If a friend gives you a gift you really, really don't like, do you tell them or keep your mouth shut? Why?

It really depends on the gift and my relationship to the giver. I was taught that it was extremely rude to criticize a gift, even one I hated. I never have received a gift I hated, though, but my sister has given me clothing a couple of times that I couldn't bring myself to wear.

I don't see her often so she'll never wonder why I never wore them. I think they eventually found their way to the Goodwill store. If it were something relatively inexpensive, I'd thank them for the thoughtful gift and say no more about it.

They took the time to choose a gift for me, and it would be unkind not to show appreciation. Then I'd probably regift it to someone else, to be honest. If it were something very expensive that I knew I'd never use, I'd express my appreciation for their kindness, but then let them gently know that I wouldn't be able to use their gift and didn't want their money and thoughtfulness to go to waste, would they mind if I exchanged it?

I wouldn't ask when other people are present, but privately at a later date. This is still kinda rude, but it it's a good friend they'd probably take the suggestion in the manner intended even though they might be a bit offended. I did give my dad a gift a few years ago that I thought he'd really like, but I was wrong!

Later, he told me he'd never use it and did I mind if he gave it to someone he knew that could use it. I was a bit miffed but I told him that was OK, as long as someone used it! It was a bit pricey, but not so much I felt I'd wasted my money.

You just don't want to do this too often, or people will stop giving you gifts at all! You'll get gift cards instead, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if your friends and family are bad at choosing gifts you like.

It really depends on the gift and my relationship to the giver. I was taught that it was extremely rude to criticize a gift, even one I hated. I never have received a gift I hated, though, but my sister has given me clothing a couple of times that I couldn't bring myself to wear.

I don't see her often so she'll never wonder why I never wore them. I think they eventually found their way to the Goodwill store. If it were something relatively inexpensive, I'd thank them for the thoughtful gift and say no more about it.

They took the time to choose a gift for me, and it would be unkind not to show appreciation. Then I'd probably regift it to someone else, to be honest. If it were something very expensive that I knew I'd never use, I'd express my appreciation for their kindness, but then let them gently know that I wouldn't be able to use their gift and didn't want their money and thoughtfulness to go to waste, would they mind if I exchanged it?

I wouldn't ask when other people are present, but privately at a later date. This is still kinda rude, but it it's a good friend they'd probably take the suggestion in the manner intended even though they might be a bit offended. I did give my dad a gift a few years ago that I thought he'd really like, but I was wrong!

Later, he told me he'd never use it and did I mind if he gave it to someone he knew that could use it. I was a bit miffed but I told him that was OK, as long as someone used it! It was a bit pricey, but not so much I felt I'd wasted my money.

You just don't want to do this too often, or people will stop giving you gifts at all! You'll get gift cards instead, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if your friends and family are bad at choosing gifts you like....

It's happened. Once. And I told my friend that although I truly appreciated the sentiment, I really didn't like the gift (a set of Christmas China) and would not use it.

I'm single. I live alone (or did at that time). I'm almost never at home for Christmas and would not have occasion to use the china.

I told her that I didn't want her gift to go to waste, that she could take the gift back and get a refund of her money, and that her friendship was all the gift I ever needed. Still, I hurt her feelings, and I apologized for doing so. The compromise was that she asked me to return the gift and told me to have them credit me with a gift card for the same amount.

I think it's a case by case basis. I don't like sounding (or being) ungrateful... but I also do not want friends to "waste" their money on me, either. Had it been a casual acquaintance, I probably would never have said anything.

But with my closest friends, I feel I should be able to be honest *because* I care about them.

When I was 14, we didn't have much money. My mother gave me the cheapest, ugliest purse I have ever seen in my life. I never used it, and I know it hurt her.

Many years later, she asked if she could use it, and I said sure. We had a talk, and she said she was sorry I hadn't said something to her, because we could have taken it back, and it hurt her more that I had just stuck it in a closet and never used it. But I never remember a Christmas after that that I got something from my mother that I really hated.

Both of us learned something from that. My son gave me a gift once that I hated, but I didn't have the nerve to tell him. Once we were arguing, and I threw it up to him that it was a thoughtless gift.

He was devastated, so now we don't exchange Christmas gifts at all. At best we do gift cards. I wish I had just been kinder, and told him I appreciated the thought, but that I had given it to someone who could make better use of it.

Instead, I didn't even do that. I just kept it, and now it's useless to anyone, and my son has a scar I can never heal. My point is that handling unwanted gifts is never easy, but it has to be done.

I've been on both ends of the equation, and I was glad that the people on the other end of the gift were honest with me. My sister always acts like she is thrilled with everything you give her, then talks you down behind your back. It was very damaging to our relationship over the years, along with other things, and now we don't even talk.It's sad that we will end our days never again talking to each other because of her thoughtlessness.

Simply being honest would have kept a very important relationship alive.

If a person gave me a gift that I did not like, I would not say anything because they thought about you enough to even get you something.

The thing is, though its the thought that counts not the gift. If its a packet of spaghetti that comes from a friend and It really came with some real thought and love with it then that would be gift worth having.

If a friend would give me a gift and I don't like it, I will say thank you to her and be very grateful. The gift is not very important to me but it's the thought that counts. The fact that she spent money and time to look for a gift to give me is very touching.

And even though I don't like the gift and think its of no use, I am going to keep it because every time I see it I will remember the thoughtfulness and generosity of a friend.

Depends on who it is. If it's a family member, I absolutely tell them, simply and bluntly. Not rudely, just simply.It's an agreement our family came to after years of getting clothes that we never wore and then turning them up months or years later still with the tags on.

Our reasoning is that we'd rather take it back and get something the recipient will appreciate than waste money on something she won't. If it's a friend, though, I don't say anything. I don't have this kind of agreement with my friends, and they don't have to put up with me if I upset them.

I would keep my mouth shut. After all, a friend is a friend, and by telling them so can and will hurt their feelings. If they had the goodwill to spend the money to buy you a gift, why ostracize them?

Of course it's the thought that counts, but sometimes you can get gifts that you know the person put absolutely no thought into. If it's someone that is close to you and knows you well, they have an idea if the gift is something you won't be ecstatic about. A lot of gifts are passed around and we're told since we're toddlers that it's the thought that counts.

We forget that that means when we buy gifts for people that we should really take the time to actually put some thought into it. How many times have you just grabbed something for someone because it was pretty or the right price or you just needed a gift? I do it too.

If you don't actually put the thought into it, you're taking the chance on something the person may not like and shouldn't feel bad if they tell you so. You are also just wasting money. With coworkers and family and friends I like what I receive and I hope they feel the same.

I have mentioned to an ex that he put absolutely no thought into a gift he bought me. I would've rather just gotten a nice note in a card that meant something.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.