OT: Opinions on gift

[SalandJeff]

My dd, 5 y.o., has two more birthday parties to attend this week. One is for a boy in her class that is turning 6. We don't really know his family, except the mom is the room mom, so I know her through that.

Anyway, I found a set of Transformers at Target for 75% off. Original price $30+ and I paid $7.50. Here's the problem. The box is kind of beat up. The bottom corners are worn and there is a spot where the paper is torn from the cardboard and ripped.

Part of me says I should NOT give this as a gift to someone I don't know well. But the other part says I can give him a great gift that is affordable, instead of a lesser gift.

So what do you think (what would you think if you were the recipient's parents)....give him something else or the bargain???

 

[ilandrazdsw]

The child isn't going to be worried about what the box looks like, only what is in it...and my guess he'll rip into it anyway.
I say give the awesome gift that you put thought into rather than something cheap(er) that you had to pick up.
Could DD "decorate" the box?

 

[PrincessTigerLily]

Just a thought...could you turn it into a "gift basket"? Have your DD decorate a box with Transformers wrapping paper, throw some color-coordinated shred in it, and take the toys out of the beat-up box and place them into the shred. Cover with clear plastic basket wrap and a bow!

 

[puffkin]

Wrap the legos. Then gently step on the box and make sure you tear the paper just a little. When you give the gift comment to the mom that you are so sorry, to present got accidentally stepped on when DS was getting out of the car. Problem solved and the birthday boy will love his legos!