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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Gift arrived without gift box

46 replies

CoRhona · 19/12/2020 12:10

As we are not seeing any family this year over Christmas, I have sent gifts instead.

I ordered a bottle of champagne in its gift box for my very lovely MIL who lives a few hours' drive away from us. I also ordered alcohol for FIL and BIL, both also gift boxed.

MIL's has arrived in a cheap bottle bag instead.

AIBU to ask for a refund?

And if so, how much is reasonable? I'm disappointed it didn't arrive as advertised (photo and listing description and headline all showed it gift boxed). Can't return it as she lives miles away...

OP posts:
BrumBoo · 19/12/2020 12:13

Sorry, was the whole gift wrong or just the bag? If it's the latter, I wouldn't ask for a refund, I would just email them expressing my disappointment at how badly presented the gift was compared to what was shown online. If the item itself is correct, you/she hasn't actually lost anything worth a refund.

InTheDrunkTank · 19/12/2020 12:14

I wouldn't have thought they'd offer a full refund and wouldn't MiL prefer to just drink the champagne now she has it? You could contact them to complain though as it does sound cheeky!

rottiemum88 · 19/12/2020 12:14

I disagree with PP, it completely depends how much you paid for gift wrapping IMO. If the picture showed a box and there was a charge for gift wrapping then I'd be expecting a box and would want the charge refunding!

goopsoup · 19/12/2020 12:15

Definitely complain. May not get a refund but maybe a voucher or something.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 19/12/2020 12:18

Yabu to expect a refund AND not to return it Confused

Original poster
CoRhona · 19/12/2020 12:20

It wasn't gift wrapped as such, it was in the box of the make of champagne which I thought made it extra special (it was Lanson Black so the box made it look really stylish).

The champagne itself arrived ok. She is herself very stylish and so I thought something presented beautifully in a box would be really appreciated by her.

I only know about this as they like clues on labels and she mentioned the tag was empty, I asked what tag, she said the one on the bag and I asked if there was a gift box - there wasn't.

So I didn't pay a defined additional amount but definitely paid more than just a bottle, I think.

OP posts:
LittleMissLockdown · 19/12/2020 12:21

I would absolutely ask for a partial refund. The description and photos showed it in a gift box and presumably you paid a premium because of this compared to if you had just brought the bottle of champagne.

Nottherealslimshady · 19/12/2020 12:25

Find out how much it would have cost without the box, the difference is what you should be refunded as that's what you actually paid for the box.

AldiAisleofCrap · 19/12/2020 12:25

Was it pictured like this op, if so I wouldn’t have expected the box.

Gift arrived without gift box
Original poster
CoRhona · 19/12/2020 12:29

@aldiaisleofcrap yes to picture but listing says Giftbox at end in the title.

So the ad itself says Lanson Black Label Brut 75cl Giftbox in big bold letters with pic of bottle and box.

OP posts:
Fieldofyellowflowers · 19/12/2020 12:30

You can email to complain - ask to be refunded the price of the box if you paid extra but no, you can't ask for a full refund without returning the item.

LindaEllen · 19/12/2020 12:30

First of all, read the description carefully to make sure it definitely said it would be arriving in a box (you might find that it says about the bag somewhere, which is a bit sneaky, but you should always read the description).

Then, send the company a simple email saying you were disappointed, as it's misleading to show the photo with it in the box, if that's not going to be provided with the bottle.

See what they say, and let them lead it from there.

You won't get a full refund if you're keeping the alcohol, and it's harsh of you to want too much. I know mistakes are annoying, but just remember how difficult things have been for businesses this year. The people sending the gifts are only human, and they will most likely be happy to come to a compromise - perhaps a voucher off your next purchase or something like that.

AldiAisleofCrap · 19/12/2020 12:40

I think the assumed gift box and gift bag were interchangeable but if it said gift box they should have sent a box. I would ask for a partial refund.

AldiAisleofCrap · 19/12/2020 12:40

*they

dottiedodah · 19/12/2020 12:57

TBH at the moment many companies are inundated with orders by post due to Covid .I ordered some handsome handmade truffles for my cousin and filled out a form online "Happy Birthday from Dottie" However they arrived with no label at all! Luckily she guessed they were from me after a bit of deduction! Didnt complain .Also had ordered another smaller box for us and also no label ! (At least we knew who sent them! Ha Ha)!

NoSquirrels · 19/12/2020 13:04

I imagine that in the small print, the "gift box" has become "gift presentation" or some such. Read the description thoroughly.

I probably would complain if I'd paid more than the retail price of the bottle + P&P and a little bit (e.g. £1.50-£3.00) for the "gift" wrapping. I wouldn't really expect to get very far, but I would mention that the picture was misleading. I'd probably leave a review saying so as well.

StCharlotte · 19/12/2020 13:10

Bearing in mind Lanson (et al) is often sold as just a bottle, I'd say that is the "gift box".

FitzChivarly · 19/12/2020 13:14

If your MIL hasn't actually opened it yet are you sure it's not in a box in the bag?

TeachesOfPeaches · 19/12/2020 13:19

Was there a picture of the gift box on the listing ?

Hayeahnobut · 19/12/2020 13:21

but definitely paid more than just a bottle, I think.

It's no more expensive in the box than without a box.

Original poster
CoRhona · 19/12/2020 13:21

@FitzChivarly she sent me a photo - definitely no box.

@stcharlotte I disagree - a bottle and a box are very different, surely!

OP posts:
LittleMissLockdown · 19/12/2020 13:22

@StCharlotte

Bearing in mind Lanson (et al) is often sold as just a bottle, I'd say that is the "gift box".
How can the bottle also be a giftbox? That makes absolutely no sense??
SilentScreamQueen · 19/12/2020 13:28

The boxed bottles don’t generally cost more than the unboxed though. There are just presented like that by the makers to tempt more sales as they look more gift ready.
Have you got a link for the actual one you bought?

VinylDetective · 19/12/2020 13:34

I think the cost would be the same with or without the box. The packaging is just marketing. Forget it, OP, why get bent out of shape over something that would only go in the bin?

StCharlotte · 19/12/2020 13:35

Sorry I meant the box it came in (the one in the picture) is the gift box.

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