Dilemma about "recycling" gifts

stumpjumper

I recycled some presents for the first time this year and it worked a treat!

I'm not a 'smellies' type person either and in the past have ended up throwing stuff out or having it cluttering up my drawers for years. I have tried entering into no-present buying pacts with some people but it never seems to work (except with DH).

ambernora

I don't like smellies so if I get any I either end up recycling or donating to raffles

dawn060861

I always re-gift ( recycle ) and I do not have a problem giving or recieving re-gifted stuff, I would rather give it to someone who will use the gift than it to clutter my house and end up in the bin. If I get a gift set of products, I take out the ones I like and put the others in my giflt cupboard to be put into a hamper or bag I am putting together. I would not give the person who gave me the gift the thing back though.

Dawn

Mercenary

I dislike receiving 'smellies' intensely. They are rarely anything that I would use or the 'scent' that I would choose to cover myself in.
Luckily I have managed to get that message across to most of my family by now.
If you can't return them and they are a recognisable label, then Ebay would be a good option (as recommended above)...otherwise give them to whoever would actually want them, and mention to your relations that you now have enough to supply a third-world country, so would they not buy any more in the future please.

I often wonder how many of these 'lovely' gifts are returned to the shops that gleefully flogged them before Xmas....along with the unsuitable lingerie, clothing etc ?

Smashing

I couldn't be bothered to think of anything you might like...have some pongy lotions.

ps, you smell.

Do the hamper thing.

amanda40

A woman I worked beside, brought all the hand lotions and body lotions into work and put them in the ladies, for anyone to use at their leisure - It was appreciated by most folk.

Littlemiss-lotsofdebt

I re-cycle mine (although never open them first!) if I know I'll never use it, or I use bath foam as shower gel/handwash and conditioner as shaving gel. Anything that can't be used or recycled is taken to the charity shop so someone else can benefit from it.

Roz_V

Thanks for all the replies - glad to see that you're all as morally corrupt as me :rotfl:

I have sorted through the sets and taken out the stuff I will use, and the rest have been allocated to my gift cupboard... I think I have 5 or 6 presents for next year sorted now!!!

I did, however, exchange some Clinique make-up that my mum bought me - she'd got me eyeshadow but I very rarely wear eye colour as I'm not allowed for work, and when I do I usually use the cheapy stuff as its such a rare occurance. I swapped it for their foundation (which I do use) and am hoping that my mum doesn't find out as I think she'd be a bit upset.

My final problem: what to do with those gifts so disgustingly terrible that they won't sell on ebay or be an acceptable present for anyone in their right mind? No charity shop would want them either, but I share communal rubbish facilities with the gifter, so can't bin for fear of being spotted...?

Roz_V

ps. Smashing - I hope that comment was a general one about the gifting of smellies, rather than an attack on my personal hygiene :rotfl:

Haytch

Yes do be careful of the dates!

I received a smellies gift set this year, which looked really nice but on the back of the box it clearly stated “best used before Dec 2006”. For some reason then the niceness of the present lost some of its appeal because I just thought this present was not bought with me in mind, it was just sitting in the cupboard and someone thought “oh this will do for someone, I know lets give it to Jill” The same person also gave me a box of chocolates with a “consume before November 2006” date on it!