If you were buying presents for 4 year old twin girls...

[snickersnack]

...who you didn't know all that well, would you buy them two totally different presents, one present to share (seems mean), the same present or two similar presents that weren't quite the same (e.g. books)?

I'd get two similar present. Books are probably a good idea.

similar pressents. art sets etc

as a mother of 5 yo twin girls, I'd say 2 similar e.g. the same but diffent colours

Wow, that was quick. And seems to be a consensus. Similar but slightly different...think I might go for books, or possibly games. Then if they don't like them they can swap.

My best friend has twin boys who will be 4 in April so far I have always bought them the same
If you don't know them well I would get them character pjs or something like that

My brother has not got twins but has girls 10 months apart so close enough
If you dont buy them the same thing there is world war 3!

Right, I'm a twin! Definitely not a present to share! Two similar but slightly different items are best - e.g. pyjamas each, but different design, two different books in same series, two different but same-sized dolls/teddies/jigsaws/games etc. Then they are being treated fairly, but as individuals - and can get twice the play value (if toys rather than clothes) by being able to play with each other's toys, but "having" their own.

i'm a twin, and would get the same thing for both, nothing worse that 1 twin preferring the other's twin's version of a similar present, ie-both want pink/ blue version and slogging it out over who gets it!

the problem with getting exactly the same is that they then argue over whose is the broken/torn/lost one mine will always manage to work out between themselve who is having which version, no matter which they are originally given