Present buying etiquette

misty

I pocket the difference too. One reason for this is if I get something that's a bargain and then buy more it looks like I've spent loads which is ok unless buying for more than one and not got as good a deal on others. eg. I buy for 3 kids in the same house - I mentally spend £10 each - in reality spent £10 on eldest (thing that plugs in to PS2 should have been £40 but tip on here got for £10 - middle child (large wooden chair that child paints themself) should have been £20 odd - in WH Smith sale at £2.50 - youngest (re-usable fairy design camera with film and fairy photo album and keepsake box) £5 in stead of £12.50 So my max would be £30 - the rrp £77.50 - my price £17.50! Their mother knows I get a good deal if I can - othewise it would look like I spend £40 on one and £15 on another. Same for birthday presents for son's school friends - party practically every week. I know some people think I spend a lot on kids I barely know but I know I don't. Got a game from Woolies for £4 for last party should have been £14.99 but reduced a few times. I've sometimes been known to remove the sale price and acidentally(on purpose)leave the original price on!!!

VickyA_2

I always look for value AND cost . I always make sure that I know who I'm buying for. I don't buy something for the sake of it............. then again, the Boots sale after Christmas was a different matter. :rolleyes: However, all the presents have been accounted for now. Honest.

stressedoutmumof1

Sweet_Pea wrote:

I agree with above, except - it seems to me that whenever I get a bargain for SIL or her family, they always ask for the receipt because they want to change the item. Therefore a) they know what I spent and they then reduce what they spend on us in return, (but dont look for bargains like I do, so the presents are getting more and more miserly as they years roll by) b) complain because the period in which they can return the item has passed so I then end up taking the item off them and giving cash instead, so it ends up costing me more.
For them only I buy full price items close to the birthday or whatever occasion it is and I now always give her the receipt in an envelope. For everyone else I grab a bargain when I spot one and stash until the appropriate date.

I'm with you Sweet Pea - my in-laws always ask for a receipt so they can change it (or ask in advance for what they want - 40 quid each :eek: ). It p****s me off. Whatever happened to being grateful for what you get It's the thought that counts, not the money.

windym_2

Don't buy based on price. Just think how would you feel if you received it.

On the subject of your keyboard, it may not be broken just incorrectly set up.

Try Start>Control Panel>Regional & Language Options
In REGIONAL LANGUAGE tab, check the language is English UK (not American). If not, then select English and APPLY.

In LANGUAGES tab, click DETAILS and on SETTINGS tab, ensure English UK keyboard is selected. If not, then add and apply. This should sort the £ and # problem (amongst others).

calleyw

Asking for a receipt is the height of bad manners

I personally would stop buying for that person as they totally ungrateful and unworthy of me wasting my time or money to buy them a present. And they are lazy for not giving you ideas or suggests of what they might like.

Or give them things like gift vouchers that I had got from pigsback as they not cost me a penny :rotfl:


To me it is value and not cost.


Yours


Calley

Hermia

stressedoutmumof1 wrote:

I'm with you Sweet Pea - my in-laws always ask for a receipt so they can change it (or ask in advance for what they want - 40 quid each :eek: ). It p****s me off. Whatever happened to being grateful for what you get It's the thought that counts, not the money.

I wish I had the nerve to ask for the receipt actually! I'm slightly unconventional (as far as my family is concerned) and get some awful pressies. I'm quite bookish and academic and my relatives have given me romance/chick lit books before (their thinking presumably being, 'she likes books and she is a girl so she'll love this'). God, I have had some awful presents!

Anyway, I don't think you need to buy more. I often get Crabtree and Evelyn giftsets in the factory shop as I have a few friends who adore C&E. I don't feel the need to make up the difference as the giftsets would be v.expensive if I had bought them on the high street. The only time I might spend more was if it was a special birthday etc.

Lillibet_2

I tend to take the difference & spend it on those I REALLY love like Hubby, son or parents. Everyone else if fairly immaterial in the present line (don't give to several other very close relatives & friends by arrangment). Oh, and I tend to "lose" the receipt if someone asks for it for a bargain pressie:o I have had several bad experieces with gifts for mother in law & sis in law so now they get vouchers to the value that I would spend, which is a lot less than they thought!

hex2

I do an average value of, it is more about the effort and thought that go in than the cost. I think it is incredibly offensive and sheer bad manners to ask for a receipt. It doesn't matter what the present is as long as someone has made an effort.

JailhouseBabe

Some people seem to have awful families. My family knows that I'll always find the best bargains, but I always give something that I know will be appreciated. I really enjoy picking presents for people, and when I spot a bargain say in January I know who I'll be giving it to in September.

I'm a very ungracious receiver though (but never to anyones face!). I end up recycling gifts received. Biggest mistake recently was opening my xmas presents in front of my mum - she instantly bagged every present I disliked (bottle of baileys/coconut smellies/ferero rocher), thereby ensuring I couldn't save them for mother's day/her birthday.

calleyw

JailhouseBabe wrote:

I'm a very ungracious receiver though (but never to anyones face!). I end up recycling gifts received. Biggest mistake recently was opening my xmas presents in front of my mum - she instantly bagged every present I disliked (bottle of baileys/coconut smellies/ferero rocher), thereby ensuring I couldn't save them for mother's day/her birthday.

:rotfl: I like that about you mum snaffling all her Mothers/Birthday presents.

I am never rude to any ones face about presents. I either use or re-gift it. I know try and give gifts that can be used like smellies or eaten like chocolates which means they get used or eaten and don't litter up the house.

Yours

Calley