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?

@MysweetAudrina

I have one made up for my sd27. It contains

An oodie
Neom Xmas candle
Rose Prosecco
Lindt cracker
Vegan shampoo, conditioner, shower gel
Neom hand and body lotion
L'occitane cracker

Will add a book, tea and more food items.

Oh wow @MysweetAudrina - this is my absolute dream hamper!

@TOADfan I haven’t bought Amazon vouchers.

I'd love to receive a nice hamper, of food and drink that I like but consider special and a treat. That would be both thoughtful (they'd have to know what I like) and generous (because it's the nicer, treat versions).

Maybe I just have different ideas about what is 'nice and a treat' from the buyers and recipients of these 'hampers'.

What I wouldn't expect though, would be for the mark-up on the face value of the individual items to be 100% or more, just because they're wrapped in cellophane with a bit of shredded paper.

YABU
I love getting hampers
We're all different, right?

[quote Coffeecak3]@TOADfan I haven’t bought Amazon vouchers.[/quote]
I didn't say you did and I wasn't calling out anyone who does (I would love one!) It's just this year with everything I'm trying to buy local as much as possible and with the impossible to buy for people when it's a toss up between bits they like or a voucher for a big shop, it's a decision I have made.

I heard someone, think it was a comedian, talking about Christmas and what you buy. He said there are gifts and there are presents. Gifts are things like Christmas socks or a Boots gift set. Presents are usually more expensive, more thoughtful and something people really want.

Ever since I always stop and think, "Would that be a gift or a present." I try to only buy presents.

@Streamingbannersofdawn

I think people might be buying affordable items and making them look nice. My SIL does this, I appreciate the effort really they dont' have a lot of money.

I think buying cheaper items, making a basket and then selling them to others at a higher price isn't right though but then nobody is forced to buy it I suppose.

You're aware every single thing you buy, people have bought for less and sold it to you for more, right? It's kind of how business works ..

I was looking at Fortnum & Mason hampers the other day and they had piccalilli in it - who the hell would want that?

I think a hamper someone's created for you bearing in mind what you like is lovely. A bag full of poundland things on sale for more than double the price is less lovely.

I don't think I'd buy a hamper but I do like the idea of making up a hamper for a specific person with lots of things they love

Like this. Christmas for your mates in one go, wander round picking a different scent each, get your tissue, and the person on the till would cellophane it all up for you.

Can’t remember if they charged for it?

They should go back to it. Even if the cellophane is anti planet they could do pick your own gift boxes or something.

I used to love getting the Express Dairy hamper in the 70s from the milkman. My mum ordered one every year and it felt very festive when it arrived. It was full of things no one ever ate but never mind!

I think that even the best-intended hampers can misfire. I’ve had my fingers burned a few times, carefully choosing items and the recipient looking about as thrilled as if you had given them one of those Poundland cellophane efforts.

No, that sounds completely rubbish. But ordinarily, I love a hamper. We exchange hampers for Christmas with MIL every year, and it's a great gift - and so much easier to shop for and means she no longer buys me cheap soap and hand cream from Boots for every possible gift exchanging ocassion. But YANBU crappy Facebook hampers sound grim.

Not everyone can afford luxury hampers, and even if I got her one she wouldn't eat half the things in it because she's quite particular. I'm like that, I've never had a hamper where everything got eaten. Shortbread - don't like it, Christmas pudding - don't like it, Christmas cake - don't like it, fancy coffee - prefer Typhoo tea, bottle of wine - I'm teetotal, chutney and or jam - prefer my own home made, cheese - gives me migraine, liqueur chocolate - like chocolate but not alcohol. I do quite like a Hotel Chocolat hamper.

I always end up feeling a bit sad about the waste although I do take stuff to the food bank but I don't think that was the point.

@romeolovedjulliet it’s in money matters

hollowTalk - I love piccalilli ! Mmm with a nice piece of cheese and a stick of celery... and leftover turkey....

The planet is dying and here we are wrapping crap with oodles of plastic. Not cool.

I can't bear this type of thread, really the worst of Mumsnet.

If you can't summon up enough understanding and empathy to understand why people might make/sell/buy cheap hampers (even if to help benefits), especially this year, I despair.

The inequality in this country which leads to the desperation to make some money, to buy a gift for someone (even if of things you don't personally like/want/need) is shocking.

Take a look at the thread regards Cornwall that's currently trending and the levels of deprivation that mean that children who have a toothbrush are considered to be 'above average'.

Perhaps the mothers of those children haven't got the time or opportunity to sit around dissecting your choice of gifts etc.

Haven't rtft.

I haven't ever seen a few cheap bits wrapped in plastic called a hamper.

I think hampers are lovely because instead of buying stuff for the sake of it you can pick and choose items.

I've made my mum a skincare/beauty hamper (years ago, pre kids and pre hamper trend!) with full sized, cherry picked products.

If it weren't for my giant stockings that are being filled with good stuff i was going to make the kids a self care hamper too with lovely bath bombs from lush, sparkly and colour changing bubble baths, a new cute body puff and character face cloth and a little body spray.

I think hampers are great!

Historically given to servants at Christmas. Nowadays given to staff, loyal clients to show gratitude around Christmas time or for special occasions.

I just can’t get excited about a basket full of mini foods and mini booze. Too much packaging and too many calories 😂
Personally I’d much prefer a single, solid present like a book, or a scarf or even a pair of warm socks. I know I am going against the grain but I just can’t see the appeal.

And I think we are all far too affluent when we don’t like this and don’t like that. A good dose of Little House on the Prairie is needed!

Christmas presents so often seem like a chore and a minefield.

@MysweetAudrina

I have one made up for my sd27. It contains

An oodie
Neom Xmas candle
Rose Prosecco
Lindt cracker
Vegan shampoo, conditioner, shower gel
Neom hand and body lotion
L'occitane cracker

Will add a book, tea and more food items.

Sounds amazing 🤩

I like getting luxury items in a hamper. But last year I got a hamper full of Christmas themed stuff. The stuff I use in the run up to Christmas - not after. I put it away due this year and now I can’t remember where😂

@ancientgran
If the recipient is genuinely hard up and grateful for shampoo etc, then would it not be better for the giver to spend £20 on 20 items they genuinely need from poundland, rather than spending £20 for 6 items from poundland and industrial quantities of cellophane?

I consider myself fortunate because right now I can buy what we need although it's certainly not a luxury lifestyle. I don't have a job and job hunting has been stuffed by covid, but we have one salary and we can manage. I am aware that not everyone is so lucky, so I give to the local foodbank.