What were your gift giving successes and flops last year?

[pinkksugarmouse]

I don't buy for many people now so I am asking the question though curiosity.

Which gift fell flat?
Which one went down best or surprisingly well?
Who were they for?

Bought ds 15 a spider catcher - he was over the moon!!

Went down well:

• photo puzzle of our sons for DM - she loved it
• Kapla blocks for our, then, 4yo - still played with loads
• Beano subscription for 7yo - he absolutely loves it, and is always reading a Beano (keeping that going beyond the end of the subscription as it is lived so much)

Flops:

• Beyblade stadium for DS1 - much wanted but short-lived interest.

Explorers bag and kit for DD aged 6. She loved it and has used it lots
Harry Potter Cluedo for DD aged 8. Only problem can be finding a third person to play.

Can't recall any real flops for last year. Unless you count the bubble bath and candles DH got me in home bargains still not found a suitable time for the candles...

Hits- Got MIL an echo dot (the DC suggested it, I was not sure she'd ever use it). She loves it and since she's had to be at home a lot more tha usual in lockdown she's been using it to listen to music and audio books and also doing quizzes etc. I think she's become a bit addicted!

Misses- None really but I still have 2 years worth of body lotion/bubble bath etc sets from well meaning friends unused in my bathroom cupboard

Wins:
For DC: Scooters and bikes, new controllers for their game consoles, headphones, tablets, wallets, branded clothing items, slippers, board games.
Doc martens for my DM
Gaming chair for DP

Flops:
Toys in general, even they were asked for they'd get played with for 2 weeks and then chucked aside 🤦‍♀️
Hot wheels garage and hot wheels racing track.

Surprise win of last year was one of those jam jar glasses with a lid and straw for DS. It was supposed to be a bit of a joke present as he always takes a glass of water to bed, and the cat ends up drinking out of it, so this was supposed to prevent that! He really loved it and has used it every day since.

I did hampers of eco products for my older SC's, beeswax wraps, bamboo toothbrushes, soap bars, etc.. they're both pretty thoughtful about environmental stuff and this was full of useful things.

Dd1 loved a pair of rainbow socks which were in her stocking, she wears them a lot and begs me to do the washing so she can wear them again. The switch was also a big hit.

Dd2 loved Lego technics car (can’t remember which one).

Flops....those stupid wack a moles that were on offer last year, great fun for one day then never touched again. Logo board game, played once and put way.

Big win last year was a stocking for dp. Only usually do them for ds but put one together for dp aswell and he loved it and will now have to have one forever more

For FIL, he loved the Regatta coat we got him.

Dont think there were any flops - none that I can think of anyway

Biggest win for me was a cheese making kit for DH. It was only a fun under tree present, but he loves it, and he's still making cheeses!

Biggest flop was Nintendo Labo- much wanted, barely used, still over half unbuilt in the box.

My brother is away for work a lot so got him a nice duffel with a few bits and bobs including one of those grid it things everyone on here was recommending and a power bank etc, he loved it and still takes it everywhere and sends me pictures of it, the weirdo. Also gave one to dh thinking it’d be handy for his work laptop bag and found it last week still in the wrapper in the drawer under our bed. Decided flop.

We have an unused Nintendo Labo here too Juicey, it wasn’t cheap either was it!

Big hit was the Designafriend doll I gave my DD - so happy to have discovered these as they are cheaper than OG but I actually think they look nicer. She has played with her dolls all year. However, she asked me to brush and plait her OG doll's hair tonight and I suggested she gets out the outfits that I gave her last Christmas for her OG and new Designafriend doll and she could only find a few bits. To be fair it is probably all mixed in with the clothes for her baby dolls which are also played with all the time alongside the Disney Animators' Anna and Elsa. I keep looking at the Designafriend wardrobe. I may get it for her birthday as she already has plenty of Christmas presents. She also loved her Scruffaluv which has a lot of washing and grooming and cuddling. The dolphin 'Furreal' she found pretty underwhelming.

What a good thread idea! Following for ideas for this year

Leapfrog Scoop & Learn ice cream truck for DD who was 2. It's used a lot and amazingly usually has all of the pieces still in it.

The bike for DS was a flop, he loved it at first and then a couple of months ago found an old one that had belonged to DSS many many years ago and rides that instead.

Biggest hit for DD - photo blanket from our Red Panda experience (same for me though)

Flop - history weekly calendar. She loves history but can't be bothered reading the text and forgets to change the page. Maybe I should get it as a book next time.

A photo album for my gran was a huge success: I've digitized some of the old photos from her youth and recolored them in photoglory and then re-printed. She was amazed even though she didn't like the color of her dress in one photo, it turned out to be light pink, not beige .
My mom loved a set of books by Jojo Moyes but denied a scarf that I got her. Idk why, but she doesn't wear it at all even though it suits most of her wardrobe. It looked like that

Toys for my friends' DC came out as a flop except for the toy train, my friend's DS loved it, so guess we can call it a success.

I think it is usually things they want, rather than things they ask for that work best.

dd1 got DMs, loves them

they always like/use their updated tech, so a better phone etc.

Really struggling to remember what I bought

dd has just had a birthday, ds bought her a huge baggy hoodie, just liek the ones he wears in a small size, she was over the moon. She had a old one of his a loved it, so he got her her own!