To think this is a widely understood unwritten rule?

[GiftTag]

At a birthday party and as I was dropping off the present with the others another mum noticed we hadn't written on the gift tag. She asked if I wanted a pen so I could write on it and I politely explained I never write on the gift tag so the bag can easily be reused (this one was actually already being reused probably from my own child's party).

She thought this was completely bizarre and genuinely didn't seem to be able to comprehend that this was quite normal behaviour.

She continued to repeat of course you write on the tag that's why its there and how would they know who the gifts was from (I did say the card was in the bag). She seemed stuck on a loop even asking others nearby if they had heard of people doing this before. It not me is it? This is not weird, most people don't write on the tags so the bags can be reused?

By your strategy, no one ever gets to use the tag. So that is a complete waste. First user of the bag writes on the tag. Everyone else has to add/make their own tag.

In your scenario who writes on the tag? The second person to use it? Or is it never used? Personally I don’t reuse gift bags because I inevitably can’t ever find them when I need one so for the sake of £1 I’ve decided not to bother.

Yep or just stick the card in the bag like the OP did.

I do the same as you, op. I worry that the next person might not spot I had written on the tag and give someone the bag with the wrong name on 😂

In your scenario, people are continually passing gifts bags around with empty tags on them? I don’t see anything wrong with passing the gift bags around but would just remove the tag if I thought it was going to remain empty as people reused it

I’ve just put a gift in a gift bag. There’s no tag on it as I’ve ripped it off. I think it’s common to reuse bags, it’s not too common in our circle to not write on the tag, but I’m always secretly pleased if it’s blank.

Reuse gift bags is excellent. It's just landfill so makes sense. Don't write on tags unless leaving a few gifts for different members of a household at Xmas.
Ours get used, the cat loves to curl up in the big ones.

This is exactly what I do

Another issue with naming the bag tag is, at the end of the party the hosts tend to collect all the gifts together into the biggest gift bags to make it easier to carry them home. So the gifts inside the bag are from multiple people.

The only failsafe strategy of helping them identify the giver is a sticky label on the gift itself saying To X, Love Y.

My sister mentioned this recently. I've been reusing bags for years and just take the tags off, but apparently it is the norm where she is not to write on them. She lives somewhere much posher than me, so I imagine that's it 🤣

It is weird to offer a pen, I think and probably also weird to discuss why not.

Whys a paper bag going to landfill

Not unusual and the other Mum sounds a tad OTT to be so shocked by it.

I think it's a lovely, considerate practice. If it's a nice bag I hate the thought that it will soon be in the bin.

Better to leave the tag clear and hope it gets re-used.

I must admit, this is common in the (to use Mumsnet speak) 'naice' village we live in. Notsomuch with extended family.

Gift bags, and bottle bags are widely reused. Me and the wife have loads of them in the cupboard.

Plenty of people do just chuck them away, many people are just incredibly wasteful unfortunately. That's part of why I don't write on the tags because they are more likely to be reused than just chucked away.

I do it all the time

Plus, if they're black or have a 'shiny' surface some areas can't recycle them.

Ive never heard if it. Guess i must be an airhead bimbo

So how does the recipient know who it’s from? They won’t be able to say thanks!

Write on the tag! You can reuse the bag later by cutting it off

That in itself doesn't make you one, don't be so harsh on yourself, but the woman the OP encountered was by her stupid incredulity and posturing.

Meh whatever. If someone writes on the tag I just rip the tag off and reuse the bag anyways with a card inside 🤷‍♀️

There's a card in the bag with my child's name on it.

I’m sure I have re-used then had bags returned at a later date several times, I think the same set of gift bags are in constant circulation among my DDs school friends 😂

You put a card inside with the gift ?