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Original poster

Expensive unwanted gift- what to do?

101 replies

crochetmonkey74 · 01/12/2022 11:07

I have a lovely friend who is very dear to me - but she is absolutely terrible at presents.
It was recently my birthday - and she bought me a very expensive item. It's a make up bag from a designer brand. Her sister loves this brand so my friend has hooked on the idea that this must be good. Thing is , I do not like it at all - it's not my taste and I have something nicer. I'd love to sell it on Vinted - but is that terribly offensive?

What do you guys think?

OP posts:
OnlyFannys · 01/12/2022 14:44

gamerchick · 01/12/2022 14:09

It's a makeup bag. It holds makeup. Why on earth does it have to be to a taste? You're not wearing it. Brain boggles.

Sounds like you just want to make a bit of coin at your friends expense. Menopausal indeed.

Have you seen the LV make up bags? They are a very specific type style and a lot of people (myself included) find them to be hideous. It's not something neutral/generic. At £400 a pop it seems like a total waste to keep it if she wont get any use out of it (I know I certainly wouldn't)

dammit88 · 01/12/2022 14:46

mrs55 · 01/12/2022 12:49

Is it really that terrible could you not just use it ? And see it as a nice gift from your friend each time you do look at it .

I agree with this. Its a make up bag, how much to your 'taste' does it need to be! Just use it and think fondly that she did a nice thing for you.

dammit88 · 01/12/2022 14:47

gamerchick · 01/12/2022 14:09

It's a makeup bag. It holds makeup. Why on earth does it have to be to a taste? You're not wearing it. Brain boggles.

Sounds like you just want to make a bit of coin at your friends expense. Menopausal indeed.

Gamerchick beat me to it. Exactly this.

Original poster
crochetmonkey74 · 01/12/2022 14:51

dammit88 · 01/12/2022 14:47

Gamerchick beat me to it. Exactly this.

Show quote history

No, not exactly this.
I'm not out to make money from my friend and I've clearly explained multiple times why I can't use it.

OP posts:
DameHelena · 01/12/2022 14:52

ComtesseDeSpair · 01/12/2022 14:40

If it’s a genuine LV item then it’s not something she’s likely to forget having given you. What do you do if she asks to see it at some point for some reason? Quite recently I had friends over and Friend A asked about a present she’d given me a couple of years ago, as Friend B had mentioned wanting a similar item - so I brought it out for Friend B to have a look at. Is it beyond the realms of possibility that sort of thing might happen and you’d have to awkwardly explain you no longer had the bag?

I really don't think anyone has ever asked me after the fact about a present they gave me. Or vice versa. I find this really strange.

ComtesseDeSpair · 01/12/2022 14:57

DameHelena · 01/12/2022 14:52

I really don't think anyone has ever asked me after the fact about a present they gave me. Or vice versa. I find this really strange.

Show quote history

Not really. It was an item that can only be bought abroad and Friend B had said she was always wary of buying online without having been able to examine in person. And Friend A knew I had one as she’d given it to me so suggested Friend B have a look at it.

TheBakingBee · 01/12/2022 15:23

Which brand is it?

Bookworm20 · 01/12/2022 16:46

Personally I wouldn't sell a gift from a friend. Especially not one they had spent alot of money on and so soon after being given it.

If I hated it that much, I'd put it in a drawer, perhaps use it if there was ever an opportunity for them to see me use it, and then maybe in 3-4 years time consider donating or selling it then.

Its a makeup bag, it can easily be stored. Just because its worth a lot of money is likely the only reason you are thinking of selling it. If it was a £10 one from boots, you'd probably stick it in a drawer or use it to store your hairbands in or something.

Original poster
crochetmonkey74 · 01/12/2022 17:04

Bookworm20 · 01/12/2022 16:46

Personally I wouldn't sell a gift from a friend. Especially not one they had spent alot of money on and so soon after being given it.

If I hated it that much, I'd put it in a drawer, perhaps use it if there was ever an opportunity for them to see me use it, and then maybe in 3-4 years time consider donating or selling it then.

Its a makeup bag, it can easily be stored. Just because its worth a lot of money is likely the only reason you are thinking of selling it. If it was a £10 one from boots, you'd probably stick it in a drawer or use it to store your hairbands in or something.

No not true at all that if it was cheap I would keep it.

OP posts:
PeonyRose80 · 01/12/2022 17:06

I would personally sell it. Await a month or two first. Tell your friend how wonderful it is.
You should get a decent amount for it, maybe give half to charity? foodbank?

PeonyRose80 · 01/12/2022 17:07

and use the money left to buy something or do something you would really like! I wouldn’t be upset if my friend did that.

LadyWithLapdog · 01/12/2022 17:23

I think you’ll have to keep it. Its small enough that even the most minimalist lifestyle can store. It’s a small price to pay for friendship.

Julienne4467 · 01/12/2022 17:27

It's just a make-up bag FFS! Can't you just keep it and use it?

RewildingAmbridge · 01/12/2022 17:38

Keep it and sell it in a few years, they seem to go up not down in price.
I think they are awful but my best friend would love one. People are different. She was off the mark, that's ok. Definitely suggest you go out and enjoy an event/evening together instead of presents in future. Interestingly it's what I do with best friend now 😁

geraniumsandsunshine · 01/12/2022 18:08

I wouldn't sell. I think it's rude. It's a bag- surely you can use it!

Original poster
crochetmonkey74 · 01/12/2022 18:15

Julienne4467 · 01/12/2022 17:27

It's just a make-up bag FFS! Can't you just keep it and use it?

FFS yourself
I've explained myself loads on here

OP posts:
Murdoch1949 · 01/12/2022 18:16

Save her feelings by not saying anything to her apart from grateful thanks. Then sell it or regift it. She won't know, when do you show friends your makeup bag? If she's at your house and asks about it, unlikely, say you had an accident with it and spoiled it, make up spillage. Better you go to hell for the fib than you upset your kind friend.

burnoutbabe · 01/12/2022 18:20

I have sold gifts, if they are particularly specific and expensive and i know that just trying them out for a bit would destroy value. May as well pass on asap (getting someone else to put on ebay/amazon)

if they ever ask to see it, well you left it at your mums/sisters when you last went and must chase them for it.

but honestly, having googled them, i'd HATE to use something like that, far too OTT/Expensive for me. It would get zero usage as mine.

mrs55 · 02/12/2022 18:51

How expensive is this makeup bag ? And what’s the design on it ?

LadyEloise1 · 02/12/2022 19:00

I have a lovely friend who is a sh*t present buyer for me.
My children know my birthday / Christmas gift from her will not be to my taste. They like to watch as I open her gifts- just for the giggle. Occasionally, very occasionally she has got it right 😀

I just donate the gift to my local charity shop or put it into a raffle / lucky dip held by a thing I'm involved in.

Luckily she doesn't live near me.

Scurryfunge12 · 02/12/2022 19:56

It’s just a bag. Find a use for it. Use it when you go away with her or something.

Original poster
crochetmonkey74 · 03/12/2022 07:56

mrs55 · 02/12/2022 18:51

How expensive is this makeup bag ? And what’s the design on it ?

Details upthread

OP posts:
Sparkletastic · 03/12/2022 08:09

Gosh she's spent £400 on a gift for you? I think you have to keep it for a few years then quietly sell it when it's more in the past and less likely to be mentioned any more.

mrs55 · 05/12/2022 17:30

crochetmonkey74 · 03/12/2022 07:56

Details upthread

Show quote history

Oh op I’d love a lv makeup bag ! But each to their own.

gingergiraffe · 05/12/2022 18:14

My son bought me expensive perfume one year but before opening it I knew I did not like as he had bought the same one a couple of years ago. I found the receipt a month later and was able to exchange it.
I was also given some perfume once that I knew I disliked. I took it to Boots without a receipt and they kindly let me exchange it for something else. I have no idea where it was actually purchased. Perhaps I was just lucky with a nice assistant.

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