Awful Gift Exchange Gift!

[Luv Bunnies]

Last night, my DH and I went to a party and gift exchange. It included husbands and wives, mostly 40 and over. Kids didn't particpate but ours sat behind us and told us what they wanted us to steal!

The gift guideline was $15-$20 dollars and something that would be appropriate for a man or a woman. It seemed simple enough. We brought 2 gift sets - one with BBQ sauce and BBQ tools and another with hot chocolate and mugs.

One of our best friends in the group chose an envelope off the table when it was his turn to take a gift. He thought it was going to contain a gift card. It turned out to be an air freshener shaped like a corndog! You know - one of those flat cardboard things that you hang from your rearview mirror! No way did that cost $15! The recipient brought a really nice gift - 2 bottles of wine and munchies from Trader Joe's. We never figured out who brought the corndog, but of course, that person wasn't going to fess up! How could someone think that was appropriate? And they probably went home with something really nice!

 

[Abbie]

What a rip off! If they didn't really want to participate, they shouldn't have.

I love how our family does our gift exchange....we do the "stealing" but all presents stay wrapped until the very end! No one knows what they will get.

 

[alamode]

Last year I got a car ice scraper with a built in flashlight. Did I mention I don't own a car, and take public transit everywhere?

 

[suejai]

We did a gift exchange like this where I used to work. Most people got some decent gifts, but one year I got a tub of Mentos. The kids enjoyed them.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

We did a white elephant gift exchange at our school party and I got a picture of another teacher's uterus. No joke. She had had surgery on it the week before. You couldn't tell by looking at it what it was, but of course as soon as everyone realized the jokes ensued. Thankfully a coworker took pity on me and stole it.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We did a white elephant gift exchange at our school party and I got a picture of another teacher's uterus. No joke. She had had surgery on it the week before. You couldn't tell by looking at it what it was, but of course as soon as everyone realized the jokes ensued. Thankfully a coworker took pity on me and stole it.

OMG! I have pictures of my ovaries from my surgery several years ago but I wouldn't go around showing them to people, much less giving them as a gift at work!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I love how our family does our gift exchange....we do the "stealing" but all presents stay wrapped until the very end! No one knows what they will get.

That's an interesting way to do it. Of course, if the corndog air freshener stayed wrapped lots of people probably would have stolen it. We really did think there was a gift card inside!

 

[Disneyland1084]

My guess is the person who brought the air freshener thought it was a White Elephant Gift Exchange. I did one of those a few years ago when I was in college. The gifts were pathetic, but that was the point. It was hilarious!

 

[Kimberle]

Maybe they thought the gifts were suppost to be "gag" gifts and they were very embarressed.

If you do this party year after year. I'd keep it and include it with the gift you're giving next year. Treat it like a running 'gag' year after year...

 

[NC State]

Samething happen at my job. We were to bring a $10-$15 gift. A co-worker received a gift from the Dollar General (candy dish) with a $4.99 pice tag on it. I think it's sad because the person that brought it in got a really nice gift that was over $15. After 22 years there I learn to watch the gifts people bring in and then I watch the drama start. (of course they don't know that I'm watching)

 

[Them!]

Please tell us that it did not have a corndog "scent" as well!

 

[puffkin]

I am always the recipient of the horrible gifts. Last year it was a screen cleaning cloths for my computer. They cost about $5 and the exchange was $20-$25. The year before was 1 bag of Starbucks coffee (about $6-$7). Come on, you can buy that in any grocery store. At least throw in a mug or something. I don't even drink coffee.

I think I am going to do a white elephant this year. We are having a party the Saturday after New Years. I am excited for that!

 

[monkey68]

My grandpa got a red lacy women's thong, size XXXL for New Year's one year (my family does gifts on New Years). Yes, it was a gag type gift, you cut off a gift from a length of rope, and most of it were gag gifts, except for the gifts for kids. We got real gifts on that rope.

 

[just4today]

Maybe they thought the gifts were suppost to be "gag" gifts and they were very embarressed.

Exactly. My BF and I went to a "Dirty Santa" gift exchange party with his co-workers one year. Apparently, to them, "dirty santa" meant you could steal someone else's gift. To him, it meant you buy a risque, gag gift. We were the only ones who did that. It was extremely awkward. I was mortified.

People really need to explain what these terms mean so that everyone is on the same page.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Please tell that it did not have a corndog "scent" as well!

Was it at least a cute corndog?

 

[krcit]

Exactly. My BF and I went to a "Dirty Santa" gift exchange party with his co-workers one year. Apparently, to them, "dirty santa" meant you could steal someone else's gift. To him, it meant you buy a risque, gag gift. We were the only ones who did that. It was extremely awkward. I was mortified.

People really need to explain what these terms mean so that everyone is on the same page.

I'm sorry beacause I'm sure you were embarrassed but that is hilarious!

BTW, I would've thought 'dirty Santa' meant the same as you!

 

[Ilivetogo]

I work in an office with only about 10 people, but all are men except for me.

One year during the gift exchange game, one of the guys brought in a small (working) battery-operated sewing machine. Obviously a re-gift -- he even fessed up to that later. Good grief. Nobody stole that item. ha!

One other time, one of the guys (with a $20 limit) bought a $25 tool set with 5 tools ... he took one tool and kept it so it would make the price equal to the $20 imit. (Turned out to be funny.)

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Was it at least a cute corndog?

It was a cute corndog! And, as far as I know, it didn't actually smell like a corndog. The recipient didn't take it out of the wrapper. He said he couldn't even put it in his car because his dog would try to attack it while he was driving.

My DH doesn't know how anyone misconstrued it as a "white elephant" exchange. The group is a men's chorus that meets once a week. They explained the guidelines at the last two rehearsals and then again on e-mail. It clearly said a $15-$20 gift. I think someone just decided to try to be funny but crashed and burned! There were some really nice gifts and the corndog definitely stood out like a, well, sore corndog!

 

[MIGrandma]

I honestly don't understand how someone could go to a party with a "gift" like that to put in for the exchange.

The last work party I went to DH's number (we drew numbers) was almost last so there were very few gifts left to choose on the table and he ended up with a used t-shirt, complete with stains. The price range was supposed to be $10-15.

 

[smkiya]

Maybe they thought the gifts were suppost to be "gag" gifts and they were very embarressed.

If you do this party year after year. I'd keep it and include it with the gift you're giving next year. Treat it like a running 'gag' year after year...

That's a good idea!