What do you think of this gift request? Update...No Wii

[MM27]

Were these people planning on putting everyone that contributes name on the package or is this to be a Santa gift? My brother's family is getting a Wii for Christmas and I asked them if there was a game they would like me to get for them. They gave me a couple to choose from, so it's a semi-surprise. I would never contribute if someone flat out hit me up for money like that though.

 

[RangerPooh]

It sounds like the original poster is related to someone in my family One of DHs step brothers did something like this one year by putting a huge guilt trip on the family that becuase he was poor his kids never have nice things and only get what is donated. So we decided to do something nice for his kids (when the step brother does have a wealthy brother who doesn't contribute anything..) and got them a game system. We did ask everyone to chip in what the could, which we knew wouldn't be much, but that was ok with us even though we were purchasing 2 game systems (2 separate families). In the end this guy tells his kid what he's getting and then complains when we gave that game system to the other family. The nerve that he had to 1. tell the child what he was getting (and got his hopes up), and 2. to complain that he didn't get the game system that he wanted/promised. That was the last time that we were generous to that side of DHs family!

I did hear from my family that my cousin sent out a similar email as the original poster. She listed the specific toys that she wanted people to buy her kids. What was wrong about this was that she sent it out to eveyone; not just her biological family, but the family members that he dad married into when she was a teenager. It would be one thing if she actually did something (such as working...putting her degree to use) instead of whining about how they have no money and how badly they want another child. Basically everyone is ignoring her this year and doing as they please.

I say give them what you already purchased and ignore their rude emails.

 

[klacey1]

What kills me about the "only $20" is that if they think $20 isn't a lot of money, then they should have been able to save $20 a month over the past year to give the Wii to the kids, as a PP said. That shouldn't be difficult. Is this the ONLY gift their kids are getting? If it's what the kids really want, then they could put all their cash into the one big gift, instead of supplementing a big gift with other smaller things. (If that's what they're doing)
If the rest of the family is crazy enough to contribute, and the parents wanted to say to their kids "this is from mom and dad and all of your relatives who are so kind and generous and love you so much that they wanted to make this dream of yours come true..." That would be different. HOWEVER, wanting the "glory" for it, if that's what they are looking for, is ridiculous.
Also, are they contributing anything to the purchase of the Wii, or do they expect the family to pay for the entire thing?

 

[PaulaSue]

That giftee is RUDE!

 

[hereyago]

How about you give the requestor 20.00 worth of coal to put in her stocking, because she is bad.

 

[RitaZ.]

Here is an idea... if you want to purchase a Wii for your kids, then pay for it yourself!

 

[dismom2]

What kills me about the "only $20" is that if they think $20 isn't a lot of money, then they should have been able to save $20 a month over the past year to give the Wii to the kids, as a PP said. That shouldn't be difficult. Is this the ONLY gift their kids are getting? If it's what the kids really want, then they could put all their cash into the one big gift, instead of supplementing a big gift with other smaller things. (If that's what they're doing)
If the rest of the family is crazy enough to contribute, and the parents wanted to say to their kids "this is from mom and dad and all of your relatives who are so kind and generous and love you so much that they wanted to make this dream of yours come true..." That would be different. HOWEVER, wanting the "glory" for it, if that's what they are looking for, is ridiculous.
Also, are they contributing anything to the purchase of the Wii, or do they expect the family to pay for the entire thing?

Actually, if that family is so poor that they'd have to save $20 a month to pay for a Wii, maybe they should quit looking at expensive gifts for their kids to begin with. When and if they gather enough donated money to buy this expensive Wii unit, who is going to buy all the expensive games they need to go with it?? Even used games are pricey.

Some people need to learn to live within their means. Many of those electronic gaming systems are a constant expense...not a one-time purchase. Even if you have a couple/few games, kids get sick of them and want more, or the latest popular one.

Go on ebay and buy them a nice Atari game system---lol.

 

[Stacerita]

Rude!

 

[dizluvah]

Surely most of the recipients of the email have already purchased a gift for their kids, if they had planned on doing so - so sending the silly email so close to the gift giving day is poor planning in addition to being rude.

 

[Ponygirl]

Extortion was the term that came to mind!

 

[Keli]

You know I'm reading and knowing exactly how I would want to respond and how I would actually respond, assuming this is close family.
I'd want to say forget it and you are rude to ask.
But what I'd actually do is send them $20 unless I really didn't have it. Because it would kill me that the kids probably have their hearts set on a wii and if I don't give they might not get one.

 

[luvmy3]

I would email them back and say "sorry but I can't help you so it looks like you will be ruining your children's Christmas. Maybe next year you can save up enough money before December 20 comes along and you have to resort to rudely asking others to purchase something for your children that you want to give them. Merry Christmas"

 

[klacey1]

Actually, if that family is so poor that they'd have to save $20 a month to pay for a Wii, maybe they should quit looking at expensive gifts for their kids to begin with. When and if they gather enough donated money to buy this expensive Wii unit, who is going to buy all the expensive games they need to go with it?? Even used games are pricey.

Some people need to learn to live within their means. Many of those electronic gaming systems are a constant expense...not a one-time purchase. Even if you have a couple/few games, kids get sick of them and want more, or the latest popular one.

Go on ebay and buy them a nice Atari game system---lol.

Completely agree! I was completely put off by the email-er saying "since it's only $20." Well, okay, if $20 isn't a lot to you, maybe then you have an expendable $20 each month to set aside for Christmas presents!! And NOT have to hit up your family members for luxury items!
We always had wonderful Christmases growing up, but if my parents couldn't afford something I wanted, it wasn't bought. Even though these kids may have their hearts set on it, you don't always get what you want, unfortunately....if you live within your means, and you raise your kids right, you'll have happy, grateful kids on Christmas!

 

[golfgal]

I would email them back saying you decided to go on a Disney Vacation for Christmas and you need them to send you $5000 or you won't be able to go .

Honestly, it sounds like something my sister would do--then I would just laugh in her face, but that is me.

 

[MinnieTink]

I would email them back and say "sorry but I can't help you so it looks like you will be ruining your children's Christmas. Maybe next year you can save up enough money before December 20 comes along and you have to resort to rudely asking others to purchase something for your children that you want to give them. Merry Christmas"

Yeah I like it.

I'm going to sound like my dad right now, but, What gall!!! Sorry OP that you have to deal with these dopes. My poison (email) pen would have definitely come out after that lousy response you got back. They SHOULD be so embarrassed...but I'm sure they're not. Hope they don't ruin your holiday!!

 

[RangerPooh]

I would also be wondering how they expect to receive the money? If the recipients of their email live in different communities than they do then the money would either have to be mailed, western unioned, or deposited into their banking account. Whihc means that it wouldn't be there before x-mas anyways....

 

[Skywalker]

Another update, I have been hearing through the family grapevine that this is not a "group gift", as in, not from the whole family but strictly from the parents and we would just be anonymously helping the parents out.

My cousin (who is the sister of the rude e-mail person) sent me an email (with liberal use of swear words, lol) saying she couldn't believe the tackiness. It was hilarious. And she did go ahead and send them an email saying that she had wanted to buy her kids laptops but could not afford them, so she would just keep the $20 she'd have sent for the Wii and consider it their donation to the laptops and they're even, lol.

Seems like aside from my mom and one aunt, there is not a lot of takers.

If they had just gone about this properly, and much earlier, they probably would have scored okay.

 

[Skywalker]

I would also be wondering how they expect to receive the money? If the recipients of their email live in different communities than they do then the money would either have to be mailed, western unioned, or deposited into their banking account. Whihc means that it wouldn't be there before x-mas anyways....

We all live close enough to hand deliver the cash. Unfortunately, lol.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And she did go ahead and send them an email saying that she had wanted to buy her kids laptops but could not afford them, so she would just keep the $20 she'd have sent for the Wii and consider it their donation to the laptops and they're even, lol.

Love it!

 

[cheermom1]

Another update, I have been hearing through the family grapevine that this is not a "group gift", as in, not from the whole family but strictly from the parents and we would just be anonymously helping the parents out.

My cousin (who is the sister of the rude e-mail person) sent me an email (with liberal use of swear words, lol) saying she couldn't believe the tackiness. It was hilarious. And she did go ahead and send them an email saying that she had wanted to buy her kids laptops but could not afford them, so she would just keep the $20 she'd have sent for the Wii and consider it their donation to the laptops and they're even, lol.

Seems like aside from my mom and one aunt, there is not a lot of takers.

If they had just gone about this properly, and much earlier, they probably would have scored okay.

Awesome

I love this I'm still laughing

wow some people just amaze me -- so it looks as though they may not get the wii

I for one am the type that firmly believes in living within your means and the only way we got our wii was that my dh traded something for it so we really don't have any money in as dh traded something to get what he traded for it anyway...

I feel bad for the kids but then again they might just learn that sometimes life isn't fair and that sometimes you don't always get what you want - plus it can teach them to save for something and work toward a goal - at least I hope that is something they would learn ...