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 was sent a Harrods hamper recently, as a thank-you from a well-off client.
Very grateful and all that. But I know what it cost (not least because Harrods enclosed a copy of the invoice!) And it was a complete rip-off. Very ordinary items, double-priced for being in a Harrods tin. And they weren't even good solid tins, worth using for future storage, but the thinnest possible metal.
The actual hamper was quite nice though.

Is it possibly a food bank hamper?

I got a lovely F and M one but other than that, I don't particularly like them.

I love a luxury hamper but not this home made shite you see on FB and that goes treble for home made candles, unknown make up brands etc.

Hampers like any form of scent (candles/perfumes/body care) is a very personal thing so I rarely buy them and I certainly don't want one from B&M.

@Puddlepop "Would not say no to a boozy hamster stuffed to the gills with chocolate." I would love one of those, but I bet both chocolate and booze would be bad for them, sadly. I would like to make my hamster happy.

My friend gave me a lovely mini hamper last Christmas.. a box of chocolates and some of those pre-mixed tins of gin. It was really thoughtful and things she knows I like. I guess that makes the difference.
When ds went to uni I did him a box with basic herbs, spices, oil, etc which he seemed to appreciate.

Even luxury F&M hampers, although a quite lovely gesture, are a bit of a burden...we have been (yes, generously!) sent them twice. Each time, we have sneaked down to the food bank collection bins and quietly deposited stuff we just never use...hopefully other people will.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer
You're right.
I've seen a local business doing meat and cheese hampers as they've had to close for lockdown. I'm definitely getting one for DH and I over the festive period and would be thrilled if anyone got me one.

The spice one you did for DS sounds great too.

It's very much a case of knowing your recipient rather than tat in cellophane from Facebook.

I wouldn't appreciate a good hamper from anywhere. I'd rather have another luxury gift or a day out/experience than what it costs for an expensive hamper. I think creating someone a specific,tailored hamper type present is very different. I'd rather take someone to see a concert than buy loads of preserves and chutneys.
This thread reminds me of a woman I know who makes door ribbons. They cover the entire front door as Christmas decorations. I think they are awful yet every year she sells them on FB.

My Facebook is full of Mumpreneurs selling all manner of cheap crap, and yes, hampers are popular.

I can’t blame people for wanting to make a bit of money working from home, and it beats MLM, but still... not for me.

I'll have the picallilli hamper if anyone has one spare. Can't buy it here, and what else can one put on toasted cheese?

Seriously, though, we've had some wonderful citrus hampers from a friend in Israel. But the toilet-duck-in-cellophane hamper is pushing it.

There's quite a bit of hate for Boots gift sets here! I love them! A Sanctuary or no 7 gift set sorts me out for weeks or months even!! Yes I guess this thread does show different strokes for different folks but I think it's useful in that it'll make people think about gifts

@Lockdownlumpy

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

Tbf you see loads of people on here saying they put eg a toothbrush in their kids’ stockings - maybe it’s the same people buying these hampers?

Oh dear these sound terrible. I thought from your headline that you were talking about nice contents!! Would much rather they gave a £10 Amazon voucher.

The problem now is quite a lot of people are all full up with stuff. A gift that you can use and you dont need to find room for is always welcome. Better if its posh stuff mind you 🤣

Like this ...inspired ! Not ....

Of course it depends what’s in the hamper- but funnily enough that’s exactly the same as with any present. If someone got me a hamper full of lovely things I liked I would love it. As fo for saying you don’t like all hampers well it’s illogical and silly.

The cheap tat Facebook ones are awful but when you put one together yourself for someone you know well I think they are a great idea. DD always does one for DS (both adults) full of the stuff from American candy shops and he loves it.

I do hamper type gifts every year. They are often themed. I do a Yorkshire one, a chocolate one, a coffee and chocolates one, a cheese and wine one, pet ones etc. There are many people that appreciate more practical gifts.

A golfer might get a golfing mug with golf themed tea strainer, golfing loose leaf tea blend - Royal Green, golf tea spoon, chocolate golf balls, tees and clubs, golf bag mini mints tin and whatever other things fit well.

I think most have been appreciated. I put a lot more thought into them than other presents.

Along with the Christmas eve boxes ive seen. Full of shit from poundland.

Make it yourself with thing you have thought about.
Im making one for dad and his partner. Full of thing the like and use.

Did you ever stop to think this is luxury to some, it depends on your money situation

I think the issue is the over priced Facebook ‘hampers’ rather than hampers themselves. If someone made me a diy hamper then I would be happy to receive it - even if it did contain basic, non fancy items. However if I thought they had spent over the odds buying if from a Facebook group then I would feel bad they wasted their money.

My local Facebook groups are full of sweet hampers - about £5 of sweets (individual small bars / packets), in a cheap box, wrapped in cellophane = £25/£30. Don’t get me wrong they look ok if it was a diy gift but no one looking at it would say it’s worth the price they are asking.
Poundland festive mugs with 2 individual hot chocolate sachets, and an individual small lint bear (so £2 cost to make) are going for £6. Again nothing wrong with someone giving a gift like that, particularly if money is tight but only it if they done it themselves and didn’t pay a 200% mark up. That’s ripping people off.

@Hailtomyteeth I remember the best gift I got one Christmas was a tenner in a card. I split it between the electricity and gas meters and some food basics (it was over 20 years ago). Having warmth, light and access to a cooked meal made that Christmas a bit more bearable. You never forget what it's like to struggle. I'd have snatched anyone's hand off for anything in those days. But there does seem to be a lot of tat on Facebook at the moment too.

I think it's quite a nice, practical gift. And some people only like using certain soaps, toothpaste, chocolates and would prefer them to luxury goods. At least you would be certain they would be used and not be recycled. The cellophane and basket makes it feel more Xmassy and gift like. Better than getting a plastic bag full of shopping.

Making my 90 year old ma one this year. Port, nuts crisps chocolate, pate, crackers, cheese and anything else I can find.