to be disappointed by some gifts?

[HazelMember]

I am not talking about cost or expecting anything extravagant, more the thought behind them.

Mine: an engraved metal bookmark with someone else’s name on it plus a bunch of dried flowers complete with the Poundland label still attached.

Honesty I would rather receive nothing.

So stop buying then
Its easy.
Make the annoucement in.plenty of time next year.

Utterly pointless and thoughtless gifts and just another job for you now to get rid of. I'd tell the friend next year that you're just doing cards. I know we don't give to receive but she was playing a game there bigging up your present when it's such obvious shit. Who knows what her game was but you don't have to play it again. People on here saying you should be grateful are not on the same page are they. Thoughtless presents are actually quite hurtful - nothing would be better.

Thoughtless presents are actually quite hurtful - nothing would be better.

This is exactly how I feel. I actually did get nothing from a couple of people and that is fine. I have nothing to get rid of or have to deal with now. It is easier for everybody.

So many other posts have also popped up since about atrocious gifts so it is pretty common!

Oh come on. There are enough threads on Mumsnet at this time of year to illustrate the fact that some people are awful and some people give awful, lazy, ill thought out presents.

People have been talking about how the happy retirement bookmark was a gift they would cherish 😂

But surely you can plan a passive aggressive retaliation, in time for his birthday or even next Christmas?

Ideally, you would give it back to him with a little explanation that you’re sure he’ll be missing it. But, failing that, something with your name on it, I would’ve thought?

i know, people are funny and also strange.

Your grandfather is a mean old git.

A family member got me something for the garden that probably cost quite a bit but which is very definitely NOT to my taste. To be honest I wouldn't have thought it was to their taste either and I am actually a little offended that they thought I might be pleased with it!

It is - in my opinion - awful. Very twee and not even very well made. We only have a small garden and it will have to be on display. I'm actually quite embarrassed to have it 'on show'. I have put it in quite a prominent position, but somewhere that it is possible it may get overgrown with ivy (please please please!)

I really don't don't what came over them! They were so pleased when they gave it to me too!

this is insane! The batshittery on MN sometimes. He told you it was an unwanted present and yet you still have to cherish it according to these loons

Another thread of don't say how you feel because the person will be dead one day 🙄 spoiler alert... well all be dead one day!

Agree with you totally. Previous poster trying to find excuses for crap gifts. She should accept that they were rubbish gifts.
Your friend's idea of a great gift is different from the rest of us.

my mums friend bought me a spa bath set and I turned it over it was from BHS and dated years ago I mean why bother

I think you should keep the bookmark, and then regift it next year back to your grandfather
Grandad - I know you love regifting, and so I thought I'd regift this to you, it is so much better for you than for me, because it has your name on it! Perfect! You love reading and can use it for all your books.
All delivered totally deadpan.

I think it is a very thoughtless thing to give it to you, and it would be very poetic to regift it bakc to him!

Can we all stop the perfomative posting?

I am sorry for your loss, I truly I am I lost my grandmother over the last couple of years so I understand. However, the op is allowed to not be impressed with a regift! The op is not you and can feel this way.

As much as I adored my grandmother I wouldn't have been enamoured with a gift like that either. But then she would never ever have given me something so crass.

I’ve lost all my GP. And my parents. I would still be gutted to be given a bookmark I knew they didn’t want. Their relation to me, their age, frailty etc is irrelevant. Let’s just be honest, there was no gift giving thinking of it as passing on an heirloom.

As with so many older (and younger) people with money, he’s tight.

This one gets pulled out for everything. People think someone will be full of regrets just because they didn't like a gift from someone because they will be dead one day!

I had a box of dusty out of date chocolates given to me. Not a big chocolate fan so I would usually give to food bank. This was out of date so had to be binned.

I understand your disappointment, I think the friend bigging up the flowers was maybe a joke?

Over the years I've given slightly sh*t presents when I've been having a difficult time, and the wrapping is usually hit and miss, so I have sympathy for gifters who find it a bit of a stretch. When things are going Ok my presents are usually good in my eyes but not always appreciated.

Try to think of it as them keeping a connection to you but couldn't hit the mark with the gift for whatever reason, financial, practical or headspace.

Hope you got other, better presents. Happy Christmas 🎄..

That is understandable that gifts have not been as great if you are having a difficult time.

I am not sure whether it was a joke or not. If she was happy a tough time and got a poor gift that is fine, but she bigged it up and then also chose an expensive gift for me to get for her.

If I knew my gift was not going to be up to scratch I wouldn't suggest something pricey to someone else.

I did get better gifts so it is all good. Thank you.

The bookmark would be ok if it was in a carefully chosen book. Not as a standalone gift unless you'd told him you loved it. Even then I'd just give it to you at another time

Do you think your Grandad might have gave it to you as it was gifted to him so thought it might be sentimental to you to keep when he's gone? How old is he? Has he been able to get out to buy you a present or can he use online shopping apps? To give something with his name on tells me it's been given to you to remember him when he's no longer here.
Your friend obviously thought you'd like her present so maybe re gift it back to her next year saying how you knew she loved the one she got you so you got her one in return. She doesn't need to know its the same one lol

No. He told me he received it as a retirement gift and he didn't want it so you have it. There was no sentiment involved. Why would I want happy retirement John on a bookmark?

He is in his 60s. He has sent gifts before so he can get out, buy and post gifts if he wants to.

Great idea about the regifting the dried flowers - I have already donated them otherwise I would do this!

I think people are thinking grandad is 102 and isn't it lovely he gave her the bookmark. This man is only in his 60's (a spring chicken, barely born according to some on this site)and wanted to offload some clutter in his house ffs. As for the crappy paper flowers, again ffs. Shiteous presents, not worth the gift wrap.

Remember this next year when you're deciding how thoughtful to be in your gift buying OP!