To not tell friend where I bought something.

[GardenGnomeParty]

Three years ago we bought a common garden thing from a local supplier. It's gorgeous, still looks great, had lots of use and we love it.
My friend admired it but was then disappointed to be given a lovely but different one from her family. Not heard from her for ages, no presents for my DD last year for her birthday, I thought the friendship had faded.
She's now asked where we bought ours from.
I don't want to tell her.
It was expensive and I don't want local gossip.
Our version is unusual but classy and I don't want to share my 'fucking nailed it this time' style.
I have sensed 'competitive purchasing' from this 'Shopping Friend' family in the past, they do it with others and pride themselves on their great 'taste'. It's not healthy and we have distanced ourselves from them.
The examples they gave with other friends were best car, slow cooker, bell tent, dog breed, cat breed, mug manufacturer. They take great pride in their purchasing and like to buy the 'best'. It will end up all over Instagram and I'll have to listen to mutual friends tell me I've bought one just like 'Shopping Friend'

So yabu - tell her, share the joy, it's just a thing for the garden
Yanbu - keep quiet, wallow in your mid life teen cool crisis, don't share the info, you win the best garden thing prize, don't share.

Buy her one and post a selfie on Instagram of you presenting it to her.

Could you say it's from an Etsy or EBay seller that are no longer in business?

She will get one but more expensive and classier plus everyone on insta will worship her....don't spill the beans whatever you do!

I have never heard of such ridiculous stuff. Aren't some people pathetic?

Ok, haven't read whole thread.
You have a life size naked statue of David Bowie, with integral fountain (where'd you think?!)
Nah, don't tell the bitch where you got it. On her deathbed she'll be going, "if only I'd had that David Bowie statue my life would have been complete..."

@DavidsSchitt

And surely you just comment on her social media post with "oh so glad you finally saved up for it. Ours is going strong 3 years later. Enjoy. #twinnies"

This is an excellent reply!!

@Lalliella

Such a lot of people on this thread with a sense of humour bypass looking down on the OP and calling her childish. Good post OP, well written. Give her the name of a shop a couple of hours away that doesn’t have a website. Oh dear, I’m childish too!

😂😂 totally agree @Lalliella

OP - extra points for making a totally unconnected store for utter bemusement e.g a highly specialised pet store that also sells sex garden gnomes and socks

So you don’t like someone else for being precious about thinking they have the best things... but you’re demonstrably precious about thinking you have the best thing.
Sounds like you’re made for each other.

A. I can't remember

B. Make up a shop like JL as already mentioned by PP

C. It was gifted to me so no idea

@LaVitaPuoEsserePiuBella

Mug manufacturer 😂

What the actual??? 😂

If one wants truly unique, buy antique!

They tend to be very individual and hard to copy.

If it is a gnome, even a golden one, I would blast it out of your garden with a shot gun, not desire it.

I bet it is an H Crowther lead statue or cistern.

[quote BettysButtons]If you’ve found this thread OP’s acquaintance, she got it from Etsy. £96.
Here:
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MartsArtSculptures?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=618064306[/quote]
I looked up the link...the person is a young UK man who makes all his own scupltures...They are not as I thought Chinese Imports.

He worked for Ardman animations sculpting.

If you don't want to tell her either say you can't remember or it was a gift.

I dont get it. Her buying it and showing it off shouldn't have any impact on your enjoyment of it.
But if you dont want to tell her then dont tell her?! Fob her off, say it was a gift, say you cant remember . You're your own boss, dont feel bullied.

Find the most eye-wateringly expensive version you can online and ‘confide’ in her that you got it from there, but insist she tells no one, as you don’t want anyone to know you spent such a huge amount - especially not your husband, who you told you found it in a skip and upcycled it Kirstie Allsop style. Even better, tell her it was a gift from your millionaire lover and the truth must NEVER come out. Never mind patio heaters - that’s some really juicy local gossip.

Alternatively, tell her you bought it from www.fuckingnailedmystyle.com

I’ve got a friend like this @GardenGnomeParty! I feel your petty pain. I think it’s the kind of annoyance that you only understand if you’ve experienced it.

Don’t tell her. Say you don’t remember. Or say you got it in the middle isle at Lidl.

I’m 100% sure your mugs are better then hers 😂

I love this thread.

OP, tell us where you got your gnome-orgy from. We won’t copy, honest.

Stop being weird

Gosh. I think it’s you who is competitive op.

I really couldn’t be arsed with this, but if it makes you happy to think you have this thing and she doesn’t, then you have to do what makes you happy.

Don't tell her

You sound like a child. Just tell her where it was from. Unless you custom designed and hand crafted it yourself, what possible harm do you experience by your friend having the same thing?

Unless you custom designed and hand crafted it yourself, what possible harm do you experience by your friend having the same thing?

I don't get it either.

It is a weird one. I might have to reread Affluenza.
The shopping family are very consumer driven. I like nice things too, it's just I don't have to piss on your choices to justify mine. And that is generally what happens along with a forensic Which level of consumer knowledge.

It looks like price has almost doubled, I also just don't want to hear a load of reasons why they rejected it and how what they found is so much better. I don't want to be part of their decision justification.
I haven't the time - this afternoon I'm going to be planning the ultimate Tiki Bar and trying to work out where to put my life size David Bowie Statue, the Tin Machine era one was a bargain.

I went with a vague 'it was a long time ago, can't remember' but I wish I'd said middle aisle of Lidl .

tell her you imported it. I had to import a shade umbrella from the USA because it was a shape Id fallen for and wasnt available anywhere in the UK - believe me I searched high and wide.