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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Duplicate gifts

23 replies

Sunshines21 · 29/12/2020 12:34

Hello!

Out of curiosity I’m wondering what people do when their little ones get duplicate gifts at Christmas?
My lo had several duplicates this year but he is only one so didn’t notice. I am planning on keeping aside to regift or to donate to the local children’s gift appeal next year.
I bought my 5 year old nephew a play set which he was already gifted this Christmas. Apparently it triggered a tantrum! My SIL text me and asked if I would purchase him something else instead. I obliged, but I’m not overly happy about it!
I imagine duplicates happen all the time so I’m intrigued to know how everyone handles it

OP posts:

livingthegoodlife · 29/12/2020 12:47

I either take back to shop to swap for something else or keep to regift.

My kids all got duplicates of stuff they already have because my SILs don't ask what the kids would like. 3 magic sets, all slightly different. My son wants to keep them all, seems a bit of a waste but it's up to him.

riddles26 · 29/12/2020 12:49

Depends on the gift - DD's birthday is in October and if we host a party, we inevitably receive more presents than we need and often some duplicates too. We go through the gifts together and pick some to donate to Paediatric Hospital as they give these to children who are in hospital over Christmas. Now she is older, we wrap these together

If presents from very close family are duplicated (usually the expensive ones like bike etc), we have kindly asked for receipt so we can exchange it ourselves but wouldn't dream of asking them to buy anything else. If she were to have a tantrum about receiving a duplicate, she would get nothing in exchange for the second one!

FelicityPike · 29/12/2020 12:49

Hope you got the original gift back to return and get a refund on?

MsSquiz · 29/12/2020 12:52

We bought my nephew (8 years old) a Lego set he already received (he regularly gets duplicates as his birthday is 22nd December!)
He politely said his friend had given him that set for his birthday so I said we'd return it and buy something else.

Just offer to send her the receipt for her to return or exchange, or ask her for the gift back so you can exchange it?

inappropriateraspberry · 29/12/2020 13:34

I'd keep hold of them and regift or donate as prizes for raffles etc.

Original poster

Sunshines21 · 29/12/2020 15:01

Unfortunately we were too organised this year and bought it in September. It’s outwith the return period but we know lots of children including our own who would love some Lego!
Have my nephews birthday coming up and not sure I want to go through this experience again!

OP posts:

AHippoNamedBooBooButt · 29/12/2020 16:16

My son was once given an identical gift and he was really happy to have two. But it doesn’t tend to happen because we always give gift suggestions and make sure we don’t ask for the same thing from different people. Solves the problem.

AHippoNamedBooBooButt · 29/12/2020 16:17

I certainly wouldn’t ask the original giver to buy another gift though. That’s so rude!

katy1213 · 29/12/2020 16:20

So rude and entitled to ask for another gift! I certainly wouldn't feel any need to comply.

LIZS · 29/12/2020 16:26

Duplicate lego isn't usually a issue unless it is a character set. Lots of stores are not open to return to now. I would have thought they could regift to a friend though.

Raindropsonrosesand · 29/12/2020 16:31

Duplicates shouldn't be an issue - the recipient's parents can either exchange or regift. Very surprised at your SIL asking you for another present! Her attitude goes a long way to explaining why your nephew had a tantrum!

Avoid it for his birthday by asking her what you should get him (don't forget to say your budget!) then get exactly that. Bit of a pity, since choosing presents for kids is so much fun, but probably best.

PolarnOPirate · 29/12/2020 17:19

BIL sent DSs a joint gift which DS2 had just got for his bday. He then sent a different pressie, which was also a duplicate but obvs we didn’t mention this a second time. His bday gift was also a duplicate 😄 gave the second one to my nephew for Xmas.

PolarnOPirate · 29/12/2020 17:20

I’ll clarify, BIL had seen pic of duplicate pressie being played with so noticed of his own accord.

mam0918 · 29/12/2020 17:42

no one owes you a gift and certainly no one owes you TWO gifts because you didnt like the first, how entitled.

I would never send a gift back and certainly never ask for another but then we pretty much never get duplicates either, only once where DS had asked anyone who would listen for the same thing lol and it was really handy having 4 because it was his favorite toy and got used so much it broke.

Stompythedinosaur · 29/12/2020 19:33

That's extremely rude! Duplicate gifts are a common thing, you exchange if you can or otherwise regift.

I'd include a gift receipt in future presents and never agree to rebuy again.

SE13Mummy · 29/12/2020 19:39

We use www.whattogive.com and upload ideas throughout the year. If it's something like a specific set where a duplicate would be wasted, there are options to indicate that. Family who want ideas can 'reserve' items they intend to buy and those aren't visible to subsequent visitors. It works well for us.

In the absence of an easily accessible list, for young children I tend to buy something like pyjamas or a zip hoodie i.e. something useful.

rottiemum88 · 29/12/2020 19:41

Have my nephews birthday coming up and not sure I want to go through this experience again!

So just ask what to buy. Problem solved.

Elenorrigbywoes · 29/12/2020 21:04

If I can return it for something else I do or else I put it aside to regift or give to a toy appeal. I would never mention it to the person.

Equimum · 29/12/2020 21:42

I would never ask someone to buy something else. In a normal year, we put the present aside and then try to exchange ourselves. With toys, most big retailers will exchange without a receipt. Synths have always been good, but the independent in town has too.

ScrapThatThen · 29/12/2020 21:46

Why don't you explain to nephew that some children don't get any gifts and ask him if he would like to keep it or donate it (there's a video doing the rounds on Facebook of a kid being allowed to choose gifts in a toy shop and choosing to give them all to an appeal that you could show him). Then if he chooses to donate it you could give him a chocolate gift? Life lesson?

whatwillicallmyself · 31/12/2020 13:42

I see you can't exchange it, I would just get back to her and say sorry I can't find the receipt maybe you can keep it as a gift for one of his friends and buy him something you know he doesn't have instead. Put the onus on her to buy an alternative very cheeky of her.

PeaceLoveAndCandy · 31/12/2020 16:10

If your nephew had a tantrum because he got a duplicate gift, your SIL has more serious problems than what to do with the toy. Then again, your SIL was exceedingly rude to ask you to purchase another one. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

JinglesWish · 31/12/2020 19:38

I return or exchange it. We received a few things from Amazon and you can return them for gift credit if you know the order number. I’ve done that with some gifts this year (1 thing I didn’t like, 1 thing that’s the wrong colour and 1 thing that’s a duplicate).

It’s rude she said anything. Where we’ve received duplicates for kids (e.g. books or games, I keep them in my present cupboard to gift to someone else).

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