I was surprised to see how many people were offended by the idea of regifting. We do it often, especially with kids gifts. It is a practical way to deal with unneeded or unwanted items. We basically try to give them to someone we think may want or need them. We also expect that some of the gifts that we give will also be regifted.
My kids will aften get between 10-20 new toys at Christmas or a birthday party. They have lots of toys already. Ten or twenty new toys is quite overwhelming to deal with at one time, so we will take the toys the kids were really excited about out of the package to play with, and leave the rest in the package to put up for a rainy day. When there is a rainy day, or a sick day, or a bored day, I can then pull out a brand new toy and let them have at it. Cheers everyone up and keeps them occupied. Of the toys that get put up, many of them will be duplicates of things the boys already have, things the boys aren't really into, or things that they have already outgrown. Those are the items we regift. Sometimes that means actually regifting for another childs birthday party (preferably not in the same social circle as the giver), but often those toys get donated to Christmas hampers at the church. The boys are happy to donate these toys to children who might not have many toys.
Anyway, where do you stand on regifting, and why?
When someone asks what my kids might like for a gift I always mention non-toy items that I know they will like and appreciate, knowing that they have too many toys already. There are lots of non-toy items the kids get excited about such as movie passes, theatre tickets, zoo and museum memberships, clothes with team logos, books, bedding, sleeping bags, flashlights, tools etc.
I have thought about asking for charitable donations instead of gifts for parties. The boys are getting older now anyway, and not as into toys as they once were. I imagine my ten year old won't be having big birthday parties much longer anyway.
My kids have never received a gift that either they or I have considered to be "crap". They do receive many duplicate toys, and toys that are not really things they are into. I don't consider a Hot Wheels race track a crappy gift, but it isn't something my kids are into playing with. So, rather than open it up an play with it once just to have it collect dust, we would rather give it to another child who might love Hot Wheels race tracks. Like I said, the unopened toys get put up and stored for a rainy day. If enough time goes by, and the boys still aren't particularly interested in Hot Wheels, we find it a new home. But just because my boys aren't into something certainly doesn't make it crap! We all have different interests. Some kids are into cars and trucks, some are into actions figures, some like craft kits.
Jo w., if my thought process was "What should we get Johnny for his birthday? He loves Hot Wheels. Lets get him Hot Wheels. Oh, we have a brand new Hot Wheels race track the boys aren't going to use. We could give hime that one." It wouldn't make sense to run out and buy another, just so we aren't regifting.
Another way we regifted some of the kids gifts was donating them to silent auction fundraisers for the kids activities. I do consider donations to be gifts. Donation and gift are often used together.
When they were really young they could grow out of a toy as fast as they grew out of their clothes, and just like there were always a couple of outfits that never got worn, there were also some toys that never got played with.
Sometimes parents will include a gift receipt, and if they do we will exchange the gift if it isn't suitable, but most of the time there isn't a gift receipt included.
I would never give a used item as a gift, although I wouldn't be offended if I received a used item myself.
I figure that if you got caught regifting an item you could always say "we loved the one you gave us so much, we figured Johnny would love on just as much!"
What is an OP?
OK...I only regift an item if it's something recipient appropriate(something they like or would use) -- don't just regift willy nilly just to get rid of it...and remember who gave you the item so you don't accidentally give it back to 'em (that's just BAD)
I'm not a huge fan of re gifting. I do like your idea of putting some away for a rainy day though. I once got my friends son a gift for his birthday. She re gifted and gave it back to us on my sons birthday. I thought that was pretty rude to give back the exact same gift that I had given her.
I don't see a problem with regifting IF the quality of the gift is good enough that it wouldn't piss you off if you received the same thing (if you liked it). If it's junk and you know it, that's just tacky, but if it's something that is perfectly fine but just totally not anything you would every want or use, that's not a problem. It shouldn't be a habit, but it's ok when it makes sense and the gift is in store-bought condition. Usually I re-gift when I get something that's not for me but the gift says "OMG, this would be perfect for ...:" .
I have a t-shirt that says "regift responsibly" with a recycling symbol on it. I love regifting. Like for instance, my son, when born, was given some light-up seahorse cuddly toy - in PURPLE and PINK. Um, no thank you! I kept it in the box, put it in my closet, and one year later a friend registered for it when she was pregnant with her daughter. I told her "My son got one! Take it off your registry and I am mailing you one tomorrow!" I saved $20. She took it off her list, so someone else would spend their $20 on a different gift.
I don't always tell the person that it's a regift. And I don't regift often. But when I do, I ALWAYS will keep it in a different social circle. ie: I won't give something my MIL gave me to my SIL, since they will inevitably find out. The seahorse above was from a family member to a friend - safe.
Re-gifting is great ONLY if the item is still brand new and still in its original packaging. And you also have to remember who it came from, originally, so that you don't accidentally re-gift it back to the person who gave it to you.
There's really nothing to be insulted about. Not every gift can be a hit.
If it's new, and unopened and not personalized (never re-gift anything with a monogram on it).
It's best to keep track who gave you the item so you don't accidentally give it back to them.
I'm fine with it.
I am not a re-gifter.
My daughter's birthday is 2 days after Christmas. So, when she had parties and got gifts, I would stash the majority of her gifts and then as spring, rainy days,sick days, etc would occur, I would surprise her with one of her gifts. This worked very well at our house.
If there is something we receive which might be a wrong size, etc... and no gift receipt.... it is put in our donation box to go to families in need so someone else can use and enjoy it.
If you do choose to re-gift.. Make sure you don't re-gift to the person who gifted to you in the fist place. I prefer not to waste my time with who gave what, when and why and then plan on who to re-gift what, when and why. It makes more sense to me to donate.
Also, re-gifting something used is pretty tacky in my book.
*******************************************************************************
OP= Original Poster (as in original person who asked the question)
The only place we re-gift to is the donation box for 'Toys For Tots' and it's only duplicate toys.
I can honestly say that I have never re-gifted anything, ever.
If you give me something that I can't use, but I know someone who can, I see no reason not to give it to them.
And if I give you something you can't use, I will not be hurt or offended in the slightest if you pass it on to someone else.
I have no problem whatsoever with regifting... just gotta make sure you don't give it back to the original giver. :D
As long as you're not giving someone junk that you don't genuinely believe they would like, I think it's totally fine to give a brand new, unused gift that you received from someone else.
If I do not like, need or want a gift I have been given, I will see f anyone else would like it.. Not as a gift, but as a "I do not want this to go to waste"
I am not find of regifting, because usually I put a lot of thought into gifts for my loved ones and do not just give gifts willy nilly.
I don't regift. My daughter has been happy and appreciative of all of her gifts, even the duplicates.
However, this year my oversized 7 year old received quite a few clothing items without the gift receipt. They got her sizes that are too small and one item doesn't even have that much of the tag left. I guess I will have to give them away. There are a few Target items that I can probably take back without the receipt.
I still feel awkward wrapping them and "regifting". I will probably just pass them down with the other clothes that don't fit my daughter.
I've done it a couple of times. Mostly because my mom is utterly clueless and has bought my daughter toys that are way too young and boring to her. We ended up giving them to younger friends for their birthdays. But we don't make a habit of it.
