Angel Tree gift cards/asks - dollar amount thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I scanned a QR code at an angel tree and was shocked at the types of asks on there: a $199 ice cream toy truck, a ride on motorized vehicle, etc. There was a bed/desk also asked for but transporting them makes them very difficult, and of course the cost was also a factor.

I've typically donated toys or gift cards but never an angel tree donation. Is this typical for an angel tree?

[Anonymous]

How much are you spending on your kid(s) this holiday season? It’s surely more than $199.

If you don’t trust that the kids are actually needy, then don’t participate. But I imagine you trust the organization and they actually vet the requests quite well, no?

If your concern is that a poor kid should never ask for nice things then you’re missing the spirit of Christmas.

[Anonymous]

I think the concern was the total price. OP maybe that tag would be better for an office group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much are you spending on your kid(s) this holiday season? It’s surely more than $199.

If you don’t trust that the kids are actually needy, then don’t participate. But I imagine you trust the organization and they actually vet the requests quite well, no?

If your concern is that a poor kid should never ask for nice things then you’re missing the spirit of Christmas.

I should have known someone would be snotty.

I said nothing about trusting the kids or what underprivileged kids should or shouldn’t ask for. I asked if these were typical asks.

FWIW: I wouldn’t buy any kids a $200 plastic ice cream truck toy, including my own. I wouldn’t buy any spend $200 on many toys, though, and that’s why I went went a toy donation drive, instead.

I am just asking if angel tree asks are generally larger asks so that I don’t even check next time and stick with a toy donation drive.

[Anonymous]

I think Angel Tree is a wish list for one kid per tag. Toy drives let me spend an amount I am comfortable with.

And snarksters, I have no kids and don't get gifts myself. I like buying Barbies because I never had one, too expensive and mom bought me a different doll. The Walmart Salvation Army list in my zip has requests for several different kids of Barbies 😁

[Anonymous]

The angel tree gift tag I picked requested a duffel bag and a gift card to Dollar General. It was for a 14 year old boy. I spent $100 - $50 for a Nike bag and a $50 gift card.

[Anonymous]

I agree OP. I would not buy anything I would not buy for my own DC. A $200 toy would not be on DCs list. I donate to many organizations throughout the year, I just can’t get behind the need for $200 toys.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think $200 is particularly generous for an Angel Tree gift. The only time my eyebrows go up is when the gift is readily resellable. Then I do suspect scammer parents.

[Anonymous]

I got an expensive ask one year and haven’t done it since. I felt bad not being able to afford the requests.

[Anonymous]

We’ve been doing angel tree for over 10 years and I’ve never seen an ask that extravagant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve been doing angel tree for over 10 years and I’ve never seen an ask that extravagant.

Thanks! This is OP and I was trying to see if it was always like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think $200 is particularly generous for an Angel Tree gift. The only time my eyebrows go up is when the gift is readily resellable. Then I do suspect scammer parents.

This was the item, and I guess we can just disagree. I think a single toy for $200 is very expensive:

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Generation-Cream-Truck-Dolls/dp/B06XRH3XV8

[Anonymous]

I thought OP said the Angel Card had a $200 toy AND other items like a desk and bed, ride on vehicle. Thst is more like $800 total at least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought OP said the Angel Card had a $200 toy AND other items like a desk and bed, ride on vehicle. That is more like $800 total at least.

The angel tree had a single qr code on every tag that sent me to an online signup that said something like:

#42: a full size bed (please tag your item with the number 42)

Another one was desk and chair

Etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think $200 is particularly generous for an Angel Tree gift. The only time my eyebrows go up is when the gift is readily resellable. Then I do suspect scammer parents.

This was the item, and I guess we can just disagree. I think a single toy for $200 is very expensive:

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Generation-Cream-Truck-Dolls/dp/B06XRH3XV8

It's probably the dream of some little girl who likes ice cream trucks. I can't judge the wishful thinking but the price is really high.

My boss bought her 4 year old a ride-on electric Zamboni last year. His older siblings play hockey.

My grandma bought herself an American Girl Doll coach and the horse that goes with it.

Affluent people will spend that.

However, you could make something like that truck out of a cardboard box and contact paper for about $20.

My experience with angel trees is that gifts are usually under about $60 unless someone wants an electronic gaming device.