Post your Christmas present disappointment

[imojoebunny]

I will start.

My DH and I agreed to get each other inexpensive, thoughtful gifts. I was hoping for a box of chocolates. Instead, I got a cast iron frying pan. I just gave two of them to good will a couple of months ago because I hate pans that are hard to clean, and don't do well in the dishwasher. I love the man, but really?

I bought myself a box of chocolates today for 70% off, but I am still mad. The chocolates are good though. I might also buy a hand held steam cleaner because that is what I hinted around that I wanted.

[hilwithonelary]

DH got me a laptop battery and a Slushy Magic (he admitted the latter was a joke because we make fun of the commercial when it comes on). I'm usually not critical of gifts, but I feel like he didn't even try.

ETA: So you don't think my DH is a total loser, here's what else happened... After we unwrapped everything, DH told me he wanted to buy either an iPad or a wine of the month membership, but he couldn't decide. So he asked me which I wanted. I would have been thrilled to receive either, but it took a lot of the fun out it for him to just say, "by the way, pick out your third present." FTR, I picked the iPad.

[steph96]

My mom thinks that because I have a lot of kitchen cabinets, I need a lot of things to fill them. I feel so ungrateful, but this has to come to an end. I don't know why my family thinks I constantly need kitchen items for all gift giving occasions. I don't host parties. I don't really even enjoy cooking. I gave them tons of ideas and none of them involved my kitchen. For the past 5 years, 95% of my Christmas/birthday gifts have been for the kitchen.

[dr.girlfriend]

My poor DH...he tried really hard. In the past I've asked for a necklace and hated what he got, so this time I told him to make sure he got a medium-sized pendant on a plain chain. I'm self-conscious about my chunky neck and I hate really delicate necklaces. He took some pictures of necklaces I like with his phone (all medium-sized pendants on chains) to take to the store with him, so I thought he'd be pretty safe. Instead he got this weird chain with like a silver scallop in the middle that's tiny. He caught me off guard a few hours later asking if I really liked it and I was like, "Uhhhh...." Then finally, as we discussed it a little, I asked, "Not to be critical, but...why didn't you get a medium-sized pendant on a chain?" He said, "I thought that would be too 'on the nose'." WTF? Why ask, find out what someone wants, and then try to avoid getting something that meets that criteria?

Men are a mystery, I'll tell you that much. ;D

[abramos]

Not disappointed but DH got me a workout shirt that was in a small. Bless his heart- I am on the larger side in the boob area.

[explorer2001]

I'm not going to complain. My family tries with gifts.

However the "minor stomach bug" I got from my friends kid turned out to be a horrible gift. I got so sick for so long that I got my self a trip the GI specialist which resulted in an upper GI scope and a colonoscopy. Apparently I really shouldn't get sick because whatever this "minor stomach bug" was, really wasn't. The good news is any bug that might have been in my digestive system is definitely gone. The bad news - I some how puked so hard over that last few weeks that I hyneriated part of my stomach through my diaphram and it is sitting badly. They *think* it might resolve itself and want to watch and see. If not, I'm not sure what we do.

[Deleted]

I wanted a nice-ish watch for my birthday (november) or christmas. Not a Rolex, but a step up from the timex I had previously worn. My h delegated this gift to his parents, and they got me a watch from a company that specializes in college memorabilia. I guess I'm supposed to send the watch to the company to get my college seal engraved? Ick.

It is my fault for not being more specific, but I thought my h would pick it out, and he knows my taste.

In h's defense, the reason he didn't get me a watch is because he decided to splurge and get diamond stud earrings for my birthday. Damn are those babies gorgeous!

[Deleted]

DH got me a gift card for the car wash and a letter. The letter was very nice and told me that he loves me and that he will take kid duty while I go pamper myself some time soon. Unfortunately, he wrote it while he was sitting next to me in bed at 11pm on Christmas eve and then went and put it in my stocking. I didn't even get candy in my stocking. I filled all the other stockings with candy and small gifts and I even had to put my own car wash card in my own stocking because it was sitting there empty.
We have never been big in to gifts but I am a bit underwhelmed with this years gifts. Oh well. I will DEFINITELY be taking him up on the option to go and pamper myself.

[RoxMonster]

I had told/showed H a pair of slippers from BBB that I really wanted. Super nice ones that melded to your feet, etc. He got me the wrong ones and in three sizes too small to boot.

He also got me a bunch of DVDs. I'm not a huge DVD person. Like even if I love a movie, I don't really rewatch over and over again. But he LOVES DVDs and thinks they're good presents.

He did get me the cycling shoes I wanted though

[mskitkat]

The ILs got us a 10 cup rice cooker. Our kitchen is super tiny with practically no counter space, and there is literally no room for the thing. DH will insist we leave it out though. Sigh. I feel like if you are going to get a combination gift, it should be something both people want.

[Deleted]

Dec 27, 2012 22:58:52 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

I will start.

My DH and I agreed to get each other inexpensive, thoughtful gifts. I was hoping for a box of chocolates. Instead, I got a cast iron frying pan. I just gave two of them to good will a couple of months ago because I hate pans that are hard to clean, and don't do well in the dishwasher. I love the man, but really?

I bought myself a box of chocolates today for 70% off, but I am still mad. The chocolates are good though. I might also buy a hand held steam cleaner because that is what I hinted around that I wanted.

Return the frying pan and put the money toward the steam cleaner you wanted. If he says something just say that you while you appreciate the thought you put the money toward something you thought would be more useful.

[WOT?*]

I didn't get the VitaMix I wanted. And hinted broadly (and flat out told) was the only thing really on my list that wasn't "well, I had to think of something to put on there." But I did get the jeans and sweaters on my Amazon list that I finally got around to creating in ten or so minutes on the 20th so I can't complain too much (except that he didn't go to Costco and pick up the VitaMix that I really wanted so I could do the healthier drinks and foodstuffs since my diabetes dx.) He doesn't do kitchen stuff period because that's how his mom trained him; we still have the food processor he bought her for Christmas 25+ years ago. And his response of "did you really want a $600 blender" was rather telling.

[MarmeeNoir]

I recieved a package of granny panties from my MIL. It was a 5 pack with only 4 panties in them.

[Deleted]

My husband's uncles are nice to give me anything, but they tend to get whatever randomness is on sale at Barnes and Noble.

One gave me a passport holder that is very much like this this year:



Just my style! (Also, I already have a passport holder that I really like)

[Deleted]

I got a mother's necklace that I asked for, but it has FOUR eggs in the nest when I only have one child...

[theintended]

Not a disappointment in my own gifts, but I was angry/sad when my mom let my daughter open her stocking before I had come downstairs. So I missed her reaction to the gifts I had picked out. : (

[Deleted]

Dec 28, 2012 8:37:57 GMT -5 @lilly said:

I got a mother's necklace that I asked for, but it has FOUR eggs in the nest when I only have one child...

Maybe someone is trying to hint at something!

I'm not disappointed per se but I really wanted a docking station for my iPod/iPhone. It was one if the only things i asked for. Everyone thought my brother was going to get it so no one got it for me, but he ended up getting something else. Oh well, I will just buy it myself.

[rubytue]

H wrapped up the shark slippers he gave me 3 years ago. I didn't know what to do with them then, and I don't now. Was I supposed to go crazy over them this time? I guess I should goodwill them to prevent this again, but I feel bad about that. He did give some other stuff that is cool though.

I think my biggest disappointment was calling my dad. I call around 11 Christmas morning and they hadn't opened gifts yet bc they were waiting on step-sis and grandkids to show up. 5 minutes into the call, they showed up so he had to go (they were an hour early). So I called back the next day and he told me they hadn't opened gifts yet (they did, of course). I was so sad bc I had made him a photo book of all my baby pictures my mom had kept hostage for 20 years. He hadn't seen these pictures in over 20 years, but he knew I finally had them and had been asking me to send him some. I was so excited for him to get this and figured he would love it. Instead, he didn't even remember opening it. Forget the rest of the lackluster gifts, but that one?! #alzheimerssucks

[runblondie26]

I felt bad for DH, his thunder was stolen. There wasn't much I wanted for Christmas this year. He bought me everything I asked for....all duplicates of what my parents had given me at their house the day before. I told him to return it and get his money back. It's the thought that counts. He did a good job, it's my own fault for not coming up with more ideas.

[bluesecrets]

I had asked for one kitchen appliance: a rice cooker/steamer combo. Instead of that, MIL decided to buy us a toaster oven, (another) crock pot, a beverage dispenser, salt and pepper shakers, and a cookie/pancake batter dispenser. Seriously...

[heyrebekah]

I spent all Christmas day thinking DH hadn't bought me anything at all. I went to bed so sad, but wanted to wait to say anything in case he just hadn't gotten around to giving me a gift yet and I didn't want to ruin a surprise b confronting him. I had made it clear I expected a gift.

The next morning he went off to work like any other day and I was all WTMF? :-(

He called after work to say he was stopping by BN to spend his GCs and did I want anything.

Me: well, you could buy me a gift.
DH: what are you talking about?
Me: you could buy me a Christmas gift. Did you really not get me anything? :-(
DH: I got you one of the things.
Me: what things?
DH: those houses (for my Xmas village). Didn't you get two yesterday?
Me: yeah, I got one from your sister and one from your mom.
DH: oh, one of those was supposed to be from me. Do you want more gifts?
Me: no, that's fine. But really. When you don't go shopping, don't wrap a gift, don't hand it to me, don't pay any particular attention to me opening it, and don't acknowledge or take credit in any way, there are bound to be misunderstandings!

[jentervention]

From my sisters-in-law: Blingy watch with white plastic band, a hideous bracelet, monogrammed stationery in a pattern fit for a teenager, a broken knock-off Scentsy thing, perfume.

The day wasn't a total waste. My almost 80 year old FIL got me an Amazon GC because he knows I have "one of those e-lectronic book deals."

[glitzy07]

Mine is stupid and not really a disappointment, but my parents bought H and I an joint gift of a 32" smart tv. It's amazing and generous and it will replace the giant box that is in our bedroom. Plus it will be awesome especially if I end up on bedrest with this pregnancy.

The only downside is that it doesn't support Amazon Prime, which is the video service that we have, so I can't really use the "smart" functions of it unless we decide to subscribe to Netflix too.

[Deleted]

Mine feel petty but they bother me.

I asked H for some piece of sentimental jewelry with dd's birthstone. He got me earrings, microscopic earrings. I opened them and he was all "I thought they were bigger... I guess that's what I get for ordering them off the Internet." He gave me permission to return them and exchange them for larger stones.

And he bought is a printer/ scanner, which really we don't need since we can print and scan at work. And we really don't have space for in our little office nook. I'm thinking about asking him to return it. It also arrived Thursday because he didn't do Christmas shopping in time.

I feel bad for him. He knows he struggles to give Christmas gifts so I feel bad calling out gifts I don't like.

[jennistarr1]

I had said that I was starting to like emeralds and eventually down the line I could see myself getting a pretty piece like a right hand ring (not a hint for Xmas)

Husband goes to Sears and buys a boxed necklace with a very light green almost clear stone (turns out to be green amythest) which is pretty but I ask "what is the stone" and he said "and emerald"...so I said "it's not an emerald" he said that he asked and this is what the lady showed him (awww)

I'm keeping it because I clearly hurt his feelings but it's just random piece of jewelry to me

[Deleted]

Oh! And my MIL, she of the I'm going to send dd one pink onsie per week even though you specifically tell me not to, sent me pink sock monkey pajamas instead. From Nordstrom. Which we don't have here, so I can't return them. She knows i hate pink. It feels like some kind of personal dig; "here's something in a color I know you hate from a store you can't easily return it to!"

[takeonyou]

We just bought a new bedroom set and mattress, so no gifts were exchanged. Mh typically writes me really sweet cards for anniversaries, Christmas, my birthday, etc. and this year he didn't give me even one card. I am really bummed about it.

My parents gave us giftcards -- eh. My MIL got us nothing dispite the fact that we took her to disney with us this year and paid for everything on her trip and bought her an iPhone for Christmas (gave it to her a few weeks ago). My fil and his wife gave me Bath and Body works junk, a throw blanket (cheap and ugly) and an ugly picture frame for my dog.

All in all, a disappointing Xmas.

[melmo1122]

i got 9 sock monkeys from my boyfriend

3 nutcrackers - 2 are the same because he thought i would like a pair

6 ornaments

[Deleted]

My DH gets shitty gifts, so this year I ordered myself a bunch of stuff on Amazon and told him to wrap them. He did get me a box set of all Dexter episodes, which was okay and I'll watch them since I started watching the series in it's 7th season, but there are so many things I'd rather have spent $150 on.

I'm going to continue buying my own gifts online in the future. That way I know I have stuff I like, and since I bought online, it's still fun to unwrap since I haven't seen them yet in person.

[chessie]

Just return, I am sure you H won't even notice, men don't notice these things. DH and I got rid of presents to each other due to this reason, its not like we can hide it from each other anyway, its our money.

My dad struggles ever year, but what I have found is don't totally go off on someone about bad gifts, pretty much tells them not to bother anymore. Next year if you are going to do gifts, lay out a list, links, wish lists, etc, whatever. If people didn't tell me what to get them, honestly would have no idea, that is why GC's/Money are so great, hard to mess those up.