apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I keep a box in my garage for things like this. When it fills up I make a trip to the thrift store.

Sounds like she got you the can opener out of spite.

My in-laws gave me an electric toothbrush. My last dental cleaning/checkup lasted about fifteen minutes. Even if I had the need, they gave my husband an electric toothbrush too; all I would need to do is get my own brush attatchment. I doubt it would be much appreciated as a regift. I think I'm going to try to return/exchange it.

What about a senior housing complex or something like that? Seems like the type of thing that would actually be useful, rather than junk, for someone with arthritis.

Return it. Hopefully that will down the sales rate of that thing even by a tiny - tiny - margin, and eventually will cause companies to realize consumers will no longer tolerate this senseless waste of materials and energy!

Or something. You know. The point is you should return it.

My family and friends were all too broke to give me anything useless this year (um...yay?), so it was the first year in a long time that I haven't been given clothes I can't wear.

My mom in particular seems to have "issues" with the fact that she's skinny, short, and modestly endowed, whereas I'm much taller and very busty. Hardly a year goes by that she doesn't give me a t-shirt that is WAY too short for my long torso, WAY too small to fit over my chest, or WAY too big all around (being busty does NOT mean I can fit into things from the plus-size department, Mother dear).

Of course, by the time she finds the gift receipt, the store no longer has whatever it was in my actual size...

This is why gift vouchers, especially online stores that have them, rock so hard!

And I vote for returning it as well - there is a chronic overload of cr*p in this world (up the clean design look), and sending things to a thrift store often doesn't really take them out of the circulatory system of cr*p. Somebody who doesn't really want them buys them because they're new, cheap and they're helping out a charity (with their fifty cents), and they'll be returned to a thrift store after several months when spring cleaning time comes round. A vicious circle of filling up and emptying again ... start off with something that is wanted, then concentrate on the important things in life!

i keep a little box for these type of gifts. I'm a big regifter...no shame in that. it's just recycling. works well for those birthday parties that you get invited to but don't know the person well enough but don't want to arrive empty handed.

I try and return what I can, because honestly they're just wasting their money, but we got a number of things from both sets of parents that were a bit off. Pajamas, that I have no idea why on earth they thought we would wear them. And as always, it's the stocking stuffers that drive me mad - flashlights, nail polish, underwear, and travel games. How is it that both sets of parents think we play travel games enough to constitute a new one every year???!

There's a lot of stuff that we can't return, and I hate to regift it, because honestly, doesn't that just perpetuate the whole unnecessary gift giving process? So into a bag it goes until we have enough for a trip to the thrift store or the next bitch and switch.

Am I crazy for actually -liking- my one touch can opener? ;)

We got a coin counter... ugh. Doesn't the bank do that for you?

LOL!

Return, exchange or I thought Jessimuhka's mention of "a senior housing complex or something like that? Seems like the type of thing that would actually be useful, rather than junk, for someone with arthritis."
is an EXCELLENT idea

:)

I tell my mom no, take it back. May seem a little bitchy but at least I can be honest with her.

Return it, sell it (ebay, craigslist, amazon), give it to a friend, donate it, re-gift it. Or just use it.

Usually, if the unwanted gift can't be easily returned and it's not worth a lot of money, I either donate it to a local thrift store that benefits programs for seniors, or (if it doesn't feel like thrift store material) I give it away on Freecycle.

My mom grabbed my grandmothers when she was put into a housing complex, but I do know like a couple other ladies mentioned those are great for the older generation.
Or what about a cooking school for kids? That is a great thing for kids who might not be strong enough for the manual one?

At least you got something resembling useful. My MIL got me 2 Avon Christmas things that play music and dance/move.

EVERY YEAR, SIMILAR GIFT

Also got headbands from her. In the dozen years I've known her, I have NEVER worn headbands.

Also, since they can't be returned, I'm stuck with them until I can find a family member/coworker/insane Christmas junkie to unload the musical beasties on.

A one-touch can opener would have been a joy to open instead of what I got.

I'm in favor of strategic regifting- my mom can't use a manual can opener because of her arthritis, so an electric one would be handy for her. As long as you're honest about it with the re-gift recipient ("I have an extra one you might like") rather than wrapping it up and pretending it's new, I think that's fine.

Women's shelters are a good place to give bath lotions and new toiletries, or new clothes you can't wear.... and I donated duplicate video games to a youth center that was VERY happy to have them. See what's in your area!

The easiest thing, besides taking it to a thrift, would be to leave a box near your trashcans on trash day with a sign that says "enjoy". Got rid of a crappy vaccuum like that this week. Honestly, if the bad gifter doesn't listen to you, don't feel bad about them wasting money. My aunt has given us crap gifts for years - we've even gone so far as to tell her NOT to buy us gifts - yet this year, it was the same song and dance.

DCFlutist-- you are not crazy. It is a great gadget and it works.

It is very helpful for people with arthritis.

You should keep it. You might need it one day.