AIBU to wonder whether to include gift receipts with presents?

[girlfriend44]

When you buy gifts for people do you include the receipt? Does it bother you if people take it back or exchange it?

Do you ask them or once it's bought you don't ask any further questions about the gift?

Always include gift receipts, and never ask them. I just really hope if they don't like it that they use the gift receipt and get something they do like. I know I got a very thoughtful gift from a friend and it didn't suit / I didn't like it (a workout cropped bra-top) and I just never got around to exchanging and I felt bad for wasting my friend's money / thoughtfulness.

Also, don't know what way the YABU / YANBU is meant to work here so haven't voted

How is the voting supposed to work you are or aren’t BU for including a gift receipt? I always do, I try hard to get the things I think people want or would like, but for all I know someone else could get them similar, or maybe on that occasion was judgement was off. The most important thing is that they know I’ve thought of them and the secondary thing is that they like what they have so I would have no issue with them exchanging my gift and I certainly wouldn’t ask.

That’s the point of them. To include them.

Made me laugh once when my brother in law returned something I had bought him for Christmas. It was something he had actually asked for , so don't know why he returned it , but it was from next and they automatically recredited my account . I got notification of the credit straight away and he then messaged later and asked if he could have the money to buy something else . Mind you if I've got a bargain I don't always want the recipient to know !

I usually ask for gift suggestions rather than buy random things that I hope they might like.
(although as @Theraffarian shows that doesn't always work!)

I never include them, but I also never buy things that people might want to exchange either. I don't buy clothing or cosmetics/toiletries where people have strong preferences over brands / style / fit / ingredients.

If it's someone I know very well then I usually buy something they've directly said they want at some point in the previous year that I know they don't already have, or something I know for sure they like/need.

If I don't know them well enough for that, they get a token gift like chocolates or booze or a gift voucher. I keep a list of chocolate/drink preferences I can reference when I'm buying them.

I generally haven't in the past, but might say I've got the receipt if you want to change it

It also helps for faulty items, so there's another reason to give the receipt.

I always include a gift receipt (in the US it gets you a credit in the shop) but for my own kids, I tell them I’ll give them the actual receipt if they want to exchange because then they can get the money and can buy something they prefer.

Definitely include gift receipt it it’s an exchangeable item, and I wouldn’t have a problem at all if exchanged. I’ve been so grateful for example for really nice toddler stuff that I bought by exchanging unwanted baby gifts. Also I think that giving an item and gift receipt can be a bit more personal than a gift card (eg for reception teacher, DS chose items in the local equivalent of Lakeland, but we gave a gift receipt so she is free to choose something else.

He might have asked more than one person for the same thing and got two (or three).

My MIL once gave me a gift with the receipt attached by safety pin and quite clearly said to return it and buy something else if I wanted.
I did buy something else and eventually wore that to her funeral.

Is this genuine or meant to be funny?

I do sometimes include them and always for clothes, which I generally only buy for younger children but I figure the parents can exchange it if they don’t like it / doesn’t fit.

Genuine.
Sorry, I realise I lowered the mood of the thread but it brought that gift back to mind

Edit to add... I thought it was great she did that, I got something I liked in exchange and honoured her gift.

I only buy for my two grandneices (I'm that fkn old ha ha), and always in Next, and always include the gift receipt. I don't care if they are exchanged or not, I'm unlikely to know anyway!

The gifts to the older ones is always money or a voucher and they tell me which they'd prefer, all good so far, and the adults gave up gift exchanging when Adam was a boy. Thank God. All delighted not to anymore.

I don’t understand gift receipts. If they are exchanging they’ll know what you spent anyway. And with loads of things can check the price online if they really want to.

I don’t really trust the shops not to under refund due to ‘sales’ etc either. Maybe someone will say that is not possible?

I just stick a normal receipt in an envelope marked ‘receipt’ and give them that.

Having a gift receipt (or regular receipt) means the retailer has to refund the price that was originally paid even if the item has since been reduced in price in store.
A gift receipt is just a second copy really so the person who paid can have a copy and a copy to give with the gift.

I buy my "gift receipt" presents around now. Apparently after a certain number of days (30?), if the recipient returns the goods they get exchange only. That's what I want, I don't want money coming back to my account and having to buy all over again! It's only for two gifts so that works for me. I don't want to know any more about the gifts, so they can exchange if they want, I don't mind or care. And I don't mind them knowing how much I paid either, it's not a fiver, it's a good bit more than that!

I guess the rules are different for shopping online as opposed to in-store ?

I’ve never given or received a gift receipt.

Well if you buy online it usually would need to be returned online?
Wouldn't it be better to just ask the person what they would like as a gift - rather than buying something random?

Does every shop, restaurant etc do gift cards?

No. If you have a retailer in mind you can google to see if they do.