"Every year I have to wrap everyone's presents to our children because they get them sent directly from Amazon/wherever and can't be arsed wrapping them themselves."

[Unprune]

Do you think:

a) yes me too, but you have to suck this one up, I'm afraid.

b) what an ungrateful baggage, you should be thankful anyone wants to send your scabby kids anything at all.

c) It's hardly a chore: get a grip.

d) that is outrageous, and thoughtless to boot. You must say something forthwith.

Yes, sparkly bows.
This is really liberating.

Plus I only buy the very cheapest wrapping paper to wrap children's presents (it's not like they appreciate tasteful wrapping is it?) so I wouldn't feel out of pocket if I had to wrap a gift myself.

Actually, if I had older children I'm not sure I'd wrap Amazon stuff. I'd hide it with nicely wrapped presents tho

For me it's not the cost: giftwrap is pennies, really. It's the 'I'll get it sent to you and then it's done.' Well, no, it's not done, because we have to make it look like you got them a present instead of pressing a button. And frankly, you'll have asked me so many times between October and December what to get ds that you won't have actually put any thought into that side of it either.

OTOH I suppose I never go to see my family at Christmas so they are probably feeling quite entitled not to put that much effort into it.

We are quite a dysfunctional family

e) wouldn't wrap them.

C! I LOVE wrapping presents. I did 20 today and DH had to glare at me so I'd get some much needed rest instead of starting the next lot :o

And people should be grateful for any presents, wrapped or not.

A/C but the only time I've had this happen the relative sent a gift tag and wrapping paper separately.

b andf a bit of c I think

Ds has just received (just in time for his birthday) a beautifully wrapped gift from his paternal aunt Amazon for his birthday and I am delighted. It is much better wrapped than if I had done it and is fine. You do have to pay extra for wrapping though.

If it had arrived unwrapped I would have left it in the box for him to open no problem.

This year I have had to both buy and wrap presents from his maternal aunt, paternal grandparents and maternal grandparents. They have good reasons not to have managed buying a present but frankly this year any present for ds that is not bought by me is fantastic as far as I am concerned

Why do you ask, OP?

I dont get the implication that a present bought online is a lazy/thoughtless one either. It's only easier in the physical sense - I put lots of thought into it, made secret wishlists for everyone and scoured the net for the best gifts. Certainly was more complex than pressing a button, for me anyway.

I ask because it's a bit of modern etiquette that needs thinking through, and I wanted opinions.

My family are lazy: they want to be told what to buy, to press the button, and to have it delivered here. Seriously, they have asked me weekly since October to tell them what to do about birthday and Christmas presents. Glad to hear that you put more thought into it: I think it matters quite a lot.

I don't think buying online is lazy Freudian, I do the same. Getting it delivered year after year on the day (if birthday) or last minute with no card and no wrapping does come across as lazy though. My lot will only buy from certain shops so that they can do this too.

But maybe that's because I know they don't reall give a monkeys so am projecting

Yes I can see how in some cases it is just the lazy option. And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a chore for me, I love it :o could spend hours on amazon. I hate crowded shops too so the Internet is awesome for me.

b) or c) - I LOVE wrapping presents; plus I have relatives who send me the money and insist on my buying something for the children myself (rather than just giving them the money) which is slightly more work, but would make me an ungrateful baggage if I were to complain ....

B, B and more B.
And if it was ever said to me, that would be the last time they got a present, wrapped or otherwise.

(and I love wrapping)

...and while I do all my Christmas present shopping online because a) am in Italy until the week before Christmas and b) am cheapskate and don't buy anything unless there's a code I spend much more time browsing t'web than I would if I physically went into shops, where I would hyperventilate, kick all the mithering hordes on the ankle and grab the first piece of tat I saw.

So, internet shopping not lazy at all. Just sensible and pleasurable.

and it's not real money if you only press a button.

b and c .

why wrap them? I just leave them as they are and let the dc open the parcel.

C and what mousymouse said.

I remember one year (pre-widespread broadband and therefore pre-much online shopping) posting my best friend's children's presents and the postage came to half as much as the presents again.

I did send them all to her last year via John Lewis - for free as the price of all three presents came to more than £30, and posted the gift tags. Yes, it did create a job, but I did ask first and was able to spend that extra money on the presents rather than the postage.

I think as long as everyone's doing a bit of their own children's wrapping and a bit less of everyone else's children's wrapping, it probably comes out in the wash (provided you ask first!)

Mind you she's on here so will probably come on in a moment saying what a pain in the arse it was

I thought that was how everyone did it.

I've always done presents that way, I've never thought it was lazy at all.

And what's wrong with asking someone what they want? Rather that than get them something they don't want.

My parents go one better - they get me to order the presents and wrap them. Then I have to take them with me on the next family visit so they can give them to the DCs! Looking as if they have done everything ...

I suck it up because:
in the past I prefered family to give me the money and me to order stuff I knew my kids wanted rather than plastic tat they did not want.

Now I have buggered off round the other side of the world it is the only sensible option.

But I do know what you mean OP.

I would actually be grateful because it would give me the opportunity to remove the ridiculous packaging (twisty wires, screws etc) and put batteries into the item and wrap it in wrapping paper unboxed and ready to be played with. My kids are 4 and 2 though, yours might be older. I would also get to see what it was and remove anything that was totally unsuitable.

I do like to be controlling though .