Giving away wins to friends/family

Sunny_Saver

The first time I comped, I gave away expensive wins to my in-laws, but they've always given me rubbish presents, as in the same thing every year, so last time, I gave them just books/dvds wins etc...

They seemed to think because you didn't won them, you didn't pay for them, and were ungrateful. Having said that, when I invite my friends to events that I've won, they're really happy - so maybe it's an in-law thing?

I tell you what really upset me the most was last year I won four FA Cup semi-final tickets and gave them to OH and his mates (one bloke, two girls). Guess how many of his mates bothered emailing to say thanks?

None.

I also won a personalised bottle of salad cream at Christmas and put my two friends' names on it - they were soooooo happy, bless them.

[Deleted User]

I have not won many things that I have given to others but the ones I have have been very much appreciated. I have a very very small circle of friends and family- it is really just my parents, OH and maybe 5 friends and acquaintances. Of these friends one is a comper too and the others know what we do and seem to like hearing about our wins but aren't willing to put in the hours themselves as they have other hobbies. Family seems quite amused by my hobby so thankfully have never had anything negative! I do get the "you're so lucky" comments but I'm no luckier than them- they're not in it so they're not winning it!

I would not hesitate to give wins as presents again. There is always a cost, be it the time spent, the enjoyment you could have got out of it yourself had you kept it or the proceeds that selling it would have got you (if you are that way inclined).

Marg2k8

My OH and children know that I comp, and they know the time and effort that I put into it, so they know that some of the presents in their Christmas stocking will be prizes, but they are often more special because of it. For example, my DD had a signed Little Mix CD and even though she knew I had won it, she was thrilled with it. They also know how tight money is, so know that they get more than they would otherwise get.

For other people that I give presents to, such as nephews and nieces, I might give them a book, or a board game that I have won and not even tell them I have won it. I don't suppose they have any idea of how many small prizes I win, because I only tell them when I win a big prize. They probably think I only spend about an hour a week entering competitions :rotfl:

On one occasion when fund were really tight, I said to my SIL that I had won an iPod and my niece could have that for her birthday if she wished, or I could put said iPod on Ebay, sell it for probably half what it was worth so that I could buy her a pressie. Which would she prefer? Niece got the iPod and I didn't feel guilty about hiding the fact I had won it.

lomaxsylvia

I have enjoyed reading this thread. I find it incredible how ungrateful people can be. They have no idea how many hours we really put into this hobby (for want of a better word). I am amazed at how much money parents spend on birthdays etc even though money is really tight for them and think they should be really grateful when we compers give them prizes that we have won. My family love that we have this hobby and are always asking what we have won now. My DD was over the moon to receive a £140 Lipsy dress for her works Christmas party and my other DD was just as thrilled when I won her an accessory pack for her Kindle Fire.

Sorry rant over.

becky004

While my family think my hobby is bizarre, in that I can spend so many hours entering things every day, and they do joke about it in a good hearted way, they all understand that without my wins they would receive very little in the way of gifts if I didn't comp, as things are tighter since I had to finish work.
They do ask if I won it, but not because I didn't spend on it, but they can't believe people can win things regularly. My great-aunt won't allow me to spend on her, but will happily accept wins as gifts as I haven't used my own money, as she is so good to me, is lovely to give her things without her giving me a row!

jaibaby

I think it differs in my family. In a thread I commented on yesterday about whether or not I tell my friends & family I've won - it's basically the same thing here. This year I managed to win more stuff for me whereas last year lots of wins were toys / presents. I did win a Kindle Fire which my DD1 told me that she wanted it for Christmas! As I was planning on buying her a laptop, this saved me money and she had something she always wanted instead!

Last year, I won a Hairy Bikers Cookbook and gave it to my partners nan for Christmas - she loved it and asked if it was a win. When I told her it was, she was even more happy that I hadn't spent the £20. Again, this year, I won a £250 voucher to spend on rugs - I ordered her a lovely red one (she loves her rugs and the colour red) - she was overjoyed that she had a brand new rug worth £100 but even more so that I hadn't spent that money on it! But then she loves the car bootys and saving money, so I knew she'd be no trouble about receiving a win as a present.

Most of my family are grateful for anything they receive, if they get something of high value, they can normally guess that I've won it, as we wouldn't be able to afford it.

One complaint last year about a present being a prize and that person had a £1 smelly set this year :rotfl: Teach them a lesson!

Sunny_Saver

jaibaby wrote: »

One complaint last year about a present being a prize and that person had a £1 smelly set this year :rotfl: Teach them a lesson!

On a similar vein, someone who gets me the same present every year spent £2000 on one pair of Olympic tickets last year - just on one pair... so seeing the love for the Olympics, her present was my win of the Fatima Whitbread autobiography!

BlueBella

For all you compers who say you friends and family are either quite 'snide' when you give them a prize as a gift or pressie, or who do not say thank you, I would just say to them - oh well, I'll just keep all my prizes for myself or give them to those I know will appreciate the EFFORT I went into receiving them!

You could also tell a white lie and say 'Hey, I spent three hours making up a short story to win that for you' or something like that - just to make them feel guilty!!

Put it this way - if you won an ITV prize of something like £18,000, a holiday or a car, I bet they wouldn't be calling you then - they will become your most beloved family members or friends!!!!

One of my relatives does bug me - he calls me for comping, saying I should get out and about more or choose another hobby - but comping is one of my hobbies and I do enjoy it! I would never dictate to him how he spends his spare time! In the past I have given him a few prizes, like tickets to his favourite gigs (great seats too - including a pod on stage with Rhianna at her concert up here) but he rarely thanked me and all I kept hearing was that he had been calling me behind my back. Now I give him NOTHING!

happyrainbow

softpad wrote: »

Hi all

Just curious; if anyone gives comp wins to friends/family for Christmas/birthdays etc, do they pull a face and say 'oh, did you win it?'. It happens more and more to me, and often the prize is of a decent value. It makes me feel a bit sad like the value of the gift is made much less because I won it rather than saved for it, even though I spent many hours trying to win it?

A lot of my wins over the years I have given away to family and friends, basically handing them out as soon as I receive them, cos I like giving things that people will like (and I can only use SO much make up :eek:). However, they seem to become less and less appreciative and more blase. So, this year, myself and my OH are putting the wins we won't use in a big (hopefully :rotfl:) box and thinking more carefully about what to do with them. A chap near me does weekly raffles for charity and I might donate some prizes here I think.

Just would be interested on people's thoughts whilst I'm sat here comping!

i only started comping in dec but my family know that im hard up for money and dont expect anything from me i always try to buy good presents for my adult kids and my parents but cant give much xmas just gone they got a little bit more thanks to a few wins and i am hoping that by their birthdays and xmas this year i will have some great pressie for them
ungrateful ppl dont deserve nice gifts you have won and all the effort that you have put into winning them xx

StrayCat

Last Christmas majority of my gifts I gave were wins (and I told them they were too) - my family don't mind as if it's a win the value will usually be around £100 whereas if I had to pay for a present for them it would probably be in the region of a £30 present, it's a win/win situation really because I've saved a few quid and they get a far better present. If anyone objected or pulled a face I'd buy them a very cheap gift set the following year as a punishment!