Aibu to be absolutely furious at friend

[JustLyra]

Four of us in a friend group.

We all do nice birthday presents for each other, and have done for 10+ years.

One of the group is having a tough time and is in the middle of moving house so we decide to do a small gift and a voucher so that it’s easier with our move.
Two of us also made clear we felt a voucher was a better option atm because friend is going to have to lot a house from top to bottom rather unexpectedly the other agreed. They offered to take the money and sort the voucher and a nice card.

They then decided, without any discussion, that there was “too big a risk” our friend would buy practical and boring stuff and not treat themselves.

So they’ve bought a fucking Costa Coffee voucher. Basically so they can only buy coffees and cakes.

Aibu to think that that’s completely out of order, and a shit present

[planestrains]

When did she buy the gift card? They were running a promo over the weekend where they added extra to the gift card depending on what you spent!
Could the friend have added less and kept the difference? She could have spent £65 and got £15 extra added?!

[Thegreencup]

80 bloody quid of Costa Vouchers .

She's taking the piss, surely?!

[ChimChimeny]

If I were given it, not only would I be disappointed at such a naff gift (Costa is fine - if you’re on a motorway journey and have to stop at a service station…), but I think I would also feel a bit stressed about having to spend all the £80 value before it expired, in order not to waste my friends’ money.

this is exactly how i would feel! I'd be gutted if i was moving house and wanted to buy new stuff for it & instead was stuck with a Costa voucher. Even a voucher for an independent coffee shop.or restaurant would have been better.

Also I bet she will.feel obliged to. Pay with it if she goes out for coffee with someone else so.loses the value that way

[CloudyStorms]

I understand her logic but she's been ridiculous. She doesn't even want it herself! Should have just got one for Next or something. Something nice for the house is better than £80 worth of coffee.

[CloudyStorms]

And it should have been discussed before she spent your money

[CloudyStorms]

@planestrains

When did she buy the gift card? They were running a promo over the weekend where they added extra to the gift card depending on what you spent!
Could the friend have added less and kept the difference? She could have spent £65 and got £15 extra added?!

Omg if that's what she's done that's such a cheeky thing to do.

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

I wouldn't be happy with that. The money doesn't make sense either. How much did you put in OP? £26.67? I think the person who bought it has done so at discount so has put in a smaller amount themselves.

[longwayoff]

Was just remembering yesterday, Christmas coming, there were times in my earlier hard up life when well meaning friends would do this kind of thing for me, a useless gift when I was struggling to pay bills, along with "I knew you'd never spend this money on yourself ". Well intentioned but it was bloody depressing and I was rarely grateful. Even now I would be far from thrilled with a voucher for coffee.

[inawe]

What an awful present. And yes, it does sound like your friend used the above mentioned offer and put less money in.

[pansypotter123]

When did she buy the gift card? They were running a promo over the weekend where they added extra to the gift card depending on what you spent!
Could the friend have added less and kept the difference? She could have spent £65 and got £15 extra added?!

If this is what happened then you might have an ever bigger problem😨

[inloveagain2022]

£80 on shit coffee??

Demand she takes it back and if she won't I'd get her the same thing for her birthday. What a twat. How dare she make such an executive decision when it isn't all her money.

Honestly I woke up way too early today and maybe that's why but I'd be FUMING!!!!!

[SeasonFinale]

Was there a Black Friday deal where they matched what you put on a card? Has she potentially not chipped in at all?

[toolazytothinkofausername]

Yanbu! £80 Costa voucher is a shit present.

Should have bought £20 Costa voucher and £60 shopping voucher.

[icelollycraving]

Costa gift card for £80 is shit. Ask her to get a refund, although places rarely refund gift cards. I also think she has done some kind of offer like the pp said.
If she wouldn’t want it, why would your other friend?!

[MolkosTeenageAngst]

YANBU. Maybe if it was only a £10 voucher it would be okay but an £80 Costa voucher is ridiculous, even for someone who goes there everyday it would se a ridiculous amount of money to ringfence for coffee. It would probably take years to get through. If someone gave me an £80 Costa voucher I would also feel sad that I had to waste so much money on coffee or cake instead of being able to buy myself something I wanted and something that I could keep, it’s a significant amount of money and enough to buy a proper treat or splash out on something I wouldn’t usually buy.

[SeasonFinale]

Oops I should have read the thread before posting! Already mentioned the deal

[ArblemarchTFruitbat]

I never go to Costa (I'm not much of a coffee drinker) so if it came my way I'd probably end up regifting it, unless I could sell it to someone at a discount.

[TenPenceMix]

She'll probably take you all for coffee and cakes x4. Not a terrible waste but more of a gift to the group than a personal one.

[OverByYer]

That’s a terrible gift. I’d be annoyed if I’d contributed and I wouldn’t be too thrilled to receive it. John Lewis or M&S would have been far better, choice of food , wine, clothes or home ware.

[NynaeveSedai]

@leafygarden42

Costa are doing put £20 on a voucher and get an extra £5 for free at the moment so she might actually end up with a £100 voucher!

Sounds like a bargain - I might just have to go out and get an £80 Costa voucher.

Or she only spent £65 and pocketed £15 of her friends' money...

[user1471462428]

I love Costa as it’s across the road from my house but even I wouldn’t want an £80 voucher for it.£20 would be nice but £80!! No one needs that much coffee!

[WeAreTheHeroes]

That's only a good present for someone who buys a Costa Coffee every day. I really hope your other friend agrees with you.

[BarkminsterBlue]

Eighty quid at Costa?! I’ve put a £5-10 Costa card in a card for a nursery key worker as a token gesture but that is nuts.

Your friend doesn’t get to decide what is a ‘treat’. If the voucher meant I could top up my budget to buy nicer taps / towels / whatever for the house to give me pleasure every day then that can be just as much of a ‘treat’.

It won’t be refundable I’m afraid. There are sites which buy back gift cards but you won’t recoup all of your outlay.

[frazzledasarock]

Can the voucher be exchanged for a general love to shop one instead?

[JustDanceAddict]

What a crap present.