No Free Gift Boxes For You This Holiday~

[minniebeth]

I saw on the news today that many stores will not be offering free gift boxes for holiday shopping this year. Some that I remember are:

Old Navy
Target
TJMaxx

Ok, so these places ^ have not been typically known to provide boxes, but included are:

Abercrombie
Disney Store
our local Macy's (while supplies last, which means they won't have any )

Geez Louise, one pair of jeans at Abercrombie is $100 and a shirt is $80. Can they spare a box?

And not that it matters that I spend way more money that goes to the Disney company as a whole than I should, but those boxes are so darn cute!

But I draw the line at paying for boxes, the gift bags at the dollar store will work!

Happy Shopping

 

[Schmoodle]

After Christmas a couple of years ago, I bought a bunch of those sturdy reusable boxes with lids. They were 75% off, so very reasonable, and cute, with Christmas designs on them. Very budget-friendly, green, and easy (just pop on the lid and tie a bow). I also just found at Penney's some cute canvas tote bags with Christmas designs in the juniors section. They were originally $10, but on clearance and with coupon were 52 cents. I will use those for my tween girls gift bags. I think the days of those flimsy use-and-toss boxes and wrapping paper are over!

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

About 3 years ago I went nuts buying boxes on clearance at Target after Christmas, some plain white and some holiday themed. Guess I am ahead of the times for once!

I was just in Dollar Tree and they have some cute boxes.

I was a little surprised (but not shocked) when I saw the box display on the counter in the Disney Store for how much they cost.

 

[RSADP]

Oh JEEZ! That stinks!!

 

[rflorek]

Our family hasn't had to buy boxes or ask for boxes at stores for years. We just save boxes and gift bags from year to year and reuse them (until they start to look worn - then we recycle). We just store them in a tub along with our Christmas stuff and bring them out every year in time to wrap the gifts. The only thing we have to get is extra tissue paper, but we usually get the large packs of those at Wal-Mart after Christmas at a discount.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

I bought several things for my son at American Eagle this weekend and they asked if I wanted boxes. I said no because none of it was gifts, it was all just stuff for him for now. After I left I thought that was dumb, I should have taken the boxes, how many other places where I go to buy gifts are not going to be giving them out. Later that night I bought a bunch of stuff at Gymboree for my DD and when they asked if I wanted boxes I said yes! I think she gave me 6 boxes, so hopefully I will be set. I don't generally give but a couple clothing items to anyone besides my immediate family, and they don't need boxes.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Our family hasn't had to buy boxes or ask for boxes at stores for years. We just save boxes and gift bags from year to year and reuse them (until they start to look worn - then we recycle). We just store them in a tub along with our Christmas stuff and bring them out every year in time to wrap the gifts. The only thing we have to get is extra tissue paper, but we usually get the large packs of those at Wal-Mart after Christmas at a discount.

It is just funny as stores get bought by other chains we still have some of the boxes in the attic to use again. Nothing like getting a gift in a John Wannamaker or Gimbels box! (ok, those boxes were tossed years ago...) My friend was estatic when I gave her a gift in a G.Fox box, she worked there in the Hartford area before they were bought by Filenes... now Macys.

 

[PrincessParty]

Kohl's gave me boxes.

 

[luvmy3]

I don't really see a problem with this. Comapnies need to cut costs somewhere so if that means they cut out gift boxes instead of firing employees and raising prices then I'm all for it.
Not to mention the amount of garbage it will cut on Christmas morning

 

[Traveliz]

Forget about the boxes - I can barely get a bag to take my purchases out of the store these days. I know the last 4 times I have been to Borders they have put the receipt on top of the item and then pushed it toward me. I have to ask if I want a bag. There are a couple of other stores too that have not wanted to give me a bag but its escaping me right now.

Liz

 

[allison443]

I kind of agree with the above poster...gift boxes are kind of a waste. There are only a few items that I would really need a gift box for, if I can't get one from the store I'll just buy a couple.
However, I am a person who thinks the invention of the gift bag was a great thing!! We reuse out gift bags-so easy to store from year to year, and they usually stay in good condition!

 

[puffkin]

Forget about the boxes - I can barely get a bag to take my purchases out of the store these days. I know the last 4 times I have been to Borders they have put the receipt on top of the item and then pushed it toward me. I have to ask if I want a bag. There are a couple of other stores too that have not wanted to give me a bag but its escaping me right now.

Liz

I personally don't have a problem with this....do you really need a bag for your books, especially if you are going right to the car? I generally don't get bags anymore unless I absolutely need it, and I use reusable at the grocery store and CVS. Really isn't a big deal to me

We also reuse our boxes and I don't find that to be too big of a deal either. People can just be so incredibly wasteful. I love using the Victoria Secret boxes for my dad or brother. They always laugh when one pops up. We also had an old ratty Wanamakers box that circled through my family for years. It kind of became a little tradition to see who got a gift in that box

 

[Reagan&Co.]

I try not to even take the plastic store bag, if I am only buying one or two things. I recycle my bags, but I already have more than enough at home.

Every little bit helps to go green!

 

[princess momma]

My whole family has gotten into using gift bags. We use them over and over. Sometimes you get one back that you bought.

It saves us money and it saves us from having huge garbage bags full of paper. We do still wrap the little kids stuff, but it's pretty rare that I need a gift box. I reuse the boxes, too.

 

[ICF]

Kohl's gave me boxes.

me too...got them yesterday!

 

[vanyel]

I know this is a bit ot - but I had to fight with the cashier at our local grocery store to let me put one can in an already partially packed bag, instead of giving it it's own bag She was so perplexed by this.

I turned down boxes at Kohls last week and guess I shouldn't have.

 

[3boymthr]

I have a way around this issue, whenever I order something online and a gift box is offered for free, gift or not I take the box. Over the last several of years between those and the ones I've gotten free in stores I now have about 100 of them in my basement. I'm going to use about 30 for a cub scouts project but them I'm good to go for christmas.

 

[cats mom]

I think it's great that so many people don't want or need boxes because they're being more environmentally responsible.

But I also think it stinks that many stores aren't offering complimentary gift boxes as an option anymore.

Abercrombie is the one that really jumps out to me from the OP's list. I'm not a fan of the quality/price ratio at that store anyway. I usually feel I'm way over paying for the name, but that Abercrombie wow starts with the gift box. Sheesh, I've even told DD that the box was probably better quality than the clothes there. They did have some nice boxes.
I'm surprised to see them on the list.

 

[minniebeth]

I totally get the environmental aspect of the boxes and the economic costs for companies. We recycle gift wrap, bags, boxes, etc. and use them wisely. If they are offered, and we don't need them, we don't take them.
I just wish certain companies would make the customer feel valued by throwing in a bone (as in a box). Again, for example, if let's say at Abercrombie, even with their sale prices they're not giving anything away cheap. Even if they said to get a gift box, you need to spend XXX amount...but I do think from certain stores, the box is a nice part of the gift. Yes, I know, I can buy it, but at those prices it already stings!

I guess I'm just sentimental. I remember some holidays and birthdays as a child getting something special wrapped all pretty and remembering the box as being a special part of the presentation which I've always appreciated. I still have some boxes with special things in them from way back from companies that don't exist anymore either.
But, ok, I'm a box freak and a bag freak too. I like them and collect them.
If you knew how many WDW plastic bags I have squirreld away, I don't have the heart to get rid of them!

 

[Goofy'slady]

The last year or so we've used less and less boxes and if we get a box we're sure to recycle it or at least reuse it. This year we're gonna wrap our gifts including clothing in brown paper, no box and decorate with embelishments. It's a throw back to how things were wrapped many years ago.

We also are using fabric and dish towles to wrap homemade gifts and those small items for the kitchen. Ex: My apple butter is wrapped in holiday fabric and tied with a holiday ribbon and cookie cutters and measuring cups are wrapped in a dish towel and I slide a wooden spoon around the ribbon and the gift tag has a recipe on the back for a family fave recipe. It's cute and everything is reusable - can't get greener than that.

T.