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Is it okay to exchange a Christmas gift from a friend right after the holiday to receive a monetary refund?

I used to have a friend who exchanged just about each one of her Christmas gifts from friends and family (who left gift receipts) after the holiday season to get back money from the stores. Is this okay or is it disrespectful towards the people who made a great effort to try to find the perfect gift for their friend? (Needless to say, she got gift cards from me...).
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gno
gno
Marked as Best! October 23, 2009 03:20 AM
I think it's okay, and I've had to adapt to this mindset. I used to think it was insensitive and rude (my mom's voice in my head!). But in my husband's family, they say it like it is!

"Ahh, yeah that's not something I need. I'll return it."

Appalling!

So I'd say short of that, if your friend is outwardly polite and grateful, then I think it's fine for her to return the gift. She's being practical and trying to make the most of what she has. You can't fault her too much for that. And I'd just be glad that she got some kind of benefit or happiness from the gift (for some people, the rush of being able to SHOP is the best gift of all!).

But yes, I'd keep getting gift cards. That shows you're a thoughtful friend.
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unwirklich
unwirklich
October 23, 2009 12:40 AM
Well, if you are including the receipt with your gift in the first place I would say you personally don't mind them exchanging it, and as a gift giver I would rather have someone exchange my gift for something they will use or do like than pretend they like it and throw it in a closet.

So yes, in short I think it's okay.
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tealmyster
tealmyster
October 23, 2009 01:52 AM
Although it may hurt feelings, the point of a gift receipt is having the ability to exchange it for something you really want/need. I would definetly just request gift cards however if I never cared for anything I recieved it would save a lot of time fo rthose who went out and tried to find something for me and it wouldn't make them feel as disappointed if I didn't like what they got me. :)
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cmajaski
cmajaski
October 23, 2009 03:10 AM
No, I think it's fine. Once you give someone a gift, it's theirs to do with as they please. No different really than giving a sweater you got for Christmas to your sister or selling it at a garage sale.

I feel as though if the person would be happier with the money then the gift, maybe it'll either help them out somehow or they can spend it on something they prefer or will enjoy more. The point of a gift is the giving, after that it's out of my hands.
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michelleld...
michelleld...
October 23, 2009 03:21 AM
If the point of a gift is to get someone something they need or want and the gift doesn't have a specific sentimentality to it, then I say it's fine to exchange it--for both recipient and giver. After all, as the giver, you do want your gift to go to good use.

Now, if there's a specific sentimentality to the gift, it has meaning, is personalize in some way, then no...
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ilovebookz
ilovebookz
October 23, 2009 03:24 AM
I think it's ok to do that. In fact I myself have done it. Sometimes no matter how hard you try to find the "perfect gift" for your family member or friend sometimes that person just feels like it missed the mark completely, and would rather get the money back to buy what he or she really wanted or needed rather than having the original gift sit around for months and even years to come without ever being used.
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redgold
redgold
October 23, 2009 04:26 AM
I think it is okay - I have done it, and I wouldn't be offended by it. While I would like to think that I know all of my close friends' tastes, I also know I sometimes get it wrong. And I would much rather have them take the gift back and get something that they really enjoy (or cash, if they need it) then keep something and never use it. I always include gift receipts for exactly this reason.
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entelia
entelia
October 24, 2009 03:19 PM
It's not an evil idea, dt.
Probably that's why they left the receipts.
Money is a great gift and makes people happy, in general.
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