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Unwanted christmas gifts
Who to fob them off onto!
Sounds kind of bad, doesn’t it? But that’s the sad reality; up and down the land many people have at least one unwanted gift from this Christmas! They’re no use/too ugly/too pointless/too noisy/wrong colour/wrong size for your liking, so what should you do with them?
Option One:
If you’re feeling brave/crazy enough, you can just be honest and say that this isn’t really the gift you wanted. You’ll probably have to think of a nicer way to put it, so you won’t end up hurting anyone’s feelings (or getting a black eye for yourself) but if the donor really cares, they’ll probably understand and maybe even appreciate your honesty. After all, they want what’s best for you…probably.
Then you can take action! Ask them if they have the receipt from the shop and if they do, you’re in luck. Bring back the offending item to the shop, with its tags and receipt and explain what happened. Most shops are very understanding at this time of year and will usually offer an exchange or even a store credit note. Score!
Option Two:
Naturally, option one isn’t for everyone. Too much risk of upsetting somebody or you might think it’s rude to ask for a receipt. Fair enough, that’s why we have option two. This is pretty straightforward. Basically, ask your mam/dad/brothers/sisters/friends/pets if they want the present you don’t want. With any luck, somebody will like it and get themselves an extra Christmas present. And if you’re really lucky, they may even have something they don’t really want to give in return. Happy Feckin’ Christmas!
Option Three:
This is the Good Karma option. If neither option one nor two appeals to you or you’ve tried them without success, then this is for you. Donate the unwanted gift to a charity. Shops such as Oxfam, Enable Ireland and St. Vincent de Paul will gladly accept almost any goods. They are especially happy to re-sell unused and unwanted gifts and use the profits to continue their own good works. These shops are located across the country; simply leave the unwanted gifts into them or into one of the collection points, usually near recycling centres.
These groups also organize door-to-door collections and put a donation bag or tags through your letterbox a few times a year, so place the unwanted stuff into a bag, leave it outside the door with the collection tag, and they’ll take it away. (Beware of fake or dodgy collectors, they’re very common in some parts of the country. Charities such as Enable Ireland clearly identify themselves. Make sure that you are actually giving to a real charity!)
By: Andrew Gibbons
