Regifting

[Anonymous]

I get the feeling more people than not regift, or at least more people than I originally considered. If you see things you think someone might like, how many times have you thought this? I have a friend with a full time nanny. The friend gives the nanny a small gift (cashmere gloves or indulgent but useful kitchen gadget, she likes to cook) with a bonus (I didn't ask how much). She swears the nanny regifts the nice present and keeps the money. Now I am starting to wonder the same about my assistant. I always thought it would be nicer to have something to open, along with the money? Or is just receiving the money so important? Wouldn't it be rude to just give money by itself (and no nice, thoughtful but small gift enclosed)? Now I am wondering!

[Anonymous]

Why/How is she thinking the gift is regifted?

I think regifting is ok, I regift but into a different social circle that way noone knows each other or receives the gift back. ( ex: gift from a relative goes to a friend not relative to relative).

I have a relative who is horrible about this and regifts with the original names ( to and from) still on the gift.

[Anonymous]

I haven't really regifted anything, but I think if I had something given to me that I just didn't need or want and someone I knew wanted it, I'd have no issue with giving it to them. If something is a really huge miss and I don't know anyone who has any use for it I don't have an issue with giving it away to goodwill or whatever. no point in keeping something that is just collecting dust and wasting space. I don''t give or get a lot of stuff though so it's a rare issue.

[Anonymous]

I don't regift, but I do sometimes almost immediately put things in the give away pile. My mother, who no longer travels to my home because of health problems, has an absolute knack for giving me presents I have absolutely no use for - so I give them away to charity.

[Anonymous]

We re-gift all the time. Something that is new and in great condition - but just isn't what we need or not our taste - goes to someone who will appreciate it. If it's just crappy I save it and use it as my white elephant gift for our company's annual holiday party or give it to charity.

[Anonymous]

We regift kids presents all the time; there are way too many! We don't really regift anything else. Sometimes I will give something to my parents/siblings and tell them it was a gift, but I don't want it.

How would the assistant keep the money when she regifts? I don't get it. I do think in situations like that (assistant, cleaners, etc.), people would rather have the money or a gift card. Unless I'm very close to someone, anything I buy will be random. It's awkward all-around.

[Anonymous]

I have no problem regifting new gifts or donating them. I'm not going to keep something that I won't use.

If you think she's giving them away don't take it personally. You are not a mindreader, no one is.

I don't think it is a big deal to just give a gift card with a card. That's what I do if I'm not sure what someone likes.

[Anonymous]

It's still a gift to her -- now she has a lovely gift to give someone else.

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny, and my boss sometimes gives me gifts that I then regift, and I agree that it still fells like a gift. Especially near the holidays, I sometimes choose to regift simply because it is a much nicer gift than I would otherwise have purchased for the regiftee. So even if I could use the item, I might prefer to have a nice gift for a friend for Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Another regifter here. I don't regift things I wouldn't want to receive*, but sometimes I get nice things that are duplicates or I otherwise can't use. And I will regift those to others who I think would honestly enjoy them.

*My caveat on this: I will also regift items that I wouldn't want to receive if my reason is personal. I.e. I once received a lovely cashmere scarf, but I am incredibly sensitive to wool and just can't wear it against my skin, no matter how 'soft' it is. So I regifted that to a relative I thought would really appreciate it, and it was in fact very well received.

[Anonymous]

My work has that gift giving thing. I do not like it but go anyway. Last year I gave the gift that I had received the year before. This year I will give the gift that I got the last time.
I wonder if the person remembers that thats what I gave last year
But employee turnover is high at my work. So I do not worry

[Anonymous]

I have no problem with someone regifting a present I gave if they know someone who would enjoy it more. I figure once i give it to them, they can do whatever they want, though I do hope I can get it right and give what a person wants. I try. I have regifted or donated gifts we cannot use or have no room for. Haven't done it often, but I figure bettersomeone use it than have it sit in our basement. I try to display and use every gift to show appreciation, but it isn't always possible.