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?

I think when people have very little money they want to be seen to be giving a lot but as someone who doesn't have a lot of disposable income in the house it's depressing to get. I'd rather get a single bath bomb or a Sanctuary soap than Nivea shower gel or Alberto balsam shampoo, items we have to buy anyway because we can't afford anything else

@lottiegarbanzo yes I am mystified why people buy the things.

I think there is a mentality of trying to not spend much but make it look 'big' and sometimes seems like giving gifts for the sake of it, rather than because you found something the recipient will genuinely enjoy.

But in these circumstances is the best thing not to agree eg kids presents only as we have done in my family?
It's not to be bah hambug, but my parents say for example we've been collecting stuff for 70 years, what more do we want/need.

where can i find £10 a day thread on mn ? can't see it for looking in topics

I’ve had some really gorgeous hampers in my time. F&M, Harrods, Highgrove... lovely. But all full of things I wouldn’t buy separately and certainly not shampoo

I am with you on this, unless luxury, extra special items, then I dont like or get the point of these either.

WillSantaBeComingToTown I'm not an expert on hamster care but I'm pretty sure that wrapping them in cellophane isn't healthy for them so I'd probably give it a miss.

Ooh, what if the hamper was hamster shaped?

Depends what's in them. When pregnant with my first child my mum done me a lovely hamper big bag of baby bits. I loved it. I've also done them for people who I know are short if cash so I've put nice things in that I knew they wouldn't normally buy because they just didn't have the spare cash. I've also done one for my nieces when they've gone to university as they are always poor.

I tell you what i do miss though, the Body Shop “hampers”.

Being able to tart your bath pearls and shampoo up with some shredded tissue in a basket. My teen wanted to buy a pal some BS stuff for her birthday. First thing I looked for was the little baskets (not been in there in years)

@AlexCabot

WillSantaBeComingToTown I'm not an expert on hamster care but I'm pretty sure that wrapping them in cellophane isn't healthy for them so I'd probably give it a miss.

Ooh, what if the hamper was hamster shaped?

The hamper would have to be a plastic or metal box- hamsters would eat though wicker.

I don't understand it either. People seem obsessed. Not just the crap on FB, but all the 'December 1st boxes', 'Christmas Eve' boxes etc etc.

Or gift bags tenuously linked to any and all occasions. I saw a post on here about someone who wanted to make up 'welcome packs' for her DC when they went on holiday? Just why? If you want to buy things for the holiday, do it, don't turn it into a 'holiday welcome pack'.

Mass market toiletries, chocolates etc in a load of unnecessary packaging is not a gift and if you're so strapped for cash that's all you can afford, it's really time to tell people you're not doing gifts this year, much less stress and waste all round.

You'd have hoped that interest in reducing waste would have done away with all this nonsense, but sadly not.

When I say that I think the buyers are mostly friends and family, what I mean is that they are buying through a sense of obligation / charity towards the seller. The same reasons people subsidise their friends' bank balances by buying MLM products from them.

Maybe there is also a clientele of people who find it hard to get to the shops or wrap things nicely themselves, so will pay for something that looks 'gifty' if the seller will deliver to them.

@bluebluezoo

I tell you what i do miss though, the Body Shop “hampers”.

Being able to tart your bath pearls and shampoo up with some shredded tissue in a basket. My teen wanted to buy a pal some BS stuff for her birthday. First thing I looked for was the little baskets (not been in there in years)

God yes, whatever happened to bath pearls? Do they still exist? I used to get them from relatives everg Christmas and my mum hated them because they left an oily scum ring around the bath

@patriciaperch

Dewberry!

@PatriciaPerch I think there’s a big difference between mum popping bits in the stocking, as I do too, and giving a rather basic hamper as a festive gift.
This year most of my family members who live any distance will get vouchers because there won’t be the usual get togethers.

I am making hampers formy in-laws and grandparents this Christmas. It is impossible to buy for then as they have everything! At least I know the items will be used and enjoyed.

I'm including:
It's in a personalised shopping tote not a basket
Hand sanitizer (joke present)
Tea and coffee from local posh coffee shop
Voucher for said coffee shop
Bottle of favourite alcohol
Candle
Mug with hot chocolate
Marks and Spencers chocolate biscuits
Fancy crisps

Includes everything they like and will be used.

I'm sick of giving and receiving presents which whilst are nice and thoughtful also just tat I or the reciever will not use (I have enough shower gel etc for 10 years and we gave our in-laws and grandparents gorgeous fancy toiletries a few years ago which are still sitting unused)

Dewberry.

And yes, you make a good point. The baskets did look more special. Partly because there were a number of things in each and those things were expensive, so it was a real treat that the recipient couldn't have afforded with their pocket money. Also because we all thought we'd keep the basket and display soap in it, or something.

I didn't know it was a trend. Hampers have always been a thing at Christmas as far as I know. Great present if it is full of lovely things.

You should read the thread about posters having vapour around home-made gifts 🤷

Some people try to do a nice thing and buy a cheap but acceptable gift. Boots and the rest have been selling that kind of hamper/gift box for decades.

At least by gifting some new and neutral product, the giver is trying to avoid insulting the recipient sensibility and ancestors.

I'd rather flowers or chocolates, but hey ho

Plus in relation to my last post by doing the hamper I'm supporting local as much as I can. (Personalised labels, tea and coffee, candle etc) more so than just buying them an Amazon voucher.

I don't mind a hamper. Not that I ever get given one. I would like a nice John Lewis one please. I would imagine there will be loads flying about this year as they are easy to order online.

I don't understand the Christmas Eve boxes with hot chocolate/pyjamas and whatnot. Not something we ever did and seems like yet another thing to sort.

Well I suppose most of us on here are lucky and can afford shower gel and snacks, not everyone is so lucky and some people might prefer some shower gel, shampoo and chocolate to a jar of caviar even if the caviar is most luxurious.

My gran used to make us a Christmas hamper full of "posh" (ie M&S!) food when I was little - we weren't well off and they were treats we didn't get the rest of the year. I don't think I'd do a hamper for someone now unless I was very sure of their tastes and knew they'd enjoy what I bought for them (maybe if I had a sibling overseas and sent them lots of UK foods, for example).

I am planning to send my uncle a box full of 80s sweets for Christmas though! Hopefully he'll like that.