Regifting

Well folks, sorry for the delay. In case you've been in a cave over the last two weeks, I've been in Japan, and although I talked to my Mother several times while I was gone, it was at five in the morning and our conversations consisted mostly of how to get her email what I had to eat, how nice or mean the Japanese were, and what I bought her. Oh yes, and how to re-order checks because that seems to be something that has completely passed her by.

I don't know how seriously you should take her advice, but here goes:


Dear Ask Mum,

I received a gift for Christmas from a friend that I know was regifted to me. You see, I gave them this gift three years ago, and it still has the tag I put on it! I guess they forgot to take it off the bottom, but when I turned it over, there it was.

How should I handle this? Should I tell them I know they gave me my own gift back, or should I just keep quiet and regift it back to them in a few years?

Thanks for your help.

Sign Me,

It Was A Sucky Gift In the First Place


"I didn't do that!"

"No Mother, it's not an accusation, it's a question."

"Why is she worried about this weeks later?"

"Well, she sent this a while ago, I was gone. Remember?"

"Oh, right. Well, what was the question?"

"What does she do about something being regifted back to her."

"I don't buy anything for someone that I wouldn't want myself."

"Well, okay...but...can you focus?"

"I am. She should only buy things she would want herself."

"That's not the problem. The problem is she got a gift from someone else that she bought them."

"That's why you buy stuff you want, so if they give it back you can keep it."

"....okay....so, does she say anything?"

"Well yeah! That's just rude! I would send them an email if I knew how."

"So, it's okay to regift as long as it's not back to the person who gave it to you?"

"What kind of moron regifts it BACK to you?"

"..."

"Are these people your friends?"

"Well, they were."