Is it really tacky to give a gift w/o tags?

BinahYeteirah

Sat, May 31 2008, 8:56 pm

I have this gorgeous baby outfit. I wold like to give it to a friend who just had a baby. I actually bought the outfit for my own baby on eBay; it was listed as "BNWOT" (brand new without tags). It looks new to me. I really love it; it's so cute. The only reason I'm not keeping it for myself is because my baby wears cloth diapers and the pants are cut just a tad too narrow in the diaper area for it to look good with cloth diapers (I love cloth but they can be bulkier unless you use certain very trim ones). The season and size of the outfit should be perfect from my friend's baby. It's also an expensive brand name, not a cheap item. Would you mind receiving such a gift?

I have received baby gifts without tags in the past, and it did not bother me at all. I am just happy to get something. I know most people don't have money to get everyone they know who has a baby a gift. So if they find a good deal, that's great.

What do you think?

GAMZu

Sat, May 31 2008, 9:44 pm

Quote:

I have received baby gifts without tags in the past, and it did not bother me at all.

Same here.

I don't know, I guess you should know her style. Would she be the type to look askance at it?

I would give such a gift to a close friend, as long as I know they don't mind.

cassandra

Sat, May 31 2008, 9:48 pm

I would think it was weird to get a gift without tags.

Instead of wrapping it and giving as a gift, how about you just give it to her casually and tell her the story? She will happily accept it and I don't think she'll begrudge you not giving her a formal gift, but you won't run the risk of offending her by giving her a gift without tags. Or buy her something very small as the baby gift and give that along with the outfit.

deedee

Sat, May 31 2008, 9:55 pm

it would be a little weird to get it w/o tags espically if u have kids u could think it might be used.
I guess if ur close friends u could wrap it have her open it in front of u then explain to her that u bought it on line...

flowerpower

Sun, Jun 01 2008, 1:14 am

If it looks brand new and you wrap it up pretty and you know she is not picky and will enjoy whatever she gets then its fine. Otherwise don't.

Pizza ↓

Sun, Jun 01 2008, 2:04 am

I have done it, but only really with closer friends, or people who are more informal. You need to judge for yourself how formal the recipient is.

shopaholic

Sun, Jun 01 2008, 8:40 am

I've never received a gift without tags & would never do it. I want the person to think I actually when to some effort, no matter how close or not we are as friends. I will give something that's been sitting in my house for months, but it HAS to have tags.

willow

Sun, Jun 01 2008, 12:24 pm

I think its fine. I would be happy to receive a gift like that. That said I agree with pizza that probably should be given to a friend who is close and you know would not mind.

louche ↓

Mon, Jun 02 2008, 8:02 am

Wouldn't bother me in the least. I'm not one to shlep to the store and exchange, unless it's right in the neighborhood where I work or live. If I won't use it, I'll either regift or give to a gmach in any case.

yo'ma

Mon, Jun 02 2008, 8:07 am

Someone in our shul had a baby, so we have to give a gift and I want to give a baby towel we got when our baby was born, but I'm not sure if they gave it to us. LOL

(I got 3 baby towels.)
I think I have to go out and get something.

greenfire

Mon, Jun 02 2008, 9:07 am

I think you just have to know her and how she would feel ... I would do it but more casually - no giftwrap ... mention in convo first how you got it and how kool it is ... then bring it to her to see ... I agree with buying a little s/t such as a rattle to go with it ...

↑ louche

Mon, Jun 02 2008, 9:09 am

yo'ma wrote:

Someone in our shul had a baby, so we have to give a gift and I want to give a baby towel we got when our baby was born, but I'm not sure if they gave it to us. LOL

(I got 3 baby towels.)
I think I have to go out and get something.

In future, yo'ma, you need a system. If you're not going to use a gift immediately, tape to it a slip of paper with the giver's name. Then you can avoid not only regifting to the giver but also regifting to anyone close to the giver, particularly if it's something unusual that would be easily recognized (which a national brand-name standard baby towel is not).

↑ Pizza

Mon, Jun 02 2008, 9:20 am

Regifting in general is fraught with emotional overtones

When we got engaged, my dh was horrified that I would regift or exchange stuff we got - "they
gave a lot of thought to the gift, and purchased it with us in mind..." yada yada yada

He changed his tune when he saw that we could take a bunch of chatchkas that we didnt like, and exchanged them for a significant vase that we never would have been able to afford otherwise.

He is a definite convert - he suggested to me that we put aside some of our recent baby gifts for others!

As to the OP, I actually just gave a baby gift that the kids ripped the tag off of, and destroyed. I just told the recipient what happenned, and they were fine with it. It would have been another issue had my baby slobbered all over it already. Wink