Sending gifts via in-store pickup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like to send things to my grandkids occasionally. Often they are small items or good bargains, like a tshirt or book, and the cost to ship would be as much as the item itself! So I order as store pickup rather than directly shipping to their house and let my daughter and DIL know so they can pick it up. I only do this for stores relatively close to them, it's not like they are an hour away.

Well I thought this was fine but I ordered a couple things for the start of school and my son contacts me yesterday saying to please stop because his wife does not "have time" to pickup up the items before school starts. Apparently the store closes too early to go in the evening and even though she teleworks can't find the time to go at lunch? I really don't get how no one wants to shop in a store anymore! I had to take my kids everywhere in person when they were little. Should I just stop sending gifts and wait until the holidays? Or only order from stores that offer curbside pickup so they don't have to physically go in?

OP, How much money are you saving on shipping?

And then, how much does your DIL maker per hour? (her salary/40hrs. I am guessing)

Considering the above math, are you saving like $5-10 of shipping, while DIL is "spending" the value of $X of HER TIME chasing down an inexpensive gift INSIDE of a store?

Sorry, while the thought is there, it is likely just not worth it.
And from a household perspective, why didn't you charge YOUR SON with tracking down these gifts over the years?

If it's the thought that counts of these little gifts, how about small gift cards that you order online for a local frozen yogurt or ice cream shop, or mini-golf place etc. that you can ship FREE of cost or send via email. No clutter, fun gift, and ease of receipt.

[Anonymous]

Even though people are teleworking, it does not mean there is more flexibility in their day to leave the house. There are days I am scheduled in back to back meetings all day. Add in time needed getting kids ready for school (or camp), drop off and pick ups, traffic. It's just presumptuous to say she has time to go get the items. It becomes a chore.

I am so thankful that my mom buys clothes for my kids and has them shipped to me; But it does become frustrating when she buys the wrong size even though I have told her several times what size to buy and then I either have to store the items or find time to drive to the store and try to exchange which is a huge pain to get to. Since they are a gift I can't just return them for the price she paid. Then I feel guilty because she has spent money on them but I can't use them and/or cant exchange them. Now it's a chore.

[Anonymous]

Please don't do this. Buy them at your store and ship when you have a few things. WFH does not mean you have more free time.

[Anonymous]

I would never send a gift someone has to pick up. That’s so rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh come on guys. This is the terrible MIL troll. She's always posting things like this

NP and I don't know the terrible MIL troll, but my thought was this was pretty likely a DIL posting "as" her MIL. Do I have it right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh come on guys. This is the terrible MIL troll. She's always posting things like this

NP and I don't know the terrible MIL troll, but my thought was this was pretty likely a DIL posting "as" her MIL. Do I have it right?

Or is this the really excited one who recently wanted to have a shower for her pregnant DIL who didn't want one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you WFH, you are really working and do not need ONE MORE thing to do, including picking up unneeded/unwanted "gifts".

^^^
On the off choice this isn't a troll, or in case any MILs get ideas from this thread... I telework as well and it's a rare day when I even HAVE a lunch break. If I am taking one, there is NO WAY I'm using it to fight lunchtime traffic to pick up yet another junky "good bargain" from Wal-Mart or Kohl's.

[Anonymous]

In case you aren't at troll, I'll say this: Kids love mail and packages. When my son (he's 9) gets a package it's the highlight of his day. So sending it in the mail is exciting for the kids too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh come on guys. This is the terrible MIL troll. She's always posting things like this

Is that the recent excited grandma troll?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh come on guys. This is the terrible MIL troll. She's always posting things like this

Is that the recent excited grandma troll?

Yes. She always posts something ridiculous that the DIL does or doesn't want/do. Usually comes from her son who she doesn't hold to any standards and always excuses why he can't be involved

[Anonymous]

Your gifts seem to be a burden. What type of career did you have. In my industry we very rarely take breaks. Most people work through lunch. If someone sent me to a store to pick up anything during the workday I would be very upse and out upon. Just stop sending gifts or pay for shipping.

[Anonymous]

If this is not a troll-

You aren't giving gifts, you're giving chores. Stop!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh come on guys. This is the terrible MIL troll. She's always posting things like this

Is that the recent excited grandma troll?

Yes. She always posts something ridiculous that the DIL does or doesn't want/do. Usually comes from her son who she doesn't hold to any standards and always excuses why he can't be involved

Yeah, the biggest tell is involving the "daughter and DIL" but not the son.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think this is real. Is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh come on guys. This is the terrible MIL troll. She's always posting things like this

NP and I don't know the terrible MIL troll, but my thought was this was pretty likely a DIL posting "as" her MIL. Do I have it right?

That’s what I think too. Especially when the poster puts “have time” in quotes.