To wonder why a box of Thorntons choc is considered the worst (choc) gift

[Siw2020]

Received one and didn't realise it's supposedly an insult until everyone else's reaction

Anything's better than Dairy Box - Nestle's offering is awful!

I genuinely don't understand some of the comments on this thread. Anyone who buys you a gift clearly thinks enough of you to spend their money on a gift - wether that's for £3 box of chocolates of a £100. To say something is a shit present is just ridiculous. Yes they may not know your specific tastes but they've still bought you a gift and you should appreciate that fact. I've had some odd gifts over the years as I'm sure we all have, but the fact that someone has gone out to buy a gift at all is what I appreciate! Things can always be passed on to someone else, donated or used for another purpose than intended. To be horrified and offended by a gift as simple as a box of chocolates just shows how privileged you think your life must be.

People saying a box of chocolates thrown in to the trolley while shopping shows someone doesn't care or has put no effort in is just ridiculous and only goes to show how unappreciative you yourself are, not them! Half of my gifts this year have been bought on my weekly Tesco online shopping order - does that mean I've put no thought in to them? Bollocks does it! This year I have not been to any physical shops because you know, we're in a pandemic, so I've created small hampers of bits and pieces from Tesco that I know/hope the recipients will like. Some of these gifts included Milk Tray (my MIL's favourite, Dairy Box (DM's favourite), Thornton's, Dairy Milk, Chocolate Oranges etc.

I love and cherish every single person I give a gift to and just because I haven't spent thousands of pounds in artisanal, hand crafted, fancy pants shops doesn't mean I'm lazy, not creative or thoughtful.

People just simply need to get a grip.

I think I must still be living in the 80s/90s because Thornton's, to me, are a lovely gift to receive!

Oh Jesus another thing I've been getting wrong. I gave what I thought was a lovely box of chocolates to my neighbours and received what I thought was a kind gift from a friend, when DH and I were both ill. I had no idea I'd been insulted/insulting.

Anyone who buys you a gift clearly thinks enough of you to spend their money on a gift - wether that's for £3 box of chocolates of a £100. To say something is a shit present is just ridiculous.

I think the opposite. I would rather a homemade gift that cost next to nothing than a generic box of chocolates. No thought goes into grabbing some chocolate on the weekly shop.

It's not ridiculous of me to think differently to you btw, we all have different opinions.

People saying a box of chocolates thrown in to the trolley while shopping shows someone doesn't care or has put no effort in is just ridiculous and only goes to show how unappreciative you yourself are, not them!

I am unappreciative of that kind of gift, yes. There is nothing wrong with that. Thankfully the last time I got chocolate as a gift was a selection box back in the 90s

I love and cherish every single person I give a gift to

So do I. And I know them as well as they know me, hence no chocolate boxes. It's not about artisan or whatever, it's just about knowing your mates.

It's not! Chocolates come at different price points so if your present budget is £5-10 its perfectly acceptable. Now quality streets are revolting and as per normal dm bought them for me.

I thought I was unusual for hating Thornton's until all the threads this week. It's not about the price, as there are cheaper chocolates I would rather receive. I've had to try to tactfully hint to DH for years to please not buy them.

They are just sugar and flavourless syrup, whatever the filling is supposed to be.

Oh Jesus another thing I've been getting wrong. I gave what I thought was a lovely box of chocolates to my neighbours and received what I thought was a kind gift from a friend, when DH and I were both ill. I had no idea I'd been insulted/insulting

You have insulted nobody.

I LOVE Thornton’s continental chocolates!

I think I must still be living in the 80s/90s because Thornton's, to me, are a lovely gift to receive!

Me too!

I’m going to buy myself some continental chocolates later. I’m craving them now.

I got green & blacks and Hotel chocolat as gifts... unopened. I really dislike bitter chocolates with flavour combinations.
Maple pecan salted caramel Chilli Praline anyone? No thanks...

I think this thread, and others like it, just prove there is no such thing as a shit present, just the wrong recipient. If someone really loves something then, regardless of what it is or what it cost, it is a great present. Equally, if you know someone well enough to know they hate chocolate then they have every right to be disappointed if you buy them a box of chocolates, regardless of brand or cost.

That said, although I hate Thorntons (and Hotel Chocolat) if it was bought as a token gift by someone who didn't know me well I would be grateful for the gesture and then let DP eat them

Yes thats probably right tricky

Box of thorntons from dh and he’ll be wearing them

From my dad, its a lovely present because he thinks i love them

A random friend or colleague, lovely cos they’ve thought of me and wanted to get me something

Oops

Sorry trick

I like Thorntons. They aren't the luxury chocolates they used to be but are still ok. The only ones I despise are Milk Tray and Dairy Box, they taste of nothing.

I also don't see why some Mumsnetters consider chocolates as such as a 'thoughtless gift'.

Lifting a box of chocolates from a supermarket shelf requires no thought, that's probably why.

I'd FAR rather have a box of chocolates than some of the "thoughtful" or "handmade" gifts some people give me.
This year someone put a tealight in a little jar, with some fancy stones and a ribbon tied round it. I mean - why ?
Another time, I got a load of scrabble tiles in a picture frame with the names of my family spelled out. Why ?

As Didl1 said, someone buying me chocolates, doesn't show 'no thought', it shows they are a person who knows me well, or who has bothered to find out / ask what I would like. I hate it when people by me more 'stuff' to clutter up my house - especially personalised stuff I can't even give away to someone who might like it. I like things I can eat or drink.

I think people feel they are unimaginative, but anyone who knows me knows I love a box of chocolates!

@maddiemookins16mum

There are far, far worse. Ferrero Rocher for instance.

I enjoyed them, at the Ambassador’s reception.

No hope for me .. I bloody love a Ferrero !!

• I'd FAR rather have a box of chocolates than some of the "thoughtful" or "handmade" gifts some people give me. This year someone put a tealight in a little jar, with some fancy stones and a ribbon tied round it. I mean - why ?
  Another time, I got a load of scrabble tiles in a picture frame with the names of my family spelled out. Why ? *

In case you forget them?
Yeah, ITA.
Unless you're really sure what someone likes and doesn't already have , more generic gifts are less likely to be white elephants or unwanted duplicates.

I know some people give gifts just because they have to, and thoughtlessly.

But honestly, if someone gave me a box of Thornton's chocs, I'd feel that was nice of them. And yes I would prefer it to an up cycled January with some stones and an unperfumed tea light. ☺️.

Depends on the context of the relationship between you and the gift giver.

Secret Santa? Perfectly fine.
One and only present to your mum? Not ok due to lack of effort and thought put into it.

I think it's the context in which they are given , if my husband bought a large box for me I would be mightly pissed off , but a neighbour or someone I didnt know very well gave me some, I would totally appreciate the gesture.

One and only present to your mum? Not ok due to lack of effort and thought put into it

...but what if your Mum loves Thorntons ?
If that is the ideal gift for that particular Mum, then no amount of snobbery on MN makes it wrong.