Venting about a store's return policy...

[Princesca]

Yes - I'm bouncing the Yankee swap idea off my mom first, and if she thinks it's a good idea, I'm going to wait a few months before bringing it up so the two things don't look so connected. But it's really about the list thing too - it was a total fiasco this year, with people not getting their lists in without being badgered to do so, lots of confusion about whose list had stuff on it for the grandparents to shop from, the parents, and whoever drew your name, and who'd bought what...

To the PP who brought up the gift from their child - a fake diamond ring sounds like an awesome present to me. I love anything that sparkles, even if it isn't real! But that aside, I do expect better gift giving skills from a grown woman than I do a kindergartner. Call me crazy.

Anyway... I don't drink anything in the car, cold, hot, or otherwise, so a travel mug isn't going to be used for its intended purpose, but if I can't take it back, I might at least be able to make a pencil cup out of it. I like that idea. I also love the idea of getting her one with her initial on it and keeping mine so I could say "I just love mine so much I wanted you to have one too." Maybe for her baby shower next year. I'm pretty sure it won't be on her registry, but lists are there to be ignored, right? Maybe a ratchet set or a shake weight! As long as I can come up with a thoughtful reason why I think it's a better gift for her than what she actually CHOSE on her registry, none of the critics in this thread should have a problem with that, right? A shake weight could help her develop her upper body strength so she can have a better grip on the baby when it comes! Awesome. PP - want to sell yours?

And to the PP who brought it back to customer service with the anecdote about the gas station? You're so right. I do the same thing. I go out of my way for stores that understand that concept. I taught a whole college-level class on good customer service, and this wasn't it. It wasn't bad, but it was very mediocre, and in a highly-competitive business environment, during a recession, mediocrity is not what you want to strive for.

 

[mdsoccermom]

Not in this case. I literally can't use it for its intended purpose so I will not use it. I don't drink coffee beyond a shot of espresso in the morning, before I leave for work, which would be ridiculous in a mug that big.

However, now that you mention it, I could possibly repurpose it into a pen/pencil cup or some sort of vase. Thanks for the idea.

You do know you can put other beverages in the mug, right? It won't self-destruct when something other than coffee is in it. It's not that you can't use it. It's that you won't use it because *stomping foot in ground* you didn't get what you wanted in a little gift exchange.

 

[topolino]

If it were me in your shoes, OP, that mug would've hit the trash can in my kitchen as soon as I had the chance, and I'd've never given it a second thought.

 

[kamik86]

You do know you can put other beverages in the mug, right? It won't self-destruct when something other than coffee is in it. It's not that you can't use it. It's that you won't use it because *stomping foot in ground* you didn't get what you wanted in a little gift exchange.

I still wouldn't use it. I have a bottle I like for water and I drink tea from the same bottle or a normal coffee cup since I don't usually have that unless I'm at the office or home. So I see no problem with just not using it.

I wouldn't really care about not really getting a gift too bad for one year, however I'm assuming this person is going to continue this gift exchange which means this person could be continuing to make someone lose out year after year while still getting what they want. Seems selfish of that person to me.

My family almost always buys things from lists as well. The only one that really doesn't get something from a list is my father because he refuses to make one and says he doesn't want anything but the rest of us are too stubborn not to give him something anyway. So we talk to mom and find out what he needs or wants.

I did get one thing not on a list. My niece wanted to do presents but is a poor college student so she got everyone something small. I got a set of Disney christmas buttons that are really cute. Now no not the most practical gift but its still something I would like. I'm actually thinking about going in early December next year so I'll probably put all the buttons on a lanyard and wear them. (they are mini buttons not big like the Disney birthday ones, so they are closer so the size of Disney pins)

 

[mdsoccermom]

I still wouldn't use it. I have a bottle I like for water and I drink tea from the same bottle or a normal coffee cup since I don't usually have that unless I'm at the office or home. So I see no problem with just not using it.

I wouldn't really care about not really getting a gift too bad for one year, however I'm assuming this person is going to continue this gift exchange which means this person could be continuing to make someone lose out year after year while still getting what they want. Seems selfish of that person to me.

My family almost always buys things from lists as well. The only one that really doesn't get something from a list is my father because he refuses to make one and says he doesn't want anything but the rest of us are too stubborn not to give him something anyway. So we talk to mom and find out what he needs or wants.

I did get one thing not on a list. My niece wanted to do presents but is a poor college student so she got everyone something small. I got a set of Disney christmas buttons that are really cute. Now no not the most practical gift but its still something I would like. I'm actually thinking about going in early December next year so I'll probably put all the buttons on a lanyard and wear them. (they are mini buttons not big like the Disney birthday ones, so they are closer so the size of Disney pins)

Still a case of won't use it rather than, in the OPs words, "literally can't use it." a tad dramatic over a coffee mug.

 

[Marionnette]

Yes - I'm bouncing the Yankee swap idea off my mom first, and if she thinks it's a good idea, I'm going to wait a few months before bringing it up so the two things don't look so connected. But it's really about the list thing too - it was a total fiasco this year, with people not getting their lists in without being badgered to do so, lots of confusion about whose list had stuff on it for the grandparents to shop from, the parents, and whoever drew your name, and who'd bought what...

To the PP who brought up the gift from their child - a fake diamond ring sounds like an awesome present to me. I love anything that sparkles, even if it isn't real! But that aside, I do expect better gift giving skills from a grown woman than I do a kindergartner. Call me crazy.

Anyway... I don't drink anything in the car, cold, hot, or otherwise, so a travel mug isn't going to be used for its intended purpose, but if I can't take it back, I might at least be able to make a pencil cup out of it. I like that idea. I also love the idea of getting her one with her initial on it and keeping mine so I could say "I just love mine so much I wanted you to have one too." Maybe for her baby shower next year. I'm pretty sure it won't be on her registry, but lists are there to be ignored, right? Maybe a ratchet set or a shake weight! As long as I can come up with a thoughtful reason why I think it's a better gift for her than what she actually CHOSE on her registry, none of the critics in this thread should have a problem with that, right? A shake weight could help her develop her upper body strength so she can have a better grip on the baby when it comes! Awesome. PP - want to sell yours?

And to the PP who brought it back to customer service with the anecdote about the gas station? You're so right. I do the same thing. I go out of my way for stores that understand that concept. I taught a whole college-level class on good customer service, and this wasn't it. It wasn't bad, but it was very mediocre, and in a highly-competitive business environment, during a recession, mediocrity is not what you want to strive for.

I think that you are misunderstanding the point of a gift registry. They are made for the purpose of preventing duplication of gifts. They are not intended to be a list of demands.

If you really want to give your family member a ratchet set as a baby shower gift then by all means do so. You don't need to justify your reasons to anyone. But if you're choosing it as a gift out of pettiness and spite, that would make you a very small person, IMO.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I can understand your frustration at the store, op. I went to Yankee Candle to return something yesterday and experienced a similar non-customer friendly thing. I got 3 of the same candles, and I don't burn them a lot in general. So 3 is over kill. One of them my dh got me. So he gave me the receipt and off I went. They said since I didn't have a credit card with the same # as his (he bought it from our joint checking account with a debit card but our bank issues unique debit card numbers) they would only give me store credit. But I didn't want that, I wanted to return it. And they would not give me cash. I made a return at Target that same day, he'd made that purchase with the same debit card, and THEY gave me cash back with no issue because I had the original receipt.

So I will take dh's debit card and get my cash back...but I will no longer buy gifts at Yankee Candle EVER. Because if I offer someone the original receipt I want them to be able to get cash back to buy what THEY want if my chosen gift didn't suit them.

 

[Riles_and_Gabe]

You do know you can put other beverages in the mug, right? It won't self-destruct when something other than coffee is in it. It's not that you can't use it. It's that you won't use it because *stomping foot in ground* you didn't get what you wanted in a little gift exchange.

OP - I really feel like you are living up to your screen name. I have read all the threads and I just can't believe you are so ungrateful about a present.

I also wanted to point out that a registry for a wedding/baby shower are different from a Christmas present. Those lists are used to help prevent duplications of what a person really needs.

We make lists in my family as well but they are just suggestions. I usually love the gifts someone picks out themselves better than anything I could come up with myself. Many times they have thought of something I had never considered.

I also received a travel coffee mug this year that I really don't have a use for but I put it away with my other ones and when I do use it, I will think of my friend that was thoughtful enough to have bought it for me.

As for the store policy, I can absolutely understand their position and don't think their response was rude at all. You chose to email them instead of calling them and talking to a person. Often a written response is harder to take because it is out there in black and white.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how this "gift exchange" accomplishes anything?

Everyone is spending $20, and is supposed to buy something off the list. So, by my calculations, if I'm spending $20, and getting something for $20 that I wanted...why didn't I just go and buy it myself?

 

[luvmy3]

Still a case of won't use it rather than, in the OPs words, "literally can't use it." a tad dramatic over a coffee mug.

I really can't believe all the drama over a travel coffee mug.

I can understand your frustration at the store, op. I went to Yankee Candle to return something yesterday and experienced a similar non-customer friendly thing. I got 3 of the same candles, and I don't burn them a lot in general. So 3 is over kill. One of them my dh got me. So he gave me the receipt and off I went. They said since I didn't have a credit card with the same # as his (he bought it from our joint checking account with a debit card but our bank issues unique debit card numbers) they would only give me store credit. But I didn't want that, I wanted to return it. And they would not give me cash. I made a return at Target that same day, he'd made that purchase with the same debit card, and THEY gave me cash back with no issue because I had the original receipt.

So I will take dh's debit card and get my cash back...but I will no longer buy gifts at Yankee Candle EVER. Because if I offer someone the original receipt I want them to be able to get cash back to buy what THEY want if my chosen gift didn't suit them.

I think that is pretty standard practice at alot of retailers so if you don't want to buy gifts at certain ones because of that, you might want to call them first. Also if you use your card as debit, Target will give cash back, is it possible your dh used the card as credit at Yankee? Anyway I don't care where you choose to shop and for what reason, just wanted to say that the policy of not giving cash back on a purchase made with someone else's debit/credit card isn't unheard of.

 

[Schmoodle]

Instead of a Yankee swap next year, maybe your family could all stand in a circle and pass a twenty dollar bill to the person on their right. I can see it becoming a very warm and cherished family holiday tradition.

 

[Lauraubie]

To the PP who brought up the gift from their child - a fake diamond ring sounds like an awesome present to me. I love anything that sparkles, even if it isn't real! But that aside, I do expect better gift giving skills from a grown woman than I do a kindergartner. Call me crazy.

I was joking. Actually, more like mocking you. Because this thread is a joke. You are rude and no one should ever give you anything. Everyone has been given gifts that they don't care for but not everyone goes on and on about it.

Next year you should give the person who gave you the mug a printed out copy of this thread.

And by the way, I love my ring.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Anyway... I don't drink anything in the car, cold, hot, or otherwise, so a travel mug isn't going to be used for its intended purpose

Okay, try thinking even more outside the box. We already know you're not going to use the travel mug for coffee. How about going a step further and not using it for...travel?

That's right! Use it for cold beverages you drink at home!!! The insulation will keep the drink cold longer, even without ice. Or, since you're literally traveling soon - the WDW trip - take it with you and transfer your cold drinks into the travel mug while you tour the parks.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Instead of a Yankee swap next year, maybe your family could all stand in a circle and pass a twenty dollar bill to the person on their right. I can see it becoming a very warm and cherished family holiday tradition.

You summed up exactly what I was trying to say in my post. I guess they don't realize that's basically what they're already doing with all of these rules.

 

[ccgirl]

Just want to add that there are threads about a gentleman with a terminal illness making his last WDW trip and a woman who found out her DH has liver cancer (among others) and how they really got things put in perspective. Then, I find this thread about someone mad they didn't get exactly what they wanted for Christmas and they couldn't return it without a receipt. Isn't it really that important.

 

[Suz D]

If you really want to give your family member a ratchet set as a baby shower gift then by all means do so. You don't need to justify your reasons to anyone. But if you're choosing it as a gift out of pettiness and spite, that would make you a very small person, IMO.

I think the OP was making a joke with that statement. This thread has really taken an icky road.

 

[powellrj]

Instead of a Yankee swap next year, maybe your family could all stand in a circle and pass a twenty dollar bill to the person on their right. I can see it becoming a very warm and cherished family holiday tradition.

I agree, a gift is just that, a gift. If getting exactly what you want is so important to you, excuse yourself and just use the money you would have spent and buy what you want.

 

[Swimalie]

Just want to add that there are threads about a gentleman with a terminal illness making his last WDW trip and a woman who found out her DH has liver cancer (among others) and how they really got things put in perspective. Then, I find this thread about someone mad they didn't get exactly what they wanted for Christmas and they couldn't return it without a receipt. Isn't it really that important.

Exactly! My dad has cancer and is undergoing a lot of treatments now which are not doing well on his body. My husband's best friend died in a car accident in June. This is our first Christmas without him. Does this help you, Princesca put it in perspective?! Be grateful for what you have!

 

[SaraJayne]

Okay, try thinking even more outside the box. We already know you're not going to use the travel mug for coffee. How about going a step further and not using it for...travel?

That's right! Use it for cold beverages you drink at home!!! The insulation will keep the drink cold longer, even without ice. Or, since you're literally traveling soon - the WDW trip - take it with you and transfer your cold drinks into the travel mug while you tour the parks.

What!? Now you're just talking nonsense!! She literally "cannot use" the mug! Geez, she already told you that!




Yes, that was sarcasm.

OP, as has already been suggested numerous times, take the mug and either donate it, put it in the cupboard for someone else to use or take it to work and use it at your desk.

Really, this isn't a hard situation to figure out.

I'm not even going to get into my opinion on how unappreciative and spoiled you are acting about the gift exchange.

 

[Marionnette]

I think the OP was making a joke with that statement. This thread has really taken an icky road.

And I was trying to point out just how petty and small the OP's attitude is. Her joke simply highlights it.