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THE
PRACTICE OF RE-GIFTING:
OK
or NO
WAY?
Pop culture is responsible for lots
of things, not the least of which is adding a whole host of new
words to the vernacular. Thanks to Seinfeld, the term “re-gifting”
became a household word, and who among us has not succumbed to grabbing
a sheet of colorful wrapping paper and handing Aunt Sally’s
candlesticks off to a neighbor or a colleague when in a time crunch
or a financial pinch? In addition to December, June is another serious
gift giving season — invitations to graduations, weddings,
showers, family celebrations seem to pour in just around Memorial
Day.
So, here’s the question of
the moment: Is re-gifting acceptable, respectable, and practical,
or, is it selfish, thoughtless and ungracious?
The answer is “that depends.”
Are you giving an oversized wool sweater to a graduate heading off
to school in the Deep South? That’s a thoughtless thing to
do.
Are you re-gifting an unused, expensive
and cutting edge calculator to that same student? Well then, we’re
moving into practical and respectable territory.
It all boils down to a few common
sense considerations:
- Will the person who gave you
the gift ever discover that you have given his/her gift to another
party? If so, DON”T risk it, feelings will be hurt and there
is no graceful explanation.
- Is the gift in its rightful packaging?
Is it in flawless condition? If not, don’t even go there.
- Is this flawless gift the correct
kind of gift to give for the occasion you are giving it? Are you
giving a blender to a kid making his Communion or Bar Mitzvah?
TACKY!!
- What will you say if the recipient
receives more than one of the same article and asks to return
your gift? Will you be prepared to offer to “return it for
him” and send a gift certificate of the value of your re-gifted
gift from a store that sells that kind of product?
What are your thoughts on this topic?
I’d love to hear from you. Contact me by e-mail at Maureen@highroadsolutions.com
Maureen
Editor's Note: Maureen
Wild produces this monthly column for UPBEAT NEWS and welcomes your
questions. Maureen is a certified etiquette and ethics trainer with
credentials from The Protocol School of Washington and The Josephson
Institute of Ethics. She has led seminars for many Fortune 500 companies
and prominent colleges and universities. Wild has also been active
in Meeting Professionals International and is a member of the National
Speakers Association. Most recently she has been quoted in The
New York Times Sunday business section "O," the
Oprah magazine and Self Magazine. Recently, she was certified
by the State of NJ to mentor small business owners. Maureen has
been interviewed on matters of ethics and etiquette for national
television and radio programs. You may reach her at: Maureen@highroadsolutions.com
or 908-722-2077. When writing to her, please mention you read about
her in UPBEAT NEWS.
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