To not understand the trend for 'hampers' as presents

[Lockdownlumpy]

Am I the only one who doesn't get, or go in for this trend?
My Facebook is full of people selling or making 'hampers' but I'm not talking about a wicker basket and luxury food, these are a plastic basket with a few things from the pound shop wrapped in cellophane.
I just don't get it. Most contain pound shop shampoo and soap. For me those are essential items and therefore not a great gift, unless they are lovely luxury or special versions that I would never justify buying for myself.
If you and your family like these I am not knocking you at all, taste is individual after all.
I'm just wondering, am I the odd one out here? Or anyone else like me and just doesn't get it?

yetanother I've seen a few hampers made up of the stock that MLMers can't shift.

A well thought out hamper, specifically tailored for the recipient is a lovely gift.

A plastic wrapped box of cheap tat is just that. Idg why they're suddenly so popular.

It's on the same level for me as cakes/fudge/brownies "decorated" with chocolate bars and "treat boxes" - all things I see all over Facebook atm.

Obviously depends what is in the hamper. The ones you are alluding to filled with pound shop tat are obviously crap but you’re not saying you’d turn down a F&M hamper if someone offered you one, are you?

@MysweetAudrina this sounds lovely. Random tut from the pound shop then less so

How much unwanted crap can you get in 1 basket.
Lets put a sachet of hot chocolate in a hamper and call it a gift.

@flaviaritt

Why do so many people use MN to bitch about the presents other people are kind enough to get for them?

No one has ever given me one, I am not being remotely ungrateful. I am merely expressing that I don't get why people spend £15-20 on a cellophane wrapped plastic basket from fb when the items contain within cost no more than £8, and are usually fairly standard household items anyway.

@Simplyunacceptable

Obviously depends what is in the hamper. The ones you are alluding to filled with pound shop tat are obviously crap but you’re not saying you’d turn down a F&M hamper if someone offered you one, are you?

Honestly yes

We get a couple each year- wine in summer and a couple of Christmas ones

The stuff isn't very usable (and we cook a lot), the wine isn't very nice

We now donate them as soon as they arrive.

@Simplyunacceptable

Obviously depends what is in the hamper. The ones you are alluding to filled with pound shop tat are obviously crap but you’re not saying you’d turn down a F&M hamper if someone offered you one, are you?

I have yet to be offered a F+M Hamper but suspect they are probably quite nice and I might well enjoy the contents

I agree Op. If it doesn't have Fortnum & Mason on the the side and isn't filled with luxury food and booze it isn't really a hamster hamper at all.

@Hailtomyteeth

I can remember being a single parent and any necessary item was a welcome gift, because it freed up a few pence I could spend on a loaf or a tin of beans. I look at my daughter now, in her five bedroomed house with two luxury cars on the drive and think "No-one would guess that you went hungry to bed, that our only luxury was a 17p packet of biscuits." I remember a friend used to leave 50p or so when she came round for a cup of tea, and that I would - when I saw a bargain - buy her daughter something to wear. I expect there are still people facing that kind of life today, who are very happy to receive a few essential items as a gift.

@Hailtomyteeth in that situation, I can imagine that a few essentials, wrapped up nicely and put in a cardboard box, would have been a welcome gift, as it would relieve pressure on your limited budget. And better to get practical gifts that you would use

am merely expressing that I don't get why people spend £15-20 on a cellophane wrapped plastic basket from fb when the items contain within cost no more than £8, and are usually fairly standard household items anyway.

Fair enough, sorry. Maybe they’re daft. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wonder if there's a market for hampers full of hamsters? Might take that on Dragon's Den.

People are just doing their best

This one for example contains toothpaste. It's not fancy toothpaste, it's just colgate.

@AlexCabot

I wonder if there's a market for hampers full of hamsters? Might take that on Dragon's Den.

I would like a hamster hamper. They would need wood shavings in the basket not cellophane.

The 'cheap tat in cellophane' trend you're talking about OP, is just people with limited resources, trying anything to make a few quid.

The question isn't so much 'who wants to receive that?' as 'who on earth buys that tat, to give as a gift?'.

I suspect the answer is, mostly, the seller's friends and family.

This one for example, cost of chocolate approx £6-7 from poundland/b+m type places.
This is sold for £20 because its a 'hamper' !

My friendship group agreed to stop gifts. We (usually) go out together instead. There is too much stuff in the world. Shoot me but I would not be grateful for a cellophane hamper.

Could I ask you all...

I make cakes (as in pastry chef, registered etc, bona fide chef) as a home based business. One of the companies I sell through has been encouraging us to list postal hampers for Christmas gifts.

If you were buying or receiving a postal cakey hamper what sort of thing would you like to see in it ? I was considering one being a selection of festive themed iced cookies. And a proper hamper including stuff like a bag of meringue kisses, fudge, a small Christmas cake, a jar of a lovely festive jam or curd, suitably flavoured marshmallows, two small festively decorated chocolate slabs, mince pies etc.
What sort of things would you like to give or receive ?

I don't care if I get gifted basic things like shower gel... Saves me buying it I guess

@Lockdownlumpy

This one for example, cost of chocolate approx £6-7 from poundland/b+m type places. This is sold for £20 because its a 'hamper' !

I'm in the wrong business!

I am merely expressing that I don't get why people spend £15-20 on a cellophane wrapped plastic basket from fb when the items contain within cost no more than £8, and are usually fairly standard household items anyway

Exactly @Lockdownlumpy. If a friend or family member was struggling I'd much rather spend the entire £15-£20 on essentials for them (and ones they actually want/need) than pay someone else a tenner to wrap £8 worth of random bits in cellophane!! It boggles my mind!

OP YANBU to not like them and point out the extra cost for just seemingly fancy wrapping and a basket.