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.

Make a company up.
Rave about how exclusive it is and then sit back while she tries to track it down.

Gnome in a top hat?

Found it.

Normally I'd be like ugh grow up.

UNTIL THIS STARTED HAPPENING TO ME.

😂
nailed it.

OP do keep quiet and enjoy your win. You deserve it!

I couldn’t possibly have an opinion without first knowing what it is, where you got it, and how much it cost. Also a link would be useful 😉

I bet it’s a water feature cherub that ‘wees’ into a pond, and I right?
Anyway, I’d tell her eBay.

While she does sound annoying and I wouldnt tell her because she sounds just like someone I know who would nick other peoples style ideas and then claim she thought it up herself, I dont always understand people who wont pass on info.

I asked my sister about a particular place she went on holiday as we were looking at that country but wanted to avoid the place she went as she had described it as not very family friendly. She refused to tell me as it was her and her husbands special place and she didnt want us going there. Which was ridiculous because a) she doesnt own the place and b) I was asking specifically so that we DIDNT book to go there!

She still refused so we booked our holiday and yep you guessed it..... she was fuming but couldnt do anything about it because I had asked her! As it was, we had a lovely holiday and it was actually very family friendly, I think she lied in order to keep ownership of the place.

Friday night on Mumsnet, eh.

A friend of mine has a gnome that wolf-whistles at passers by. Is it one of those?

Hate copiers... the worst!

Do not tell her!

So many options to choose:

• ignore friend
• say you can’t remember
• say it was from somewhere really cheap
• say it was on offer somewhere really expensive

I’d also suggest it wouldn’t work in her particular garden.

I'd love to know in what way your gnome (if that's what this covetable item is: what else could it possibly be, if it's classy?) has had "lots of use", though.

I think pizza oven or one of those outdoor egg things.

@GardenGnomeParty
If it was a wood fired pizza oven, I'm looking for recommendations.
(I'm not your friend trying to trick you)

As @ValentinePomLePom has said....tell her and allow a small company to benefit in these shitty times.

Tell her it was a gift and you don't know where from.

Wtaf.

I’m imagining it’s one of these - my friend has one and I’m a tad envious. But have no space myself for one.

www.hayesgardenworld.co.uk/product/luxury-double-cocoon-egg-chair?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0brLqNj27gIVxhkGAB1L8AdREAQYBSABEgJWC_D_BwE

No WAY would I tell her. In fact I’d lie to throw her off the scent!

I think its a gazebo, one of those really nice cast iron jobs with the gauzy curtains.

@MartinAtAFuneral it's not a sex gnome. Could someone google and see if that's a thing, it could be.... Can't wait to tell DH I want to retrain as a bespoke sex gnome maker.

I would love to know where you live that a common garden thing purchased from a local supplier will lead to local gossip

I really want to know where you live, are you all like this? And do you compete about kitchens and cars and shit or is it just giant ornamental gnomes?!?

Obvs you should tell her at length about how you 'sourced' it (true style hunters do not buy items, they source them) from Russia/Poland/Norway but sadly the artisanal company no longer sell to the UK due to Brexit. Include a link to an alternative, hideous version that you think would really 'fit her style brief' & 'express her personality'.

@AnnLouiseB

I would love to know where you live that a common garden thing purchased from a local supplier will lead to local gossip

SNAP

I have to say I REALLY don't understand when people get previous over things they bought in a shop that other people could easily buy. Why? Why do you have to be the only one you know who has it?