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.

She sounds desperate. I would just tell her because the chances are that if you don't she will be around in the dead of night wearing a stocking over her head and nicking it.

Firstly, grow up.

You sound like Margot, the poncy neighbour from that seventies TV show The Good Life or that insufferable Bucket woman from Keeping Up Appearances.

They were over the top hideous caricatures, takes something to give off the same vibes in the real world.

Weird

This is brilliant! Not least for your honesty in speaking a suburban taboo; there's so many of these neighbours who have their self-worth tied up in public-facing competitive consumerism (My mum's did this for years till I sent them down a (vair expensive) rabbit hole. Divert them. Say it's bespoke. They'll agonise for weeks ;)

YANBU tell her you got it online a couple of years ago.

@reprehensibleme

If it's 3 years old you could tell her it came from xx shop (where it didn't come from) and be sympathetic 'Ohhhh they must have discontinued it' when she can't buy one.

Agree with this!

Aaaaaarrrgggghhh! 9 pages in.....WHAT'S IN YOUR GARDEN?

Oh get a life.

I’d be sort of flattered that she wanted something I loved. I’d just tell her, you’re not likely t9 see hers, are you? Or just ignore her. Whatever.

Normally I would be all "Love thy neighbor" but I have raging PMS tonight so, fuck it. Embrace your pettiness OP.

Every time you look at it think "Hah! So and so doesn't have one..."

Be lovely and kind and thoughtful in all other things but this.

You sound unhinged

you cant have one because ive got one"

i think yu should get another hobby

She sounds very annoying. Say you can’t recall.

I wouldnt tell her. I would just say either you dont remember or that DH bought it as a surprise. Or tell her a total wrong shop. Name a garden centre that clearly dont sell it..after all, its been years since you bought yours

I'd just ust tell her you can't remember where you bought it from

YABU for taking buying a ‘garden thing’ of any kind so seriously.

Who cares, honestly?

Sorry but what a fuss about nothing. Tell her or don’t tell her, your choice.

Seems like you think people give a shit a lot more than they actually do.

People don't think about you as much as you think they do!

Sometimes i read things on here and i wonder what it must feel like to be so problem free that you ruminate over such petty things.....i wish

It's entirely possible for a person to have real problems and silly grievances at the same time.

There's no rule that says we must only post about the absolute worst situations in our lives.

Is it a pizza oven?

I'm just here for the gnome pictures

I'd tell her John Lewis or local garden centre

Tell her it was a present so you don't know where it came from

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