To wish I’d never offered to sort the class teacher gift?

[Lilmzsnowflake]

Even before I offered I told myself it was madness.
Then I thought, what’s so hard about collecting money and buying an Amazon voucher and a card to sign? Easy.

No. No it is not. There were the usual complaints about how we should shop local. What interests the teacher has that could be used. Which MLM mums are in the class group and we could support them too.
I said from the start that if Amazon vouchers were ok I would do it, but I’m not traipsing around shops. So far I’ve not responded to any of these suggestions and no one else is offering to take on the job.
I wouldn’t dream of buying clothes or toiletries for someone without knowing their size or preference. Books are great but for someone who reads a lot, chances are they have either read it or have specific genres they like. Food can be a minefield with allergies, diets, preferences.
The teacher in question is lovely and her neighbour, who I am friends with, has said she often takes in Amazon boxes for her. Vouchers seems like a good, if impersonal choice.
AIBU to think I should have just kept quiet?

Please tell me your class gift horror stories to make me feel better! I have another 4 years with dc at the school so I really don’t want to fall out with anyone.

No good deed goes unpunished

Please get her the vouchers - I say that as a teacher who would absolutely love an amazon gift card!

But did people actually agree to Amazon vouchers or are you just making that decision?

Collect the money and choose the present of your choice. Don’t ask for suggestions. If another parent makes a suggestion thank them and explain you will happily give them the money and they can buy it.
At that point unless they are serious they back off and Problem solved,
Any complaints just say that next time they are very welcome to organise the whole thing.
Good Luck!

You wanted to be the tiger mum

Amazon is a crap gift. Carp from a local store is an awful gift. The only acceptable vouchers are John Lewis- if you are at a school that collects for a joint gift that is the basic knowledge required to set your self up as queen bee

There’s no teachers gifts permitted this year at our school. There’s boxes to donate to the local foodbank instead in the playground which the teachers have opted for.

I offered to arrange the collection if that option was acceptable to the rest, as I wasn’t able to do anything else. 5 other people had already said they couldn’t do it themselves, and no one else has offered out of the 20 or so who have seen the messages. A number have already said they will catch me at school to give money so I guess they’re happy enough. No one is making any comments either way about any of the suggestions made beyond the people who have actually said them.

Previously vouchers have been what was collected for.

I am so far from a Queen Bee lol!
Also no John Lewis nearby, that would be quite a crap gift here I think.

Another teacher saying to get an Amazon voucher. If the rest are that interested they'd be stepping up to help. Please whatever you do, don't buy MLM crap - poor thing doesn't deserve that!

Reply with "what a great idea, if you'd like to sort it out that would be great, otherwise I'll stick to the plan we initially agreed to which is Amazon vouchers".

Which would be very,very much appreciated btw.

@WillSantaBeComingToTown

You wanted to be the tiger mum

Amazon is a crap gift. Carp from a local store is an awful gift. The only acceptable vouchers are John Lewis- if you are at a school that collects for a joint gift that is the basic knowledge required to set your self up as queen bee

No it's not. Our local John Lewis shop shut down,not that I shopped there anyways and online is a faff. Not to mention value and how much/what you can buy.

Amazon however... oh all the (99p) books I could have!

Our class collected £230 then the school said no gifts this year to staff instead only cash donations to a community festive foodbank which staff had chosen. I was really proud of the school but there are usual grumblings.

In current climate I think amazon vouchers is fine.

I remember a thread one year where the class teacher gift rep bought John Lewis vouchers (and I'm sure it was a couple of hundred quid, if not more) and she lost them /had them stolen.

That was enough to out me off. Without all the shitty school parent politics.

I've done it for the past few years. Do a gift card/voucher for John Lewis or M&S every time. It means that the teacher can get what they want, when they want.
I haven't had grumblings, but possibly because everyone else can't be arsed to do anything themselves.

Make it easy on yourself and say in the group chat

“Hi all, just to confirm I am collecting for an amazon card for the teacher.. If you wish to put in please let me have your money by xxx date so I can purchase the card. I will make sure the card is signed on your behalf. Anyone that has not put in by xxxx date I will assume is organising their own gift. With thanks Lilms.

Don’t put in for anyone that has not given you the cash. You will have a horrible time chasing them. Don’t say if someone else wants to buy something you will give them the cash else the teacher could end up with expensive beauty products from an MLM or utter tat.

I mixed up the present for my cleaner with that of the head mistress! The head got an M&S nightie that was too small! She insisted on opening it in front of me - I was horrified but she took it rather well and said she would change it. I don't remember what happened regarding the cleaner!

"MLM mums are in the class group and we could support them too."
Fuck that, just send whoever suggested that a link to the BBC documentary.

I'm sure the most people would be gutted with a shitty tub of overpriced goop when it could have been a £50 voucher which they could spend on what they want.

Amazon vouchers are great as you can get anything you want on there - winner

We used to get this with the PTA all the time.... "we should do x or y" but clearly no offers to actually help with x or y.

I thin people throw out ideas on basis that if lots of people then agree, that will the agreed thing. but clearly that's not working here. And you said Amazon upfront. Continue to ignore.

Amazon gift card perfect present!!!! (I'm a teacher) xx

Lol MLM's are the WORSTTTR

Well you won't be organising it again!!!

I would just get Amazon vouchers. I bet the teacher would love them.

On a related note, I've organised quite a few leaving collections and presents at work and it's usually a pain - people not handing over money until it's too late, complaining that the card isn't 'fun' enough, making random suggestions for gifts but not wanting to actually do any of the work. You've got to laugh!

I volunteered to do the class collection this year and stated that I would be getting JL vouchers, we have a Waitrose locally too so I think it gives them the opportunity to get something nice as we’ve got a decent amount in the pot. Stick with your plan. No teacher wants 35 bottles of Prosecco (although I would) 😂

Slightly off-topic, but a friend who used to be a teacher always lamented the fact that the female teachers were given chocolates or toiletries, whilst the male teachers were given wine.

If it's my class please buy me John Lewis vouchers!

A parent sent the head a really nice email about me today which made my day. That costs nothing and means so much.