Help me politely tell someone their gift is awful

[Dollyparton3]

So..... every year my parents spend a not insignificant amount of money on a hamper. Every year the same hamper from the same company contains the same items.

For the last 3 years the hamper itself has gone straight in recycling, the food items have gone into cupboards (I removed 3 packages yesterday that were out of date).

The wine that is included is not to our taste. Hubby and I are big wine lovers and to us this stuff is a bit like flavoured vinegar. I found 4 bottles of the wine untouched yesterday, I don't even think it's the sort of thing we can regift to others in a hurry.

Here's the dilemma. I told my parents very delicately last year that although the hamper was lovely, we didn't make use of half the items throughout the year so we'd really prefer something that the whole family can enjoy this year. Hubby was there when we said it. There was a definite conversation, I also said that some of it wasn't to our taste so it had gone to waste.

Yesterday morning I got a text from the hamper company saying my hamper yet again from them will arrive tomorrow. I'm now making plans to take all the food straight to a food bank.

I'm not a material person as in expectant of gifts but I do get really frustrated with waste. Especially when someone else is spending good money on something we absolutely won't use. Any thoughts on how to approach this?

I like squid ink pasta, risotto and Italian wine, but not candied peel.

God, I love a hamper. Id be delighted to get that.

I dont get why you dont use it. Surely everyone ests rice and drinks wine (or cooks with it). Use the jellied chocolate oranged & wine in a trifle.

As for your parents, they obviously dont care.

We’ve just received a surprise hamper as a gift. And very nice it is too!

You sound very ungrateful. Why don't you at least try some of the hamper's contents, maybe when you have guests, and if you really can't stand the items then donate them for a raffle etc. If you told your parents last year about the hamper it's unlikely they even remembered what you said. Just be grateful you have parents and that they love you enough to send a gift.

Why don't you at least try some of the hamper's contents

If you know you don't like, say, rice why would you try it?

@Costacoffeeplease what’s in your hamper??

Biscuits, risotto rice and chocolate covered orange pieces

Actually, wine (not vinegar!) extra virgin olive oil, local cheese and chouriço (we’re not in the uk) nice crackers and biscuits and a few other things I can’t remember at the moment (it’s in the kitchen)

Heheheh that made me chuckle!

Sounds great, enjoy exploring it!

It's a shame you can't be given the sort of present you'd like. I think giving gifts people don't like is a bit of a waste of time.

I'd re-gift it to someone who'd like it or give it as a prize or to a food bank

It'll feel good to know you're helping others

Ooh squid ink pasta. I'd be delighted with that!!

Ooh squid ink pasta. I'd be delighted with that!!

Excuse me Grafitti! - there's a queue you know.

I do wonder if, in the past, you've been rather snooty about their gifts and they've decided f*ck it … let's just get them a hamper and not bother looking for something they'd enjoy cos whatever we do it's not "good enough".

Shameful to throw away food though … #foodbanks

LaMarschallin, that’s a bit rude. OP isn’t saying that at all.

Well I'm going to annoy pp I'm afraid...

I run a food bank.

PLEASE do not donate alcohol. We can't accept it. Speciailty foods with no use by date on have to be disposed of.

Things that need specific cooking equipment are very tricky to give to clients, as are tins that aren't ring pull (some clients have not got a tin opener..)

What about donating to a school fair, or residential home??

Sorry to put you off, but hampers are a bit of a nightmare foodbank wise :(

Oh and yanbu!

So rude

I'd donate it somewhere (school/church raffle prize etc), pass on to someone else as a gift.

Throwing it away every year isn't good. Lots of people people love to get a hamper.

I’m sure the food bank will live it and you won’t have to upset anyone. Perfect.

Don't return it and don't regift it. That's crappy. Just tell them again in good time next year.

Definitely send it back to them for their birthday.

They’re your parents. They’re getting older and probably forgetful. Soon will come the Christmas when one or both of them aren’t with you any longer. I think they’d be devastated if they knew how you felt. I’m guessing you’re ok financially if you like your good wines etc so why not be gracious, thank them and do some good with the hamper by donating it for a school raffle, to a church or local charity? You spare their feelings, a good cause gets a great donation and you’re not wasting anything.

But the food bank won't love it.
See Stinkyeddie's post just above yours.

@Dollyparton3
Has it arrived yet?

They are your parents, surely you can have a proper chat and tell the truth!
Be honest and say you don’t use the stuff and say you appreciate their gesture very much.
Suggest something else like M&S vouchers, that way you can treat yourselves to all sorts.

Can you not just tell them that the hamper contents aren't very nice & suggest a couple of bottles of decent wine instead? It's abit harsh on your parents if it's gonna go straight to a food bank.