Community Chat

[VanSleepy]

I'm the odd one out.  What the recipient did was rude, but I wouldn't give a gift from a consignment shop.  If it was just "hey, I saw this and thought you would like it", sure.  But if it was a gift for a birthday, shower, etc., I wouldn't.  JMO

[HonnyBrown]

Van, that's interesting!  If an item is new and unused, but at a thrift (or in this case, a consignment) store, what would be the problem with giving it as a gift?

[VanSleepy]

---

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Van, that's interesting!  If an item is new and unused, but at a thrift (or in this case, a consignment) store, what would be the problem with giving it as a gift?

---

I don't know...even though it is new, it seems like trying to "pass it off" as new.  I could change my mind if I ever came across something really good lol

[VanSleepy]

Honny, I meant to tell you that sometimes when I read Dear Abby, I also think it would make a good topic for here.

[faeriemoon]

I personally would not purchase a gift at a consignment shop.  

Nor would I return a gift given to me by someone who purchased it at a consignment shop, announcing that I don't want a consignment store item.

[straykatz]

It is never okay to return a gift in such a manner.   I think the sister who returned the gift was thankless.   I also think the other sister should have checked 1st to see if gently used designer clothes would be appreciated by her sister.   Not everyone is into 2nd hand stuff....and if this is a 1st child the person may want everything new....they are sisters....are they not close enough or know each other well enough to have avoided this?

[TaxyLady]

Dear Gift Giver.  By leaving the tags on these clothes you are giving the impression or trying to fool your sister into believing you purchased them at a store and you paid full price.  Isn't that what you wanted her to believe?  Next time, be upfront about it. 

Abby

I would not want to wear used clothes either.  I am sure these sisters know each other very well and there are other reason for the return.   Taxy Lady

[Laura14]

Maybe I am old school but it's never about the gift or where it came from.  The 'gift' is always that someone thought enough about you to take their precious time and hard earned money and made the effort to select something to give to you that they thought you would like, enjoy, use, etc...  

In my opinion, it's just not about the material thing ever.  It truly is the thought that counts.  Besides, how hard is it to put the baby in the outfit that she will quickly outgrow or dirty very quickly (probably within the hour) to give someone the return gift of appreciation?  

The kid never has to wear it again and you made your sister feel good which is what this mother should be modeling for her new child and not the the labels that are on the clothes.

[2blonde]

That sister would be off my gift list and onto my ___t list.  Ditto for the "friend."

[NYC Susan]

---

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I wonder why clothes from a consignment shop were a dealbreaker for her.  Before she knew where the clothes were from, she was thrilled; and after she finds out, she returns them?

---

I think she's entitled to feel however she feels.  I personally don't like things from thrift stores.  Consignment shops with tags on, maybe. 

However, no matter how happy or unhappy I was with a gift, I would never return it to the person who gave it to me!  Or act upset about it!!  I have been given gifts that I didn't love or had no use for (as I'm sure we all have), and I politely thanked the giver and that was the end of it.

It's rude not to be gracious about a gift - any gift, given by anyone.  It's okay not to use it, or to give it away, or throw it in the trash, or stick it in the back of a closet.  But it's really not okay to criticize the person who gave the gift.  I can't imagine any circumstance where that would be appropriate or proper.  It's very, very unkind.