Ack - received way-too-expensive gift!

amother ↓

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 3:28 pm

DH's relative gave us a wedding present about four months after we married. I opened it and it turned out to be four wine glasses that cost $360! shock

For four glasses! We're not rich, so $360 would go a long way for us, and what's more, we never drink wine (only grape juice). Now, this relative rarely, if ever, visits us, although she does live in the same city. Is it appropriate to return the glasses to the store, or should they sit on our shelf forever (DH doesn't want to even touch them -- he's afraid he'll break them)? (Anon because I don't want her to find out!)

Atali

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 3:30 pm

amother wrote:

DH's relative gave us a wedding present about four months after we married. I opened it and it turned out to be four wine glasses that cost $360! shock

For sure return them! Why not?

mali

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 3:30 pm

I'd return them. most people don't keep track of what people did with their gifts. you can always say you put it away for pesach.

btw, being anon here won't help, because if she's reading it she realizes you're talking about her.

canadamom

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 3:30 pm

I would return them, or exchange them for something useful and she doesn't have to know. But... she might have gotten them on sale, or in a bargain store etc.. how do you know where she bought them and how much she spent?

greenfire ↓

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 3:43 pm

mali wrote:

btw, being anon here won't help, because if she's reading it she realizes you're talking about her.

yup - she knows it's you ...

so are you sure they were that much ??? what can you trade them for ... and what's wrong with drinking grape juice from wine glasses ... Cheers

speech33

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 5:16 pm

I learned in my old age of 37 that a gift is often something that you would not buy for yourselves. So enjoy the expensive wine glasses that you could either drink juice in or serve them when you have company but mostly enjoy having something that you would not buy for yourself.

Raisin

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 5:18 pm

speech33 wrote:

if it wasn't so easily breakable I would agree. but I would be nervous using something that costs so much money.

bandcm

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 5:19 pm

I'm just curious - how do you know how much they were? Did she leave the price on?
I would return them.

Aribenj

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 5:22 pm

Do you ever have just 4 people over for shabbos? if you do, then keep them!
Did they come from a big department store? if they did then it might be worth exchanging them for something you do need. Although not all stores will put the credit on your credit card, so if there's nothing there you'd use, or if it came from a small store and you don't see anything you would like , then I would just keep it and enjoy.

↑ amother

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 5:24 pm

OP here -- thanks for your replies! Yes, she probably would figure it out if she went on this site, but I doubt she will... Anyway, you never know. The glasses are from a super-expensive store known for fine crystal, and DH looked the price up online. Hopefully she got them for less than retail, but who knows? Anyway, I'm leaning toward returning them. Thanks for the suggestions, ladies!

OOTBubby

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 5:38 pm

I'd return them if you can, but be aware you might only get a store credit from a place where everything is extremely expensive. Or, you might find that she got them at such a huge discount it isn't worth returning them. Both of those happened to my kids with wedding gifts. In one case, they decided to keep the item (some kind of crystal dish) because there was nothing else in the store they could find in that price range that they might use (store credit or exchange only). In the other case, what seemed to be an expensive Tiffany vase was on clearance and they would only get less than $20 if they returned it.

anon

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 6:25 pm

DH was annoyed that I chose to keep expensive gifts from Tiffany's. But I liked them! I don't use them now, but one day they'll look very pretty in a china cabinet, lol

↑ greenfire

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 7:48 pm

something expensive could be FUN to have - especially if you're never gonna buy it for yourself ...

what about trading it for crystal that you would use - one that has more than 4 pieces ... or includes a decanter or something ... maybe little shot glasses to hand out kiddush to guests ...

Mimisinger

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 8:36 pm

I would totally return them. Yes gifts are sometimes things you would never buy for yourself, but it seems way too impractical - that money can buy you a mixer! or a cuisenart! Or a few microwaves Smile

Strudel

Sat, Jan 10 2009, 9:03 pm

Dh looked up the price online? Perhaps she bought them on sale or even re-gifted them? Guess you won't know until you ask the store.