WWYD? Christmas gift question...

[MomRN]

I just found out...JUST found out... that my husband plans on going to an auction on Saturday. That's all okay, but he wants it's for an ace hardware that went out of business and he wants to look at log-splittlers and chainsaws.

The problem is... I bought him a chainsaw for Christmas. A pretty expensive one that is highly recommended per internet reviews.

So... there are a few options. Either I tell him beforehand so he doesn't buy one, or I wait and see. My BIL is going with him, and I've already called him to ask if he would dissuade him from purchasing one. However, I know my husband, and if he sees one he likes for the right price he'll get it.

Normally I would just tell him. However, because of that it has been years that he hasn't known what his big Christmas gift is, and I was so proud of this being the year he had no idea what he was getting.

If I don't tell him, and he picks one up... do I take the other one back and get something else? I just don't have a back-up plan. Or I could give him the chainsaw with the receipt and say deal with it... keep it, return it, or whatever.

I just hope BIL is able to keep him from buying one, and that will be that. Just curious about what others have done in the same situation, or other suggestions.

(FYI- he already has a chainsaw, but it breaks frequently. So he was wanting one as a back-up. Should he get one, and keep the one I give him, we would have 3. Texas Chainsaw Massacre anyone?)

 

[Hannathy]

I would let him go and if he sees one at a great price good!, I wouldn't try to not have him buy it. I would just give him the present you got on Christmas and then hand him the receipt so he can take it back and get another "toy" with that money. If he gets a good deal on the chainsaw he will be able to buy himself another really nice tool with your gift and end up really happy with 2 things he wants.


PS you do know how another guy will try to persuade another guy to not buy something right? He's going to say "hey your wife got you a chainsaw, so don't buy one, OK? and don't tell her I said that."

 

[clh2]

Take a deep breath...relax.

What I would do in this situation...if my DH went and bought something a week before Christmas - which resembled the gift I was getting him - I would let him open the duplicate gift anyway. Just tell him great minds think a like.

Then - after Christmas - take him and the duplicate gift back to the store and get him something else that he wants. Maybe do lunch - make it a date!

You'll be laughing about this in a couple of weeks.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I feel your pain I bought my husband a popcorn maker and what did he just do he bought 15 dollars worth of popcorn from his favorite place and all I could do was scream inside. Well if he buys one you could return it and get something else couldnt you? Why do men do this they wont wait to see what they get for christmas.

 

[MomRN]

PS you do know how another guy will try to persuade another guy to not buy something right? He's going to say "hey your wife got you a chainsaw, so don't buy one, OK? and don't tell her I said that."

I'm pretty sure my BIL wouldn't just blurt it out, but if husband persisted BIl would probably say "Man...don't you think there may be a reason I'm telling you not to buy it?" without actually saying the words.

Oh well.

I will see what happens and let him open it and decide for himself.

I'm particularly because I work S-M-T night next week..with obligations over the next couple of days, so if I did exchange it...that would mean I'd be getting it on Thursday the 23rd.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would still give him the chainsaw anyway. He could Craigslist the other ones if he wants to get rid of them or take back the new one.

 

[BroganMc]

I'd trust BIL to do what he can. There's nothing more you can do. See what happens and just hope your hubby doesn't see anything he likes for the right price.

 

[golfgal]

You can always return the one you got if he ends up buying one at Ace, or like MM said, sell the Ace one on Craigslist.

 

[crz4mm2]

take a deep breath...relax.

What i would do in this situation...if my dh went and bought something a week before christmas - which resembled the gift i was getting him - i would let him open the duplicate gift anyway. just tell him great minds think a like.

Then - after christmas - take him and the duplicate gift back to the store and get him something else that he wants. Maybe do lunch - make it a date!

You'll be laughing about this in a couple of weeks.

mte

 

[JLTraveling]

Can't you come up with a way of talking him out of going? Put the bug in his ear that Ace sells "junk"...maybe look for some online reviews of the chainsaws he's considering and send over only the bad ones. Or make him feel guilty about spending the money right before Christmas. Or come up with an "emergency" for Saturday, but have BIL promise to go in his place and pick something up if it looks decent. I'm usually straight up and honest as they come, but I can be pretty manipulative and sneaky over Christmas. He'll appreciate it when Christmas morning rolls around.

 

[thinkerbell]

So, what happened? Did he get a chainsaw?