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?

What's a bit weird is the urge to make such a thing a "rule" instead of using pragmatic common sense.

Is the tag the only way of knowing who gave the gift? If so, write on it.

If it isn't (eg card in bag, or present personally handed over and opened on the spot), then you might as well leave the tag blank for the next user.

The woman who insisted you fill it in was a meddler, though. Not actually her business.

I actually find this thread interesting. I would say there isnt a rule and that she was the weird one making it a big deal.

If you want to insult women with misogynistic shite, you've come to the wrong chat forum mate.

I am totally, 100% with you. Don't think I've bought a gift bag in years and I've got two kids.

With people returning so many Christmas/birthday presents in the last few years , I assumed at first you meant the present and the bag ! Maybe the woman you met thought that too.

As it's just the bags, I can see nothing wrong with it. Unless the gift bags are torn/spoiled , I re-use them all .

I don’t think you come on here often because women are insulting each other left, right, and centre all over every forum on this site...😂

I don't usually bother writing on gift tags. And I can't be bothered saving them. Got enough clutter as it is.

Neither of you is weird, it's literally just two different ways of doing something.

Just write on the tag - if they want to reuse the bag they can pull the tag off.

I think gift bags in general are a bit wanky though and I never use them. None of the fun of unwrapping a gift, and none of the fun of it being a surprise since you see everything instantly.

Silly thing to say, especially once she knew a card was inside.

It doesn't matter whether or not you write on the actual gift tag though I usually do. People still re-use the bag with a new tag.

I've been using MN for 15 years and will always call out misogynistic insults whether they're from blokes like you or from women.

It makes no difference.

In this situation why use a gift tag at all if you are not going to write on it? Its like hanging an empty picture frame.

I dont like receiving gifts in this way. It feels a bit impersonal and like the giver is off-loading their old crap that they couldn't be bothered to recycle

If no one writes on the gift tag what is the point of it?

The first person uses the attached gift tag. Off the recipient wants to reuse the bag they remove the tag and then attach a new one.

Why can the bag only be used if there is the original gift tag attached?

Yes! I agree

It's not that it can only be used of there's a gift tag attached it's that I think others are more likely to reuse it in future if there is a tag attached.

Although given how many posters have commented that they just throw them away, see them as clutter or someone else's crap maybe it makes no difference and they'd just throw them away regardless.

I always re-use gift bags (and am refusing to spend any money on wrapping paraphernalia as an economic and eco strategy).

When I get a gift bag that has a written on tag I REMOVE THE TAG. And probably attach a new tag made from old birthday cards.

I am with you @GiftTag
I don't generally write on the tag, and sellotape the bag up with a card inside (though maybe this is also a no no, depending on how carefully someone peels it off).
If we receive a gift bag and the tag is written on we do just remove it and the bag is used again.

I don't think I've ever written on the tag on a gift bag

I never write on the tag, and I try and re-use bags, so YANBU.

If the card is sellotaped to the present then I wouldn't write on a tag. It's always at an odd angle and I can't be doing with it.

I do reuse bags and often receive them with an unwritten tag and send them onwards with an unwritten tag.

I would simply remove a tag if it was written on but still reuse the bag without a tag.

This

By any chance are you ND @GiftTag ?

I have been know. To put a sticky label over writing on a tag to reuse the gift bag but usually only for family and very close friends.

No I am not. I do wonder why on earth you would assume neuro diversity based on this very light-hearted thread?