Speaking of Thank You notes....

[SDFgirl]

Say someone gives you a gift in person, such as a birthday party or Christmas celebration...and you thank them IN PERSON. Do you still send a thank you note, or is the "thank you" in person enough?

I have always wondered this - when I give gifts in person I don't expect a thank you note (and rarely receive one). So, when I receive a gift in person I rarely send a thank you note (except at wedding/baby showers).

 

[Rora]

I never send thank you notes for Christmas gifts I receive at Christmas in person. BUT, I always write ones for parties where gifts are received, even if I already have thanked them in person.

 

[Northstar]

I actually feel that the face-to-face thank you is the real one, and a thank-you note is a makeshift substitute when the face-to-face interaction is not possible.

My view clashes with that of many people I know, who feel that the thank-you note is the real thing, and the face-to-face interaction is just a temporary makeshift on the way to the real thing.

So I cravenly write thank-you notes if I know that particular gift-giver feels unthanked until the note comes... and when I am the giver, I toss the thank-you notes I get because for me, they're a meaningless afterthought.

Save a tree. Don't bother writing me a thank-you note!

 

[DVC Sadie]

For gifts I receive in person, a face to face thank you is fine. Gifts that are shipped or otherwise delivered by anyone other than the giver I send a written thank you card.

 

[Ember]

So long as a thank you is said, it counts.

The exception to this is formal gift giving events such as wedding and showers. Even though a "thank you" may be said after opening a gift at a shower, a personal note should also be sent. The general rule is that if there is a formal invitation, a formal thank you should be sent.

 

[mjkacmom]

So long as a thank you is said, it counts.

The exception to this is formal gift giving events such as wedding and showers. Even though a "thank you" may be said after opening a gift at a shower, a personal note should also be sent. The general rule is that if there is a formal invitation, a formal thank you should be sent.

I agree, and believe this is what all of the ediquette books say.