What has been the worst present you ever received?

[tink_lover]

I like the ear candles but wouldn't give them as a gift to someone else. I LOVE the sharpie face on a rock!!

My worst have come from inlaws at various times during the years. A pre-marriage Christmas I received underwear my MIL made that would fit a 7 year old. Early in our marriage it was a robe MIL made with the sleeves sewn on backwards, so my arms could not fit in it. She was mortified (was probably sewing fanatically trying to get it done - she had a lot of people to sew for) and fixed the sleeves. Another one was a black velour sweater with big neon lightning bolts across it. However, they also gifted one of my favorites ever, which is my Kitchenaid mixer.

 

[kilee]

Okay my MIL is notorious for them so here are some-- mind you it's not a money thing. She buys nice gifts for everyone else including her nephews gf that she only met for the first time one Christmas (and got her a nice gift).

Christmas:
-Her old white bathrobe complete w/ coffee stains, pilled fabric, and cigarette burn holes. She said dh said I wanted one and she couldn't justify spending money when she had so many.
-3 pairs of socks that appeared to be used and a hands free as-seen-on-TV hair dryer stand complete caked w/ hairspray. BUT Same Christmas I ranked w/ 2 gifts!!
-The year I asked for bakeware and I got 2 disposable aluminum cookie sheets.
-Then 2 years ago for my birthday: An inflatable shower. This thing blows up into a shower stall and you attach a hose. Ummm.....I have indoor plumbing. Not sure what need I had for that???????

I've given up on putting thought into her presents because I used to get very frustrated at the thought I'd put in and what she'd get me. Last year w/ the robe, I was just hurt. Now I can laugh about it. I threw it out right away but now wish I would of kept it to give back to her this year. Because this year I REFUSE to give her anything.

 

[Anne MN]

I remember someone got a fuzzy elmo sweater- who was it?

we need that pic again!!!!

 

[AKL_Megs]

I remember someone got a fuzzy elmo sweater- who was it?

we need that pic again!!!!

OMG, OMG, OMG! I remember that one!!!

Who... WHERE... is that person! We SO need that pic again!!!

 

[NCRedding]

One year, the only things my MIL gave me were cat toys--you know the fluff balls, the catnip, etc. Guess she thought I was already the crazy cat lady.

She passed her gift giving ability onto her son. The last 3 Christmases and birthdays I've gotten the same gifts from him: lottery tickets and mystery books. I wouldn't mind the lottery tickets if he just bought me a few, but he has spent in between $100 and $200 each time on tickets. Oh, and the mystery books: I hate mysteries, but he loves them.

 

[pianogirl73]

My step grandmother got me a nutcracker when I was 7 years old.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I don't think I can beat any of these.

One year, for Christmas, my brother got a pair of filthy sneakers and a box of cigarettes. He was about 8 at the time. My practical-joke-loving uncle gave them to him as a joke. Fortunately, he also had a real gift to give!

Same uncle, different year: he had this plastic skull ornament thing that still had some hair attached to the top of it -nasty, black hair. This thing became legendary as it got passed from person to person. Other family members would be finding it in the shower, in the closet, in their purse, etc for years. I don't know what happened to it; it's been lost for awhile now.

This gift is not a bad gift, except that I invariably get it EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. My grandma gives me a scarf/hat/gloves set for my birthday. I don't know about you, but I take good care of my things and don't NEED a new set of scarf, gloves, and hat each year! At last count, I had more than 10 of each item. I got rid of some last spring, I was down to 2 of each, until I got a new set (on cue) earlier this month!

 

[RadioNate]

I actually haven't gotten anything truly terrible.

But I will share my favorite gift ever. My mom once got a loaf a shellacked bread from her cousin. It wasn't one of those country style ones that you see at craft fairs either. While one of those would have been bad enough, this one was basically a loaf a wonder bread that she dumped shellack on. She fancied herself quite the crafter. I'm sure she saw one at a craft fair and decided she could make one herself.

What is funny is that this cousin is an excellent knitter and sews very well. She could have made a scarf that I'm sure would have been adored.

 

[spacemermaid]

Worst gifts I ever got (at the age of 12, from a family member who shall remain nameless):

An entire sheet set that was lifted from a motel; this I knew because "Property of *name of motel*" was Sharpie-markered on the lower hems of the flat and fitted sheets. In the same box was a Best Western Motels glass ashtray, and a couple of matchbooks from said motel. What a 12 year old would do with any of this, I have no idea.

 

[CathrynRose]

OMG, OMG, OMG! I remember that one!!!

Who... WHERE... is that person! We SO need that pic again!!!

Jean-something?? I can't think of her name (I'm so bad about anyone's name on here!)

I think her family exchange is coming up, soon. Maybe someone else will know for sure.

That sweater was so flipping hysterical. I was crying!! So funny.

ETA - I googled. Not Jean - Jeafl

 

[Papa Deuce]

A really big - and I am sure - very expensive hunting knife..... but I don't hunt.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Spinoff- whats the best gift youve gotten?
Mine was a small peice of wood that said "B (backwards)estest couzen ever"

 

[paintnolish]

When I was pregnant, Xh's sister got me a size 3 xl quilted orange vest- neon orange. Also, a few years after that, xh got me a book on different personality types. I thought it was a joke. TG he is an "x"!

 

[paintnolish]

My step grandmother got me a nutcracker when I was 7 years old.

Well, you gotta' know your audience. DS got a pirate nutcracker, but he loves pirates and nutcrackers, so he was happy.

 

[my3sonsagn]

Okay my MIL is notorious for them so here are some-- mind you it's not a money thing. She buys nice gifts for everyone else including her nephews gf that she only met for the first time one Christmas (and got her a nice gift).

Christmas:
-Her old white bathrobe complete w/ coffee stains, pilled fabric, and cigarette burn holes. She said dh said I wanted one and she couldn't justify spending money when she had so many.
-3 pairs of socks that appeared to be used and a hands free as-seen-on-TV hair dryer stand complete caked w/ hairspray. BUT Same Christmas I ranked w/ 2 gifts!!
-The year I asked for bakeware and I got 2 disposable aluminum cookie sheets.
-Then 2 years ago for my birthday: An inflatable shower. This thing blows up into a shower stall and you attach a hose. Ummm.....I have indoor plumbing. Not sure what need I had for that???????

I've given up on putting thought into her presents because I used to get very frustrated at the thought I'd put in and what she'd get me. Last year w/ the robe, I was just hurt. Now I can laugh about it. I threw it out right away but now wish I would of kept it to give back to her this year. Because this year I REFUSE to give her anything.

OMG - I'm rolling!

I would ask her what she wants for Christmas this year then I would find a way to make it just as horrible as what she has given you. Post her request on the Dis; we'll help. lol

 

[ms.yt]

This wasn't a Christmas gift, but it's pretty funny all the same. When I was dating my ex-husband, his mother was into crafting. She started making these things and was actually selling them to a flea market in her area, and people were buying them! It was called an "Arkansas Turd Bird". It was a horse turd with toothpick legs and a toothpick beak and eyes and feather glued on it atop a block of wood with "Arkansas Turd Bird" written on it with a Sharpie! I think she got about $2 a piece from the flea market for them, so they were probably selling them for $4 or $5.

She gave me one, and I think she really thought I would like it!

 

[ilovepcot]

The first Christmas DH and I were together, he gave me a ring. Not an engagement ring or even a ring I'd have ever dreamed of wearing. No...it was the *wedding band* to a *SET*...only the diamond engagement ring was missing! Seems he and his buddy went shopping on Christmas Eve and the stores were sold out of nearly everything. The jewelry showcase had the "band" left of a ring "set" so I got the wedding band that was left. When I asked *WHY* he chose it, he said it was an "unusual" shaped band and he thought it looked "different" and that it's shape made it nice. Yes, it was "different" all right! That unusual shape allowed the diamond engagement ring and the band to lock together as a *SET*!!! The next Christmas I got a diamond to die for!!!!

 

[princessbride6205]

I can't top some of the winners here, but here are my contributions:

My worst was probably at my bridal shower - a wealthy neighbor gave me a gaudy glass cake stand in an old looking box with a thick layer of dust on it. My mom was especially bitter since our family has spent hundreds over the years on gifts for this neighbor's children life events.

My grandmother is notorious for weird/bad gifts. Most of the stuff she gives DD looks like it has been dragged behind a truck for awhile. I know she likes to get bargains - but rather than spending her budget on one or two items, we get 10 items that are dirty, used etc. One highlight: when DD was a newborn, she gave her a bathrobe and slippers. Now, what I would do with those for a newborn I don't know, but worse was that they were supposed to be white terrycloth, but these had turned gray. Another: a used, creepy bear - it was in a kneeling position and when you pushed a button, it's hands would come together and it would sing a prayer about Jesus. Now, we are not religious so I always have an internal eye roll when we receive these kinds of things. (She also sings Jesus Loves Me to our Jewish cousins, but that's another story...) But a few hours after we received it, the thing malfunctioned and its little hands just kept clicking, stuck in midair on their way to the prayer position.

 

[vanillamickey]

I've never had any really bad gifts, since I'm still a kid and most of the time all the stuff I get I like.

But when I was about 3 I got a baby doll that made noisies and moved and stuff like that- it scared the crap out of me. XD

 

[Lisa_M]

I remember someone got a fuzzy elmo sweater- who was it?

we need that pic again!!!!

Wasn't it a cookie monster inspired sweater for a teen boy? Hysterical!

The worst gift I ever got was this denim and lace trim nightgown or dress from my great aunt. I still have no idea if it was supposed to be a dress or nightgown. I never wore it.