Regifting: Naughty or Nice?
January 7, 2010 by Kathy McManus
Candles, knick-knacks, stationery, soap. Food that’s expired beyond all hope.
If you received it this past holiday season, there’s a good chance it was regifted. According to a recent survey by The Russell Research Partners, 68% of Americans say they’ve already done or have considered doing some regifting— the act of receiving an unwanted present and passing it off to someone else as new.
Regifting sins abound. The picture frame engraved with someone else’s memorable date. The carefully wrapped kitchen appliance with food stuck to it. The half-used gift card.
Long considered naughty, not nice, regifting is getting a makeover. Citing global warming and a need to recycle, the author of a new book about regifting enthuses that the practice should be “resurrected once again as a wonderful and responsible way to wage the war against the waste of unwanted gifts!”
But deep sentiments about the ethics of regifting circulate the web like virtual fruitcakes. “Hate regifting!” wrote a recipient. “It says you do not care about me enough to spend $20 and a little time.” “You lied,” said another, offended by those who’ve fobbed off the unwanted onto the unsuspecting. “I don’t want liars around me.”
Relax, one regifter said. It’s really about the economy. “I don’t have any money to buy a ‘new’ gift in the first place…Thoughtless? Hardly. Desperate times.” Another declared that “regifting is OK when the gift is something that you think the recipient will actually want.” “Giving a gift should NOT be a social burden,” one person summed up. “If we didn’t assume these burdens and gave a gift when we meant something by it, society as a whole would be taking a baby step toward consumerism recovery!”
Tell us what you think: Is regifting the new responsibility, or the old cheapness?
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11 Comments
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February 17, 2010 by JCH
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February 20, 2010 by Sandy DeWitt
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February 25, 2010 by Veronica Smith
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March 12, 2010 by Josie Wales
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April 19, 2010 by Cynthia Withers
I am the type of person that when a gift is given I keep it. A gift is something special someone gave. They spent their time to pick it out for you. If you don't like the gift that received, than pack it away or give it to someone who is in need. The person who gave it to you will understand that if you don't need it, that it is alright to give it to someone who does. It may make the person happy to know its going to someone in need. It its a gadget, just keep it with your other knickknacks. You know you have a junk drawer. So either fill it up or help someone out.
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May 10, 2010 by JAM
Giving a gift to someone should show that you've taken at least a minute to consider the person and what s/he might like whether you've purchased it yourself or given it as a "regift." If you pick just any ole thing out of the closet to give to someone, it's obvious that it's a regift and tells the person receiving the gift that you couldn't take one minute out of your busy life to consider him/her. The best gifts- regifted or not- are the ones that show you cared enough to think about the receiver. To give responsibly ask yourself this: "Will the receiver understand why I'm giving this to him/her, and can I explain why I thought this was a good gift to give?"
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May 12, 2010 by jules
I think that gifts shouldn't be re-gifted because the gift was originally meant for that person not someone else to have. Also that its not how much or what the gift is, its the thought that counts.
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May 21, 2010 by Tom
What if the gift is money. Many people would appreciate such a gift. However, if they, out of the kindness of their heart, want to share it with someone who they know would need/appreciate it, that makes the original gift a double blessing. When I give a gift, the receiver would be honoring me by not being selfish with it, but share it with someone who would be benefitted by it also. If you don't want a gift regifted, make sure that the gift is what is wanted/needed before you give it. Or have their name engraved on it. If regifting is a "sin", expecting someone to buy you a gift is doubly so. I personally don't want to give anyone a gift just because I feel "obligated". Many times regifting happens when a person feels obligated to get someone a gift, but their heart isn't in it, or they are financially unable to buy something but would feel awkward or looked down on for not giving something. Every year many people go into debt buying gifts they can't afford, and sometimes for people they don't even like. You might consider regifting "tacky", but giving someone a gift that they didn't want is equally tacky. Once, I was given a gift that I didn't want, and I asked the giver if they would prefer that I return it to them, or just get rid of it. I know that it was given with good intentions, but the gift was not wanted. I hear it said "It's the thought that counts", and maybe that is true, but a gift that is not what is needed or wanted is thoughtless, whether it is original or regifted. If someone gives you a gift that you really like, do you want to find out if it was a regift before you say thank you? I know a guy who found a bouquet of flowers in a dumpster, and took them home to his wife. She loved them, in spite of the fact that he hadn't put much forethought or money into the gift.
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June 16, 2010 by virginia Klein
I thought enough of this person to give her a gift, but she didn't think enought of me to keep it, if fact she gave it away the same day. She had enought guts to call me a tell me. Oh! my 3 year old granddaughter is so cute and she just loved it. I couldn't say no to her. Why did she have to tell me about the regifting. I will think twice about giving her another gift. Thank you for listening, it felt good to get it off my chest.
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September 14, 2010 by Amber Rossi
I can say that i am a regifter and glad to be one that means that I know people who care enough to give me a gift for a special occasion and also know that I also like to give a gift for a special occasion......it might be a gift that I have recieved or one that I purchased but whichever, it is I gave it to the recipient because I picked it hoping he or she would like it
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March 24, 2011 by sandra l. cavanaugh
I struggle with this because often I have so many things I can't use but sincerely know others could use.... personally I am not usually at all offended by receiving regifted items unless they are in category of used tea bags which a missionary actually did receive but giving the unuseable gifts to someone else does trouble me It does seem to be a form of deceit in some ways and yet how much better that things are actually used instead of simply stored In a perfect world i would to be able to pass on unusable gifts with a note that said something like this was presented to be and while i will always treasure the kind intent of the giver i would also like to see it used suitably... or even be able to ask the giver who could respond positively would you mind if I passed this on to Suzy she can really use it and your kindness would be doubly appreciated... yeah i know in another world still no real answer right?
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