Gift Etiquette?

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I'm sorry. But I can't get over the focus on money here. Petty is one thing, but to know how much something cost down to the cent and then work out the percentage difference and then discussions of regifting? I'm sorry but Kris Kringle or not how about just being grateful? I mean I certainly don't look at a present I've given my bestie and compare it with what I received. I don't understand this. It's about the giving not the receiving. TBH I think the universe is trying to show you something here.

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I have to say I agree with this. I am really so surprised at the responses in this thread!
You have no idea why they didn't spend the $15 - maybe they couldn't afford to, or may be she just forgot and grabbed something on the way, maybe they went to buy it at the end of a long day with a screaming baby and had to get home to make dinner... Whatever.
Yes, there was a $ value assigned to gifts, yes, they *may* have not spent as much or been a thoughtful, maybe, they let another child choose the gift! Any way it goes though, it is a gift, and your attitude is really poor in my opinion.

I have experienced this a number of times in work secret santa. I always spend over the limit and buy something I think suits the person, but have often been recipient of a box of chocolates or tin of biscuits which is annoying.

Thanks for all the perspectives, I know I'm being petty and disappointed on behalf of a child who couldn't give two hoots what the gift was. Yep, I know the cost isn't the point, but obviously this happens a lot lol!

Are you though setting yourself up for disappointment by choosing to spend over the limit, then getting a present where the giver either stuck to the limit or went a tad under?? Once again it goes back to my earlier post, why set a limit if you are just going to ignore it and expect others to ignore it?? **BTW referring to a generic 'you'

Thanks for all the perspectives, I know I'm being petty and disappointed on behalf of a child who couldn't give two hoots what the gift was. Yep, I know the cost isn't the point, but obviously this happens a lot lol!

What's the point of having a limit if no one adheres to it? I always stick to the limit, it's there for a reason and that is so it's fair for everyone.

Our cricket club have a Christmas party for the kids every year, everyone is to supply a present with a $10 limit for their own child that Santa gives out. The first year I went I got my kids a water pistol each, worth exactly $10 but other kids had presents worth $30 or more. My poor kids were so disappointed.

I'd probably be mildly annoyed but move on quickly. I've had so many bad experiences with secret Santa type gifts I just look at them as an opportunity to give something and not expect anything in return now. Maybe I'm just picky and hard to please. If I do get something I like its just an added bonus.

But in general yes, I think it's important to stick to price guidelines. I'm often guilty of going over which is probably just as bad as going under.

i'm with rouge on this one - i'm more about the giving and i don't like to look at the exact dollar value of anything. i do shop to the designated value though - for the simple fact that i've been the person with no spare cash, where every cent counts, and i know others are/have been there - if there is a spend limit, it's only fair to those who can't afford to go over that for EVERYONE to stick to it

must say, i don't participate in the work SS any more after too many incidents where people got their friends and went over the limit, while people who got colleagues spent well under the limit (one was a $10 to $15 window - someone got a $2 gift - with the price still on it) - as a result, when i was asked if i'd rather participate in SS this year or donate a gift to the work Salvation Army Wishing Tree - didn't hesitate to say the wishing tree.... i know the gift will be appreciated that way...

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as a result, when i was asked if i'd rather participate in SS this year or donate a gift to the work Salvation Army Wishing Tree

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what an awesome idea.

I can understand being a little disappointed but for me x-mas is about giving.
When we do KK it's a limit of UP TO $20 so the gift doesn't have to be $20, IYKWIM.
I am guilty of going over the limit but thats because if i find something i know they will like i grab it.

My girls are guilty of picking gifts, things people probably don't particularly like but my girls have picked it so too bad.

I do get why it seems a bit odd as most people spent over it but TBH i'd prefer a puppet that can be used for years to come than some plastic fantastic toy that goes on e-bay as soon as they outgrow it (and trust me i've done the e-bay toy crap plenty of times :p)

I am horrified to think a person may scan a gift I bought someone on their iPhone to see what it's worth!!

Christmas is about giving, the toy your child received itself is a 'token' gift, something that could have been for any child, not personalized to your child because it was a kris Kringle, because its more about the process of giving than actually what you are receiving.
Just because you are a thrifty shopper who got a bargain isn't a reason to expect everyone to have a gift worth more!!
For something like this I'd often let my child select a gift, and who knows what they would end up with!!!!

I'm obviously a shallow person ;) Thanks for the opinions!

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I'm obviously a shallow person ;) Thanks for the opinions!

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I don't think you are.

If this was me I'd hope someone bought something of $15 value and maybe spent some time thinking what a 1 yr old would like. Plenty of items out there.

I wouldn't go searching out how much something cost though.

I was thinking I would like that app! What is it? I just would like it to compare prices at the shops

It's the Big W app (it's free) it allows you to scan any bar code and if it is stocked by Big W it will give you the Big W price. I often use it to compare Lego prices :)

Are you sure they bought it from big w?? Sorry focussing on an off topic thing here, but every item has the same barcode on it, but it will register at a different price depending on the store they bought it from. Im not sure where you live, but is it possible it was bought from a smaller shop maybe and did actually cost her more?? I know the last SS i did i went over budget coz i was buying from a small toy shop who up price everything - and i didnt want to receiver to think "gee they didnt meet the mark" because what i bought WOULD have been less from a Big W or Kmart IYKWIM???

It's a Big W branded product :) (Tinkers) But I get what you mean :)

I don't think your shallow at all hun i think though with most KK's it is UP TO the value - i personally would have loved finger puppets when my kids were 1.... i think maybe it's an each to their own kind of thing.
Maybe they thought it was pretty cool?