Fuck it. Let’s have a ‘Shit Secret Santa’ thread.

[Retiremental]

Mine hit a new low spot this year with Bayliss and fucking Harding

I really enjoy buying presents so I have made the mistake of deciding to take part in secret santa a few times. I always regret it. I seem to forget that just because I enjoy finding a really relevant gift for somone most people don't give a shit. So I haven't taken part for a long time and this thread just reminds me why!

@GlummyMcGlummerson

A set of Coca Cola lip balms.

My dh bought be this set years ago and they are still going strong!

I got a very basic hip flask from my old boss (90% sure it was her). It was perfectly inoffensive, if slightly ‘Old man on a fishing trip’, but I just found it bizarre as I’m the easiest person in the world to buy for in Secret Santa. I collect a certain item (won’t share in case it’s outing) and it’s not some rare, expensive item; there’s a ton of things she could have got me for less than a tenner. People love getting me as their Secret Santa pick because they know they can get something within budget without having to think ‘What does Cough like?’, and know that I’ll appreciate it. You’d have to be super-lazy to STILL buy generic.

My partner just got a £10 gift voucher towards a family photo shoot (hates having his photo taken) but the minimum spend is £155 so we now feel obliged to do the photo shoot that we can't really afford!

One year I got a packet of beef jerky. Everyone in the office knows I’m vegetarian!

Not as bad as my colleague who got breath mints in a silver tin. I felt so bad for her, she was really upset because she thought they were trying to tell her something

We do one in work, £15 and secret exchange (drop off/pick up in a cupboard over a two week period) so no idea who gets my gift and iv no idea who bought mine.

i always buy something nice like wine, chocolate and decent candle or bath stuff.

somehow i keep getting shit back

i poo-ing raindeer/penis humbugs. you get the drift.

i think this year im gonna open all the bags in the cupboard to make sure its something good (or else just keep my gift for myself-no one would know! haha)

It seems all managers at the moment are giving teabags and tea lights to their teams

A plastic 'lazy susan' with six bags of Cheddars.

Some bloomin awful lavender bubble bath. The colleague in question has been to my house. I have no bath, just a walk in shower.

To be clear tho, i think the shit/joke gifts are fine for work secret santa as long as that is decided before hand. But its not fair if some folk are feeling offended or get rubbish useless tat when they have went to the effort for something nice

Really cheap nasty make up and brushes. I don’t really wear make up at work. It is gutting because I always try really hard to get a nice present for whoever the recipient is and now I’ve had utter shite 3 times. One was obviously bought in the train station on the way to the office and went in the bin as it was utter wank!

@demitri the beef one is clearly a joke because you are vegetarian (however i take it that wasnt decided beforehand that it would be a joke gift?)

At my old workplace secret santa was deliberately bad taste, people actually put a lot of thought into buying or making gifts to horrify, just funny etc. We were sensitive enough to counter it with something nice like chocolates etc. That however was clear and the SS dinner was an absolute scream. Were talking a room full of academics opening inflatable sheep, penis pasta etc. It wasnt always lewd but it was always funny.

I was bemused when at my current job , naice presents were given. Im used to it now and always buy and receive lovely things (although there was the testicle stress ball once - im looking at you S!!).

To me SS should be funny and there should be shrieking and childishness.

 bayliss and harding is just molten brown packaged for ASDA anyway <img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Grin" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/grin-D7Eg_B6y.png">

This year.

A hideous cheap crappy plastic covid Christmas tree ornament. The SS limit was £15, this item was £4.20 on Amazon.

The limit had actually been set by the gifted in question because and I quote, “you can’t get much for a tenner these days”. I was so mad 😂

I once saw a male colleague receive a pair of candy edible pants. To be fair he was the type who really fancied himself god's gift to women anyway not a shy type.

I don’t think I’ve ever had anything I liked from secret Santa!

Not a gift received but the very public reaction to one I gave. 😕 First job, I got given my line manager to buy for. I respected her and naively thought a luxury box of biscuits (for full amount, a lot of cash for me back then) would be ideal as could be shared with her children, it being Christmas and all that jazz. I clearly had no idea. ☹️ Gifts were unwrapped and her reaction was to loudly declare, “Biscuits! How unoriginal.” I was crushed especially as I got a bottle of shower gel that was just a supermarket own brand.

I avoided Secret Santa involvement after that.

@Canwecancel2020

Although sorry to be controversial... I really can’t understand why molton brown is so expensive

I agree. I have had it before and think it's not special. When bayliss and harding was first around they had one I quite likedy mum used yo buy the hand soap it was brown and I thought is smelled like mb one. I have quite a sensitive sense of smell too! Feel like this is controversial here!

I received a jar of cornichon one year. No idea why at all but the limit was a tenner and I was so bloody annoyed I’ve not taken part in a secret Santa since. I always put thought into what I buy and even if something is on the jokey side, I always make sure to add in a big tub of heroes or something to make up for it.

Or did you mean a nosegay?

Oops

@nobabiesyet

A charity goat. I was a bit disappointed to be honest.

At least someone benefited from it.

Taken part in many SS, the best are good wine and chocs ... The worst are when the buyer clearly hasn't spent the budget but thinks they've got away with. Hint: you didn't and you're tight if you do this!!

My boss (not SS) gave me Moulton Brown hand cream one year and having heard it was supposed to be special, but having no idea really, I googled the price

I was very pleasantly surprised to receive such an expensive gift, but wholly underwhelmed by the handcream when I used it.

I bought myself the tin of cola lip balms last year. I love it!