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Original poster

Present arrived in branded parcel :(

150 replies

propacrimbo · 20/12/2022 15:22

I'm so deflated, purchased husbands Christmas present and it was due to arrive tomorrow when he was out. Text from courier while I was out shopping to say it was about to be delivered today while he was in. Selected safe place but they bloody delivered to the front door and it's in a branded box with the contents plastered all over! So now he knows his big present, so frustrated. He lovessss Christmas and surprises so he's taken it well but I know is so gutted :(

Has this happened to anyone else this year? Make me feel better with your stories!

OP posts:
Nikii83 · 20/12/2022 17:33

Sorry Mattel

FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 20/12/2022 17:33

Surprises are also the only way to really delight an adult recipient who's a lot better off than you. Anything they want that you can afford, they can just get for themselves anyway, and probably will. You can't treat them to something that's normally outside their budget. Unless there's something they love and could easily afford, but choose not to buy for themselves, you're left with trying to find something they wouldn't think to get for themselves and hoping they enjoy the surprise you picked.

SaveMeCheezus · 20/12/2022 17:37

I'd be annoyed too OP, ignore the fun sponges upthread who think the joy of surprises dries up the day you turn 18.

I'm lucky in that I can have everything delivered to my office so I do that at Christmas and Birthdays just in case.

Typo22 · 20/12/2022 17:41

Nikii83 · 20/12/2022 17:32

Amazon did this to me last year. Daughters. Barbie dreamhouse came in a marek barbie dreamhouse box. I was like the hulk chucking it up the stairs before she had come from the front room to see who was at the door.

I am lying in bed miserable and ill, the image of you hoying your daughters Barbie Dreamhouse up the stairs like a maniac has cheered me up 😁

Staniel · 20/12/2022 17:42

I'd be annoyed too OP, ignore the fun sponges upthread who think the joy of surprises dries up the day you turn 18

Which of course, no one said.

Several posters have said that as an adult, he shouldn't be too adversely affected, but that's completely different, obviously.

QuinionsRainbow · 20/12/2022 17:46

Bit off-topic, but perhaps relevant - Amazon have just delivered (safely, thank goodness) DS's present of a 12" vinyl record shrink-wrapped in its sleeve, enclosed in a paper envelope, no stiffening or other mechanical protection at all.

OldandTired66 · 20/12/2022 17:48

Took in an amazon parcel addressed to DH - oven gloves in a clear plastic bag. If that ends up in my Christmas pile, there will be a murder. I even gave him a list, ffs.

Evivie · 20/12/2022 17:50

That is annoying. I had similar recently when I opened the door to the chatty delivery guy who decided to ask all about the (what was going to be my surprise xmas gift from DH) weighted blanket he was dropping off to me! Oh well, looking forward to trying it out next week 🙂

TrimTheTree · 20/12/2022 17:54

I absolutely feel you OP and I’ve not gone out all day so I can be in for a parcel for DH’s present incase it was not in wrapping or said the name of the shop. DH was more than happy to stay in and receive it for me but I couldn’t risk it as liked the surprise.

Wakk · 20/12/2022 17:58

Oh I would hate that. What did you buy him?

FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 20/12/2022 18:02

Staniel · 20/12/2022 17:42

I'd be annoyed too OP, ignore the fun sponges upthread who think the joy of surprises dries up the day you turn 18

Which of course, no one said.

Several posters have said that as an adult, he shouldn't be too adversely affected, but that's completely different, obviously.

It doesn't have to be a mortal wound for people to want to have a whinge about it. Adults can still get joy from unwrapping a sparkly, lovingly-wrapped parcel in front of their family members on Christmas morning and discovering something they love but didn't know existed, or something that shows the buyer really knows them and thought about them, or an unexpected luxury. Other adults get joy from watching that reaction and from seeing something they chose go down well. Buying surprises is a gamble, where you risk wasting money on something unwanted, but the payoff is (hopefully) getting to see a little bit of delight on the face of someone you love. It's just not the same if the reveal happens on a wet Tuesday in front of the Evri guy.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 20/12/2022 18:03

He's 'gutted' he didn't get a surprise on Christmas Day? Bit over the top for an adult.

I hope he's said thank you.

Sirius3030 · 20/12/2022 18:04

Just reading the thread above from the mum with barely any presents for her DC.

Get a grip FFS.

ThinWomansBrain · 20/12/2022 18:06

On the plus side, it has arrived.

Survey99 · 20/12/2022 18:14

Slightly annoying he got his surprise a couple of days early, but he is an adult, I'm sure you'll both get over it.

SomethingOriginal2 · 20/12/2022 18:15

RumblePhish · 20/12/2022 16:17

I got some ice cube cooling things for piles from Amazon the other day with just the address label stuck on the outside of the product box. Would have fitted through the letter box but the delivery guy knocked for some reason so that was fun making eye contact. At least hadn’t had it sent to work….

You win!

WiddIytinks · 20/12/2022 18:15

imsureineverdo · 20/12/2022 16:23

Yes I've had this, Fender being the worst culprit this year!

Fender are absolute dickheads for this.

Saved for ages to buy DH a beautiful Jaguar for his birthday as a surprise. You guessed it...

Also happened with an amp he bought me for Christmas a couple of years ago. I was the only person at home when it arrived. Bloody Fender.

Kanaloa · 20/12/2022 18:32

He’s got a lovely gift that he likes. I think being gutted is a hugely OTT reaction to that. And I think if you’re super invested in ‘surprises’ you can’t order it to the house then go out unfortunately - you need to take responsibility for buying it/ordering it to a locker or another address etc so that the person won’t see it. Ordering it to the house then complaining or feeling bad that the only person in the house saw it arrive is just a road to nowhere.

KateKateLee · 20/12/2022 18:36

Doingmybest12 · 20/12/2022 16:46

It is annoying parcels are left on the door step in plain view, you husband will cope though ,no big deal for an adult, I just pretend I haven't noticed if something obvious arrives for me.

There are worse places, my friend had an expensive present left in the recycling bin, on recycling day. Bye bye expensive present.

Isthisexpected · 20/12/2022 18:40

I knew of a bloke who booked a special surprise weekend in a hotel for him & his wife's anniversary, told the hotel it was a big secret & only to speak to him, etc - & someone at the hotel called the wife to check some details. They weren't popular.

^ that's so annoying. Not on the same scale but I gifted a trip to newlyweds and the website told them about before they were even married even though I set the date to reveal the gift for after the wedding.

SnuggleBuggleBoo · 20/12/2022 18:41

God yeah, Amazon have got to stop that whole 'just stick an address label on the product box' thing!

The worst one for me was the bloody kids pool table, which not only said what it was on the box but had a bloody FULL SIZED PICTURE!!

SkylightSkylight · 20/12/2022 18:44

PAFMO · 20/12/2022 15:28

For a child it's annoying. For an adult less so.
Is this for an article you're writing?

Adults are allowed to enjoy surprises too. Fewer opportunities, so bloody disappointing when someone/something spoils them.

@propacrimbo I'd be very annoyed too after trying so hard to give him a lovely surprise!

I'd email them & point out their errors, hopefully save someone else the same disappointment!

hope you have a lovely Christmas anyway!!

pinkyredrose · 20/12/2022 18:45

shruggingitoff · 20/12/2022 16:49

This happened to me last year... but it was a present I had bought for the family myself after many discussions about me really wanting it for months and DH not reaching a decision.

My plan was, it would have arrived whilst he was at work, I would have collected it from the Post Office, and then... ta-dah... a Christmas Day miracle! Everyone (DC & me) would be so pleased and DH would not be able to say anything.

Except his office asked everyone to work from home that day, so he intercepted the parcel. And the box was not only branded, but also had an image on the box.

Feckers.

You can't say all that and not say what it was!

shruggingitoff · 20/12/2022 18:52

@pinkyredrose it was an ooni pizza oven!

Lalliella · 20/12/2022 18:56

Ironically I bought myself a small picture frame from Amazon and it came in a ginormous plain box with masses of packaging 🤷‍♀️