Are Fruit Baskets a Cop Out?

[HLAuburn]

My inlaws are impossible to buy for! They have everything, and they really don't want anything. They are wonderful to us, so I'd like to get them something nice, but every year I try to come up with something with no luck!

So my question is...is sending them a Harry and David fruit/food basket a "cop out" or do people really enjoy them? I've heard their fruit is wonderful, but I don't want it to seem like a thoughtless gift we sent because we couldn't come up with anything else!

I did order photo gifts for both of them w/ pictures of my girls (a nice little wood desk organizer and a new mousepad), but I need a "big" gift, too.

Thanks!

 

[stsomewhere]

What about tickets to a concert, play or sporting event?

My DH bought my uncle, FIL and cousin tickets to a local hockey team (they are the farm team for a NHL team). They enjoy going there more than to a Red Wings game becasue therre is more acton and the seats are a lot better.

I bought my Aunt a ticket to go see Disney on Ice.

I have given my nephews tickets to a Pistons game, circus, etc.

 

[Sleepy]

If I "had everything I needed", I would be ok with a fruit basket. Seriously, we have never been gift giving people, so no gift would be fine and fruit would be appreciated as anyone can eat fruit. I doubt it would go to waste.

Do they eat in restaurants or go to the movies/rent? Maybe a gift certificate? I believe in giving something that will not sit in a corner, or closet, or be returned for a refund. Everyone eats and watches movies. I know some people think gift certificates are one of those lazy, less effort gifts, but I love them and think they are appropriate for those who are difficult to buy for.

 

[clovergirl5]

If you think that they would enjoy it go for it! I love fruit baskets! I always say Im gonna buy one for myself but never do

 

[nskjerven]

If they like fruit then go for it

H&D baskets are wonderful and the fruit is top rate

 

[Uuaww]

fruit baskets with exotic/hybrid fruit are pretty much the greatest things ever. When you get stuff you can't buy in stores, It is like smearing a thick layer of heaven onto a chocolate chip bagel and topping it with a luxious helping of lox. Delicious.

 

[Darsa]

Oh my gosh I LOVE fruit baskets!! In fact we just got one here at the office from an attorney's firm, and I've got a gorgeous tangerine sitting on my desk waiting for afternoon snack-time. I think it's a fantastic gift idea, especially for someone who doesn't "need" anything.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yes, some people do like them, but if you are speaking of folks who have just the two of them at home, it may be too much fruit at once.

Also, before you do it, be very sure that they really like fresh fruit. Every year my BIL sends MIL pears from H&D, and every year she gives them to us, and they eventually tend to get thrown out. The reason is that neither MIL or my children like fresh pears. They love canned pears, but not fresh ones. He tries to impress her by going upmarket, but it's a total waste in this case.

I actually find that when giving fruit, Florida citrus from a grower tends to go over better than H&D stuff. You can make juice out of oranges or grapefruit if you get too many to eat. The other food gift I often give is glazed nuts -- lots of folks in my family really love those and will eat tons of them, and they keep well. (Obviously they are not good if allergies are an issue.)

I tend to find that the best audience for a H&D basket is an office, but even then, IME, one or two pieces end up never being taken.

PS: I totally agree on the movie thing, but be sure that if you give movie passes/GC that you pick a theatre chain that is local to them. When my DD was born some of DH' extended family sent a big Fandango GC to DS as a "big brother" gift, but we could not use it, because none of the theatres in our area participate in Fandango.

UPDATING to add to that the gifts we have given to older relatives that universally got used were really good magnifying devices, the lighted kind that can sit directly on top of whatever is being read. Also, magnifying ring-lamps for hobby work, though you really have to be there to set those up for them, otherwise they may let them sit in the box. On at least one occasion the person didn't act thrilled to get it, but six months later was seen to be using it every single day. Sometimes the idea wounds the pride a bit, so we seldom want to buy those things for ourselves, but there are very few people over 50 who are not happy to have a good magnifying device in the house when it turns out to be needed. (I'm 47, and my close-in vision went suddenly about a year ago.)

 

[HLAuburn]

Thanks for the suggestions! They are definitely not sports people, and they live in a pretty small town, so I'm not too sure about the plays/concerts. I'm not sure I'd know what they would enjoy as far as that goes.

Personally, I would love a restaurants gift cert, but I know they don't use them. They just gave us a $100 Ruth's Chris GC that they had received because it was about to expire! We've done movie GC in the past...not sure they used them either.

At least I'm pretty sure they'd eat the fruit!

Thanks again for the replies

 

[alexandria674]

My mom is so hard to shop for! I just decided to give her not a fruit basket, but rather a chocolate basket. I am going to make some double chocolate cookies and espresso brownies. Worse case scenario if she doesn't eat them, someone else will.

 

[NotUrsula]

They just gave us a $100 Ruth's Chris GC that they had received because it was about to expire!

Was that because they never eat out, or because it was Ruth's Chris?

That is a "fancy" restaurant in many people's judgement, and depending on their background, they might have felt that it was too fancy for their style. This is another mistake that my BIL has made with his mom -- he has a generous expense account, and likes to take her out to really nice restaurants when he's in town, but she never enjoys it, because she doesn't like fine dining. She worries constantly that she will make some faux pas in a place like that, and she also has very plain taste in food. Take her to the Olive Garden and she's thrilled, but she would avoid Ruth's Chris like the plague.

 

[Pakey]

I would be thrilled if any of our grown children got us a Harry & David's fruit basket. Those pears are very good!

 

[java]

My inlaws are similar in that they don't "want" anything - THING being the important word in there.

In the past we've done Lobstergram and they loved that.

This year we are thinking of
http://www.ribs.com/order_form

 

[ginna74]

no it isn't a copout. we love hickory farms gift baskets here. There are many dif kind of baskets that include fruit, cheese, sweets, nuts and everything in between.

 

[dismom2]

I think your gift is great. I have sent Harry and David fruit baskets to people and everyone seems to love them--they are high quality. It's hard to buy for people who don't want or need anything, so I think that is a good alternative.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

DH & I are parents who don't need/want anything. We would love a Harry & David's fruit basket though (I don't really care for pears but LIKE their pears). I think your inlaws would enjoy the gift if they like fruit. Even better for me would be FRESH mangoes. I love mangos and rarely get good ones here.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

no it isn't a copout. we love hickory farms gift baskets here. There are many dif kind of baskets that include fruit, cheese, sweets, nuts and everything in between.

We used to send that to the ILs then they told us they were tired of them. I tried the Popcorn Factory for a couple of years. Last year they finally said that they give everything away. We're sending a Visa GC this year for them to spend wherever they want (Wal-Mart, Cracker Barrel, gas station, cigarettes, who cares).

 

[kristilew]

We love to get fruit baskets.

Another idea along that line: Wolferman's English muffins baskets. They are pretty and come with all sorts of little jams and jellies. Plus, if it's too much food at once, they can be frozen. These baskets are my go-to send-ahead hostess gift as well as for anyone hard to buy for. Everyone seems to love them.

 

[puffkin]

JMHO but I think fruit baskets are a cop out for close relatives like parents. For distant relatives or offices, coworkers, friends, etc I think it is a great idea. For parents though I would try to find something more personal unless it is something they absolutely love and would never buy themselves fruit

 

[lspst8]

I LOVE Harry and David stuff. Their catalog is my favorite thing to look at when it comes in the mail. earlier this year, my sister sent me a box of their "perfect pears" when I started a new job, and they were delicious. She got me one of the smaller "towers of treats" for my birthday, and everything was great. I may be weird, but I love Harry and David. My dream gift is their fruit of the month club!