never buy experience gifts for people, 9 times out of 19 they put them to one side and they never get used, companys like Groupon make at least 50% of their money through this because they only pay the retailer when the customer redeems the voucher, alot of experience companys work in the same way

I'd be annoyed that he handed given it to someone else that could use it if he didn't want it!

But that's what happens with gifts - if the recipient doesn't like it, if effectively sits and gathers dust (or expires in the case of experience gifts).

I’m going against the grain here but I love experience type presents. It forces me to be more adventurous and actually make plans to Do Something. Restaurant/cinema/spa/activity vouchers very welcome here! I’m not into cars at all but I’d still have used your gift OP as it’d’ve been a fun day out.

Sorry @Gherkin14 I think YABU.

I HATE 'experience' gifts with a passion. Puts so much pressure on the recipient, and causes stress, and often extra cost.

I wouldn't thank anyone for one. I would rather have a box of maltesers and a bottle of red wine. If I got one, I would sell it.

If it's voucher from Red Letter or Buy a gift (or similar) you can usually extend the voucher online. Quickly do this before it expires tomorrow.

However, if he actually booked it (which he would have had to pay a deposit for the insurance so I'd question if he genuinely did book it) then you can not extend it as affectively he was a no show so the voucher would have been wasted.

Personally men are often useless at booking these sorts of things. I bought my DP a sparkling afternoon tea voucher and I was the one who had to book it in before it expired.

YABU.

The debate about whether experience gifts are good or bad is totally irrelevant. When you give a gift, you should give it in good faith. It is entirely up to the receiver then. You can’t police someone’s usage or enjoyment after that. That’s not how gifts work.

You can extend it for 12 months for £10 - I had to do it for one I was given.

Yes I did the same so annoying and waste if money. I got a voucher too and realised it expired a week earlier called them and they extended it for a year for £10.But then I forgot again and never used it! My son also never used his. Total waste

A website called intotheblue there’s a few places I think you can choose to go I went to blyton park.

I HATE 'experience' gifts with a passion. Puts so much pressure on the recipient, and causes stress, and often extra cost. But the OP has made it clear that isn't the case here as they live close by etc.

OP MN is a weird place to ask about presents because there are so many miserable people who hate any kind of present and see them as some kind of personal insult

I'm afraid I've done this.

Right at the beginning of our relationship, I mentioned in passing to DP that I was thinking of doing an advanced driving course. He bought me an experience on a skidpan. Not quite the same thing and I was only thinking of doing the advanced driving course for practical purposes, not pleasure. Nonetheless, I was grateful as he had tried to get me something he thought I would like. Throughout the year, there was never a convenient time to go. I extended it at my own expense for another year but just found I had even less time (my job includes out-of-hours callout).

Around the same time, I got him a sky-diving experience as sky-diving was something he mentioned an interest in, in passing. He didn't get round to using it immediately, then put on a bit of weight and discovered he exceeded the limit so couldn't use it.

We don't give each other gift-experiences anymore.

But the OP has made it clear that isn't the case here as they live close by etc.

Doesn't mean OP's DH wants to do an activity just because it is close by.