Is regifting a good or bad thing?

I have done it!

I don't do it to save money, I just don't like to see things go to waste... If I am not going to use something, it's better to give it to someone who will! Of course I always try to give people things that they will use or like, I am not  just dumping anything I don't want to other people!!!

 agreed!  just don't get caught.  ;)  i most frequently regift from my grandmother to cousins and younger family members who may be more appreciative of the...errr...flowery and tacky girliness my doting grandmother gives me!

Hah well from a green perspective it's good - reuse! 

 

However, it's also pretty lame.  Unless maybe you know the regiftee would really like it.  Then I suppose it would be okay.  But mostly regifting is weak sauce!

This is a hard one....I don't thing things should go to waste....however I don't think giving away crap you don't like is very nice either.  Maybe charity is the answer instead of giving it to the next poor soul who may then actually throw it out?

 

This is what gift receipts are for people! 

HA, the British and Canadians have an entire holiday devoted to re-gifting - again more information at Wikipedia:

"Boxing Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, as well as many other members of the Commonwealth of Nations and Greece. It is based on the tradition of giving gifts to the less fortunate members of society."

 

I remember being told it was when families would box up the presents they didn't necessarily want and give them to their servants...Wikipedia's definition is considerably nicer.

 

For me, I think re-gifting can be completely and totally fine if the recipient will appreciate the gift more than you do. That can be a friend, or a charity...no reason to hang on to something you'll never, ever use or think of again if someone else can actually benefit.

Edited by deej - Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:24:50 GMT

As far as I could tell, Boxing Day in New Zealand is just an excuse to get another day off work! ;)

 

I don't think I could re-gift- I'd feel too guilty about it.  I do like PUREShop's charity idea though!

Oops- that was me above!  It seems like if I've been to facebook before going to Huddler, then it logs me in as that...

Any excuse to get a day off work is fine with me!  ;)

 

About regifting, I agree, if noone I know will appreciate the gift, it goes to charity.

One man's trash is another man's fortune? I'm not really into regifting - its a boring activity. I actually rather have someone either return my gift or donate it than rewrapping it and giving it away.

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Once a gift is given (and you are not told "if you don't want it please return this to me"), then the gift is yours to do with as you wish. If you want give it to someone else, then you are free to do so. If you believe it not nice enough to give to someone, then donate it to Salvation Army or St. Vincent's. In the future, and if the gift is from someone you know, ahead of time, will be giving you a gift, let them know what you really like... "my favorite presents are fresh flowers, or gift card from ___, etc."  If they continue to give you gifts you really don't want, continue to send them a thank you note thanking them for remembering you and then re-gift or donate.

I agree with the others who suggested dropping them at donation centers, and I think it's much better than simply regifting for a few reasons. The first is that you decrease the likeliness that the person who gave the gift will find out that you didn't care enough for the present to keep it (unless of course the gift giver frequents donation centers, but at the very least, it's harder to trace back). The second is that you'll save on wrapping paper or packaging. The third is, like a few have mentioned, one person's trash is another's treasure.