"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.

I mentioned this to my mum when my son's birthday present arrived unwrapped (and it was enormous). She said she tried to select gift-wrapping but it was not available.

This may be the case for Amazon Marketplace items, or perhaps the really bulky items don't offer giftwrap service.

I do feel quite strongly that if you live abroad, then clearly there is no other option, but acknowledging the gift-wrapping is still nice.

Also, clearly internet shopping is a good thing, and of course it makes absolutely no sense to have things sent to you to wrap, which you then send on again. However there are probably things people can do to make it feel less lazy - like just asking if they mind wrapping the presents and offering to send some nice paper and a handwritten tag. Or....just selecting giftwrapping at source if you can. I just think it's a whole lot nicer than the rather soulless cardboard box or plastic bag (and that's your lot and be grateful and sensible about it too).

And frankly, getting people to tell you what to buy them for Christmas is just no fun, sorry. I do strongly feel that. I think you can think of a few things and present them as options - it shows willing at least.

I think its quite exciting to get a box from the post under the tree, it emphacises the journey and the travel etc. (nope - no wrapping other peoples presents here either).

g) stick a bow on the postage boxes/bags/envelopes and let the chn open one each and pass out the presents inside, if they're for 'multiple recipients', else

h)seperate into individual boxes, wrap in newspaper (yes, Santa at our house uses newspaper as he's so tight) and each DC can get the presents in their special Xmas boxes

i) if pressies are already individual then stick under the tree - mine like getting post as it's unusual and I have been known to leave my deliveries in a postage box / pack (usually with a bow / tag) as they like the post.

Plus the invoice lists inside can be useful for 'thank you' letters - write down on them who sent it to who IYSWIM...

Have fun

My Dad has been saving up his silver for the DC this year so he gave me a huge bag of silver coins, told me to count it and tell him how much there was and he would top it up.

That's fine but the blooming bank only take 5 bags at a time so multiple trips later I have the actual money, then have to go buy the gifts, wrap, hide and then sneak to him on Boxing Day so he can give them to the DC.

I don't mind really he is really generous with them and is on his own and has no idea what to buy them.

Ha, that takes it to a whole new level, sweetkitty! Nice thought, all the bags of silver...pain to deal with...

a.

If you are expecting them to wrap the presents and then send them on again yabu.

sweetkitty, you could sacrifice 10% and get the counting machines at the supermarket to do it.

Our local pub swaps change for free. And if it's over £100 gives you a free drink!

Apparently the banks charge to give them change

I am eternally grateful for Amazon's wrapping service, and indeed for my lovely sister who is apparently quite happy to be sent things direct, unwrapped.

I wrap slowly and clumsily. My parcels look like those of a strikingly incompetent toddler.

I have been given money from 2 different people to buy things for my kids and then I wrap them all. No biggy really. Much better that I chose something the kids like than someone buy something inappropriate/too young/too old/we already have, and paper doesn't have to be expensive.

I did end up taking some of it to the supermarkets and donated a wee bit of it to charity as well.

gift bags????

I hate wrapping and am rubbish at it but I begrudge paying for the crappy wrapping service that companies provide.

OR put all the gifts unwrapped into a bag santa sack?

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

I am doing gift bags this year, because I loathe wrapping so much (and am bad at it too).

It was worth starting this thread just to discover that people don't re-wrap other people's presents. It is just possible that I have been a bit control-freaky about it.

THis thread has reminded me to press the button to send my lovely nephew his birthday present. With the message LOVE FROM THE INFERIORITY COMPLEX on it.

I was approached by a - very very nice - friend from the PTA yesterday and asked to wrap THIRTY PRESENTS for the school Christmas fair. I burst into tears, exacerbated by PMT, and made such a spectacle of myself that she said in that very kind way that perhaps she'd find someone else to do it

oh pruney prune

I would far rather people asked me and I always ask others. It's not because I'm not creative and can't think, I'd just prefer to get someone something they wanted. I don't have to buy for that many people tbh lol.

I definitely can't think . Especially for Blokes.

I swing between being irritated and not minding very much. I think if you have an agreement that you can each send your presents directly and unwrapped, it can work out more cost effective for both parties. But it does irritate me if I receive something without having been warned/asked if I would mind wrapping it.

I used to get irritated by this, then I discovered you can buy three big gift bags from the poundshop which you can reuse.

Anyway kids like getting post so they can open them themselves and frankly, the person who hands over the present not the person who bought it gets the glory and the thanks!!!!

Foxy

I just don't ever know what I want! I don't actively want much, ever. And I suppose I love the whole surprise thing. DH's family have spoiled me for life, they are great at buying really lovely presents, and they do sort of have a way of finding out what you want but it's all a bit of a game and I like playing it.

I love wrapping! Except for year before last when we wrapped xmas eve and I woke up xmas morning with a sore back. Not sitting on floor again!

I would unbox any Amazon parcels as they always seem to use too big a box for what the item is.