AIBU To Think That Christmas Hampers Are A Con & A Waste Of Money

[TheShellBeach]

I was idly looking at Christmas hampers online this evening and I was shocked by the cost. Well, not so much the cost, but what you got for the money.

A Highgrove £75 hamper just contains marmalade, jam, tea, shortbread and fudge. You also get the basket, I suppose, but it doesn't seem value for money at all.

A Fortnum's £75 hamper is a little better because you get some chocolate and mints as well. LOL.

Does anyone think they're worth buying? Am I a Grinch?

There are lovely hampers for much better value if you shop around, but they save a lot of hassle and tend to come beautifully packaged. You can make your own much cheaper.

We make our own. Usually for my in laws who have a great, whacky sense of humour so the hampers are always completely bizarre and they love it.

Also highly unlikely that the recipient will like every item. I much prefer choosing things I think that someone will enjoy and then making my own as a pp said.

I think they are a bit silly unless made to suit a particular person whose taste you know well. How many wicker hampers can a person cope with throughout their life? And who will ever eat those olives in brine?

Better to do your own hamper really, least then you can stock it with someone’s favourite treats

Some hampers are a bit naff and always contain things people don't like. I have come across a couple which are good.

I make my own.

You are paying for someone else to put the effort in.

Only you can decide if it's worth it.

The only value to a hamper in my mind is if it 100% contains foodstuffs the person will enjoy, and one that you can get delivered directly tonth, saving you the hassle of putting the hamper together in a nice display, package it up, and post it.

Usually a total rip off. DP’s mum does one every year for us and we always look forward to it. It’s packed to bursting point of yummy bits and bobs which she knows we love.

The bought ones always seem like a total rip off to me, but if money is no object and you need a present for your great aunt I can see why you would. I guess lots of them are bought as corporate gifts though

Make your own hampers, these end up better value as you cut out the overheads for the company putting them together. Save more money by looking for secondhand baskets/boxes/crates.

This has reminded me of a catalogue you used to be able to get that sold hampers but also like a whole collection of Christmas food, like everything you’d need for Christmas, and there were loads of different options. A “hamper” of tins, or all the alcohol you might need, chocolate hampers, Christmas meat hampers. I used to love looking at the catalogues when I was little! Does such a thing still exist?!!!

Oh god I spend far too long perving over stuff like that. One day I’m going to buy myself one of those really massive ones that’s incredibly expensive and has half of Christmas in it.

I’ve made a stonking one as a gift this year, it’s vegan and he’s hopefully going to love it. I looked at vegan ones to buy but they looked boring and shit.

When I was young one of our neighbours was very wealthy and generous and for several years gave my mum a Fortnum’s one, my goodness it was a treat and we feasted. Happy memories.

Aaaaah i don’t know. You are almost certainly right, but there’s something exciting about a hamper!

I don’t know that I’ve ever bought one but I love the idea of them.

This is exactly it! Me too!

I would love a F & M hamper. Thanks for reminding me OP- popping over to the website now. Not that I need or can really afford one.

One of my son's has had two bought by his work. The first was a Hotel Chocolat which was very nice. We checked the price obviously. Although they will have got it cheaper as a bulk order it was still very expensive. The other was from M & S although it looked impressive I think he only ate two things out of it. It was such a waste of money. The rest of us didn't like anything in it either.

Always think of hampers as corporate gifts really rather than things for someone you know.

Hmmm I voted YABU only because you mentioned Fortnum hampers. Who wouldn’t want that lovey basket on display somewhere after eating all the lovely good quality goodies?! Overpriced, yes, but what a treat if someone gifts you one.

Most others though, I’d say I agree with you, and you’d be better off making your own.

Lovely*!

One day I want a fortnum hamper...I been at a wedding once and someone had gifted one to the bride and groom ..one day....

I always thought this when I looked at M&S hampers, if you added up the costs it never seemed worth it. I suppose if you want to send one to someone who you won't see in person, it might be a good idea, especially if you get a nice wicker basket.
It would be good though if a 'money no object' type person sent me one of those £1000 ones.

Fortnums say that the cost of their hampers is cheaper than buying the goods (and basket) individually so if you/your recipient like everything in it, it's worth doing. And tbh who wouldn't like everything in a Fortnums hamper?

I do make my own though as I know some fussy buggers.

The only convenience is that they can be sent directly to the recipient. If I'm going to see them, I'll make my own hamper up.

We were given a Cartwright and Butler one last year. It was incredible! Champagne, white wine, red wine, cakes, biscuits, sweets, savoury biscuits, jam, chutney, fudge, nougat, tea, coffee. There wasn't a duff item in there. Plus all in a great big wicker hamper big enough to get a medium sized dog in which I'm currently using to house wrapping paper and gift bags.