Returning The Gift Bag To The Gifter

[mtblujeans]

I don't understand people who return the gift bag you give them a gift in. Earlier this week, I gave a friend who has cancer a gift in a decorative bag and she had her husband return it, empty. In the past, I have also bought tins to give cookies as gifts for the holidays and people have returned the empty tin to me, stating they don't "want the clutter".

Do the people you give gifts to return the "gift wrap"?

 

[MIGrandma]

I don't return gift bags, I just re-use them if they are in excellent condition. I don't see anything wrong with that, but to return one right after opening the gift seems kind of rude to me.

 

[belle&beast]

No, but I have had someone ask for their cookie tin back- I thought thtat was strange.

 

[Mimi1965]

I have NEVER heard of returning the bag-I just keep to use when *I* need a gift bag

 

[AKL_Megs]

No, that's weird. Throw it away if you don't want it. Why would I want it back!

I thought you were going to say, you gave them a birthday bag, and they gave you a gift in the SAME bag on your birthday, or something!

I DO save cute, unique, or pretty gift bags to reuse... but I either write the name of who gave it to me on a piece of paper and put it inside, or I write the name of the person on the little "card" on the handle.

 

[ksjayhawks]

I reuse gift bags.

I don't want tins either, but would not return them. I would donate them to charity or use them for a gift.

 

[Snoozan's twin]

In our family, we definitely reuse gift bags - it's even become a family tradition to pass the same bag back and forth and to other family members 'on purpose'! It's fun to see who ends up with "the bag"!

 

[minkydog]

No, that's weird. Throw it away if you don't want it. Why would I want it back!

I thought you were going to say, you gave them a birthday bag, and they gave you a gift in the SAME bag on your birthday, or something!

I DO save cute, unique, or pretty gift bags to reuse... but I either write the name of who gave it to me on a piece of paper and put it inside, or I write the name of the person on the little "card" on the handle.

Oh, heck no! In my family, we not only reuse the bag, we "regift" it to the person who gave it to us. We have some bags that have been going back and forth for years! We don't throw them out until they're downright ratty. I haven't bought a new gift bag for anyone in my family since 2007.

 

[diznygirl]

My grandma's rule was you had to return the cookie tin in order to get cookies next time! Man I loved her cookies - and I always faithfully returned my tin.

Gift bags, however, are meant to be kept and reused.

 

[disneyquestions]

Depends on who it is. My mom gives everything in gift bags because, in all truth, shes to lazy to wrap anything! LOL She always asks for the bags back, and its no big deal. We know shes going to ask for them, so we always take the gift out, and hand the bag right back to her. Because of this, I've found myself offering gift bags back to people, and yeah, they always kinda look at me funny! LOL My co-worker gave me a birthday gift, and I asked her if she wanted the bag back. She was like "Um, no.... why would I want it back???" LOL

 

[minniecarousel]

That is wierd - never heard of it!

I host all the family get-togethers and get all the gift bags, if the giftee doesn't take them. I've given some to my sisters, and sister-in-law. We def re-use gift bags. It took a few years to rid ourselves of the "save the wrapping!" chant, because we reused the paper when we were growing up. (uh.......we weren't cheap, just frugal!)

 

[LuvOrlando]

People around here generally do return gift bags for wine ect. I did think it was odd the first time it happened but after that just decided to go with the flow, now I simply accept graciously and/or offer them back too.

 

[Pooh Crew]

Ha! My mil actually collects all the gift bags that she puts the kids presents in and takes them home with her after the gifts are opened! Cracks me up every year.

 

[cm8]

My grandma's rule was you had to return the cookie tin in order to get cookies next time! Man I loved her cookies - and I always faithfully returned my tin.

Gift bags, however, are meant to be kept and reused.

 

[famofsix]

someone I know gives gifts in a basket...never the same basket and asks for the basket back everytime, Trouble is I like the basket better than the gift

another person wraps several items in a birthday box and tells me to pick one gift that I like as she will return the other things to the store

People are weird

 

[pixiewings71]

We reuse gift bags.....over and over and over again actually. We even have some that are made from fabric, talk about reusable. I'm going to make some of my own this year and hopefully they will be passed around the family.

 

[dislaney]

I don't return gift bags..I guess I would if someone wanted it. I will depending on the condition of the bag - reuse it though.

 

[smb6]

I do reuse gift bags that are given to me. But I do not return gift bags or take back gift bags that I have given to others.
The cookie tin thing could possibly be confusing. I know I have had neighbors make food in the past as a gift and it's usually obvious (to me) to return any storage conatiners used, but some are more questionable. Like once they brought food in a basket. There was spaghetti in a pot- I knew to return the pot, but wasn't sure on the basket.... It can be confusing and I could see someone returning a tin if they were unsure if you wanted it back.....

 

[mster425]

I never know what to do with cookie tins- it's a gray area. I mean, if I gave you a casserole in a Pyrex, I'd want it back.

I've definitely never asked for a cookie tin back but I've felt guilty throwing them out bc I didn't know what the etiquette was

 

[mtblujeans]

Thanks for all the input. The comments that people are funny made me smile!