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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to swap this gift?

21 replies

MadreInglese · 03/12/2009 14:51

Yesterday was my birthday (a big one) and my lovely work colleagues have clubbed together and bought me a pandora bracelet. I was quite gobsmacked to work out that it's cost about £150.

It's really really nice of them to have made the effort to do this but the problem is I don't really like the bracelet , I don't have dainty wrists and it's quite tight, and not really of the style I would normally wear (it 'sits funny' on my wrist IYSWIM)

My boss gave me the gift receipt with a long chat about how I could swap it for something else if it's not what I'd like, etc, but i don't know if she was just being polite. I don't see the point in keeping an expensive gift and never wearing it, but would it be really cheeky to go and swap it for something else? I might keep the beads they chose and just swap the base bracelet to a different size and style that I would wear.

AIBU?

(and also should I tell them that I swapped it? Don't want to sound ungrateful)

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 03/12/2009 14:53

swap it!

get somethign you like, wear it all the time.

she gave you the receipt and told you to swap if you found something more to your liking.

go for it.

Original poster
MadreInglese · 03/12/2009 15:00

You wouldn't think it was cheeky if you'd put money in for or chosen the gift?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 03/12/2009 15:01

not at all. i put money into whip rounds for gifts in the hope the recipient will get something they like. if it's not what was chosen i'd rather they swap it for something more suited to them.

ineedalifelaundry · 03/12/2009 15:02

Absolutely swap it. I'd be upset if someone didn't wear a gift I'd given. MUCH rather they swapped it.

Lauriefairyonthetreeeatscake · 03/12/2009 15:03

You might just need a bigger size, they come in 19cm, 21, 23, 25 cms - and you need to leave two fingers space underneath for the beads. If you did that then they wouldn't know.

If you don't like it then swop it for someone you would wear

diddl · 03/12/2009 15:04

Tough one, as I personally loathe Pandora bracelets!

TBH, if it´s tight, I might consider that a "legitimate" reason to change,but possibly get something similar iyswim?

PrettyCandles · 03/12/2009 15:04

You have the perfect excuse "it's quite tight". You don't need to mention anything about not liking it, just that it's lovely but doesn't fit.

Go ahead and exchange it, and feel good about how you clearly get on well with your colleagues. The item you choose will still be their gift to you, and you should show them it with pleasure, and thank them.

BornToFolk · 03/12/2009 15:05

Swap it. It's a nice idea to keep the beads. Then you can say that the bracelet didn't fit properly but you loved the beads and wanted to keep them.

Sounds like your boss might have been a bit anxious that you wouldn't like it so wanted to give you the option of swapping it.

So you should.

Carrotfly · 03/12/2009 15:08

I would swap it myself too.

I wouldnt think anything if I had put money in your collection and you swapped it either.

We are all different and like different things, its nice to receive something from colleagues, but it has to be something you will wear and like.

Original poster
MadreInglese · 03/12/2009 15:10

ok, thanks feel a bit better now about swapping it

it's on a u-shaped solid bangle with bobbles at the end like this one and it's just not 'me', so I think I'll go for one of the softer round bracelets like these

OP posts:
pixiestix · 03/12/2009 15:14

What BorntoFolk said

pixiestix · 03/12/2009 15:15

Good god, are those really £150?

cumbria81 · 03/12/2009 15:20

I think don't swap it.

A gift is a gift, it's lovely they chose it for you and I think it would be rude and hurtful to take it back, even if they said you could.

I would keep it, wear it occasinally round the office and say thank you.

TillyMintSpy · 03/12/2009 15:28

Yes definitely swap it for the one you like and will wear - far better than leaving it at the bottom of your jewellry box.

Original poster
MadreInglese · 03/12/2009 15:31

I think by the time you get the bracelet and then some beads all separately it can add up

cumbria81 why do you think it's hurtful? I have said thankyou (was publicly presented with it in front of everyone ) and I was very surprised and grateful, but I don't like it and it's too tight for me to wear comfortably really - wouldn't it be more hurtful to waste their collective £150 by not wearing it?

OP posts:
TrillianAstra · 03/12/2009 15:35

I would swap it, and if I had donated I would want you to swap it.

oldfucker · 03/12/2009 15:58

Keep the beads and swap the base bracelet, if asked say it was too tight and you swapped it for a more comfortable one

Brunettelady · 03/12/2009 21:08

I would much rather somone swapped a present I spent money on to something they would use than spend money on something that they say they like but don't then it sits in a box. YANBU and the fact that they gave you the gift receipt shows they have no problem with you swapping it. I can't see any sensible person having a problem with this.

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 03/12/2009 21:35

Sawp it for a different pandora bracelt that you like but not for something totally different!

busybutterfly · 03/12/2009 21:46

Can I come and work in your place please?

Doodleydoo · 03/12/2009 23:07

Definitely swap it, but be honest and say it was a little tight. then lie and say they didn't have it in the next size up at the time and you really wanted to wear it so swapped it for something in your size. I am sure that all your colleagues knew was that you got a pandora bracelet rather than exactly which one! I know with whip rounds we get emails telling us what we have given but no pictures!

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