ungrateful rels wanting receipts for present returns

givememoney

roses wrote:

As a leaving gift from work, I got a book on art & a bottle of champagne. I don't even drink so I took those back for an exchange. Lucky they were both shop branded so I knew where they were from.

Morrisons it seems are tightening up. I took back some french beans the other day which had turned nasty despite a sell by date of a few days in advance. The label clearly said Morrisons own brand and I was told if I didn't have the receipt I couldn't have a refund only an exchange. Eventually she relented because I didn't want more as I had bought some more elsewhere, and gave a ticket to refund at the checkout.

What a fuss for 99p.

Justamum

Why not tell her that you won't be buying presents for your nephews and nieces any more? I don't buy for mine as it's hard enough finding the money for my own children. Years ago when we were young mum used to buy presents for her nephews and nieces. One year she had, as usual, bought them individual presents and thought about what they might want/need (we never had much money growing up either so it was expensive for her). My aunt sent us one present for the whole family - a tin of Quality Street! My mum told them she wouldn't be bothering again, and she never did. And I agree with you - the fact that they haven't even bothered to send thank you notes shows lack of manners.

snu

When me and my brother were young i had this aunt that would buy us everything the same...
One year we got a video each - but she gave us both the same ones, so our house had 2 copies of the same video... and only 1 video player.
My mum although annoyed that someone was strange enough to buy the same video twice would have never said anything to my aunt about it, so she took me and my brother to Tesco to choose another dvd to share between us.

Contains_Mild_Peril

Justamum wrote:

Why not tell her that you won't be buying presents for your nephews and nieces any more? I don't buy for mine as it's hard enough finding the money for my own children. Years ago when we were young mum used to buy presents for her nephews and nieces. One year she had, as usual, bought them individual presents and thought about what they might want/need (we never had much money growing up either so it was expensive for her). My aunt sent us one present for the whole family - a tin of Quality Street!

I don't see a problem with that. A tin of chocolates to share is a good "safe" present that almost everyone will like, and it will avoid siblings getting jealous of each other's gifts and maybe even interpreting them as meaning that the one they perceive to have the better gift is the "favourite". That said, I personally tend to think of safe generic sorts of pressies as something to buy when you don't really know what to get, possibly for someone you don't know very well. Luckily, since I only have one son and one niece (well, nearly niece - sister's fiance's daughter), I don't have to worry too much about whether to get siblings shared or individual presents, and if individual, whether the same or different (obviously the example mentioned of getting 2 copies of the same video would be a bit silly, but I remember being annoyed when I was young and an aunt and uncle gave my sister a lockable Secret Journal and gave me a nightie).
I do buy stuff for my best friend's children, since her eldest is my son's best friend, so naturally he buys his best friend a present, so I started buying inexpensive gifts for his siblings rather than leave them out. I tend to buy different items but of the same type, e.g. a book each.

gwynne_2

have to say exchanged present as received same present two years running from lovely relative,but said thank you for lovely thoughtful present,it was a lovely thought and no did not ask for receipt would have hurt relatives feelings/besides which am very grateful for any present given with love and care.have also had relatives ask for exchange but not offensively eg duplicate gift given.

lisyloo

In my family we all prepare a list for both birthdays and christmas.

Throughout the year if there is something I want and it can wait til birthday or christmas then I put it on my list.
We often use Amazon for books, CDs, DVDs etc.

This works for everyone because the giver knows they are giving something that the person want, the receiver gets something they actually want and there is still an element of suprise (because you don't know who is getting what).

For aunts and cousins we have agreed not to buy presents (as no-one wants superfluous stuff). Those who are well-off enough donate the money to charity instead.

lemontart

famlies can be a real dissapointment, it was my pet teens 18th last week and we had a celebration meal with the family for her - now on her fathers side she is the only grandchild, and niece - her unlce and aunt came to the meal and did not even give her a birthday card.............she is not particularly bothered by it but I am severely ticked off - they have no other nephews and neices - a card does not cost that much and the thought on her special day would have been nice rather than just wanting a free feed. Suffice to say come her 21st even if there was a party planned they would be off the list - but we are taking her to japan instead.

Liz
xxx

mistresslenore

I can't believe how rude she was, there's no need for that at all. It saddens me that people can't just say thank you. I remember getting the most hideous jumper as a child, and not only did I have to say thank you and how lovely it was, I also had to wear it to show how much I loved it!!!! (and even though it made me itch it didn't kill me!). Manners are so important, so what if her brat didn't get everything her heart desired.
May I suggest printing off all these pages and showing them exactly what we all think of her.
I'd rather spend more on those that are grateful, and nothing on them

tartanthong

I got my 3 nephews gifts from M & S and they gave out individual "gift"receipts with your purchases. It said the name of the item i.e Bob the Builder pyjamas but not the price. I wrapped them with the present, just-in-case?
I thought that was a really good idea.

chardonnay_2

liz.. wrote:

I got her pre teen dd a set of hair straighteners and dvd and a pc game..

liz as someone has stated she might have had the exact presents or similar already. re straighteners i would be disappointed with anything less thsn GHD, but as these are expensive i wouldn't expect if from my auntie. maybe she wants to put it all to a ghd set which cost 80 pounds plus. i would rather be the cool auntie than the one who bought useless pressies, that i should like or lump it lol! next year ask what neice wants. perhaps she doesn't get a lot and want what she does get to be useful.