Despite the tough effort and money put into it, not every gift is a winner. Even if it was given with good intentions, sometimes a present can feel completely random, like something they’ve grabbed last minute from the first store on their way to you. Other times, gifts are just plain useless – a duplicate of something you already own, a present that doesn’t fit your lifestyle, or, worst of all, a painfully obvious “re-gift” that still has someone’s initials written on the back. Whatever might be the case, if you don’t want to end up in an awkward conversation or a full-grown guilt trip, you need to learn how to handle the wrong gifts the right way. Here are five ways to deal with unwanted gifts – because there’s no need to take excitement or use it out of obligation.
Prevent This From Happening
The best way to avoid ending up with gifts you don’t want is to make it easier for people to get it right in the first place. One way to do this is by casually mentioning the kinds of things you truly want. For instance, if you love gifts with meaning, high quality, and culture, you could bring up how much you admire beautifully crafted Irish gifts, like how you’d like to get a silver Celtic bracelet or a cosy Aran throw. You can also make a wish list or even send them the link to https://www.shamrockgift.com/ to steer them towards a shop with Irish gifts that match your taste. That way, they get the joy of picking something out, and you get a present you’ll genuinely enjoy.
Always Show Gratitude
Unless it’s obvious that someone’s trying to offend you with their choice of presents, there’s no reason to make the gift giver feel bad. They still took their time to get you something, even if it’s completely off the mark, and that alone deserves a genuine thank you. Instead of focusing on the gift itself, focus on the thought behind it and say “I really appreciate you thinking of me” or “It was so nice of you to get me something”.
Exchange It
Some people are aware that they aren’t the best gift givers, so they often include the receipt in the bag. If that’s the case, then you can easily exchange it for something that’s more to your liking, but make sure you’re discreet about it. Even better, some stores allow you to exchange a gift without a receipt, especially around the holidays. If the giver ever asks about it, you don’t need to lie or invent anything. A polite “I loved it, but I found something that suits me even better” will keep the things between the two of you light without making them feel bad.
Find It a New Purpose
Just because a gift isn’t perfect doesn’t mean it’s completely useless, and more often than not a little creativity can turn it into something practical that you can actually enjoy. For instance, if you got a sweater that’s not really your style, but it fits you well and it’s made of high-quality fabrics like merino wool, you can use it at home. Or that generic candle that has the most basic vanilla scent can turn out to be highly useful if there’s ever a power outage. Just think outside the box and you’ll find a way to put any gift to use, even if it’s something you wouldn’t normally buy.
Re-Gift (the Right Way)
Re-gifting something can be extremely tricky, but if you do it right, it’s a great way to pass something along to someone you know would actually enjoy it. First, make sure you’re not re-gifting the present to the receiver – it might sound silly, but if the gift has been in your drawer for over a year, it’s easy to forget where it came from in the first place. Also, don’t give it to someone within the same circle, as the last thing you want is for the original giver to find out their present has been recycled. Second, only re-gift something that looks brand new, ideally with an intact packaging, and obviously anything personalised or clearly used can’t be passed to anyone else. This way, re-gifting can be a win-win: you get rid of something you don’t need, and someone else gets a present they truly like.
*This is a collaborative post