What is a gift you have been given that was chosen with the right intent but wasn't sincerely appreciated?

A shaving kit with old spice perfume. I gave it to my father. I didn’t feel comfortable getting it as a Christmas present. I wanted toys, and peanuts.

Well, I had this purse that was given to me at a time when I couldn’t afford to buy one. I didn’t like the purse, but I truly appreciated it. I complained about it often because it had too many compartments. It was meant for someone who was OCD! I just carry bag-like purses. Anyway my husband bought me a new purse for my birthday…and it was almost identical to the one I had. >_<

A good friend gave me a garden fairy statue and fairy solar lights and a fairy candle holder for my birthday one year.
I hate fairies, I hate garden Gnomes, I hate cutesy, fantasy stuff in general@ I hate stuffed animals! haha
I had to display the garden fairy and while I know her intent was good it was hard. I prefer more modern and abstract art and decor and freaking fairies do not make the cut.

I was so happy when the fairy statue was finally old and dirty and moss covered and I threw her little fairy ass into the garbage. lol
No offense towards my friend but I found it rather funny considering she had never seen a fairy item or any elves, gnomes or other weird decorations around my house ever. I think she was projecting her love of absurd little cutesy things onto me.haha

Well there was that hideous rooster lamp my mother gave me.

My sister bought me a Fox Network robot with the Seahawks logo on it. She thought I would like it because I love the Seahawks, but I hate Fox more.

It’s still in the box. I plan to try and sell it on Craig’s List.

Okay @talljasperman I can’t help but ask. Who gave you the gift and how old were you when it was received?

@Dutchess_III Rick deserves some credit for half-listening to your complaints about the handbag and purchasing a new one for your birthday. :) Good story!

@Coloma I about fell out of my chair to hear that you actually put the fairy out for display. Not only does it not sound like something that you would do, but there was the risk that other friends might spot it, think that you like them and give you more.

@Adirondackwannabe Is that true or a joke? If the former, what happened to it?

@marinelife Another great example of intent vs. effect.

@Pied_Pfeffer I was 12 and my father gave it to me. I thought all goop was gross.

@Pied_Pfeffer, I know. I never said anything to him, and carried it for a respectful amount of time!

@Pied_Pfeffer I still have it. It’s hidden in a corner. It’s still hideous.

When I turned 16, my grandmother gave me a model car as a joke (and as a reference to the fact that I was now old enough to get a driver’s permit). This on its own was fine, but one of my aunts missed the joke and somehow got the impression that I collected model cars—which became my gift from her every year until the day she died.

The reason I didn’t tell her is that I didn’t even know why she was giving them to me until three years after she had started. And once I found out, it was a bit late to put a stop to it. Moreover, the way in which it finally came up was public, and it would have been rather embarrassing for her if I had made the correction right then.

I kept them tucked away for awhile, but I gave them all away when I moved out on my own (which also happens to have been the year after she died).

Ha ha! That reminds me…for years Mom would give me owl themed stuff. My sister Lex got dolphin stuff and my other sister, Beck, got horse stuff.

Finally, when I was about 14 I asked Mom why she was always giving me owl stuff.
She said, “Because you love owls!”
I said, “Well….I don’t hate them, but love might be too strong of a word.”
She goes “Oh goodness! Well what do you like?”
“Cats,” said. So I got lots of cat things after that.

A very expensive coffee maker. I don’t drink coffee. It was from a relative that should have known that I don’t drink coffee.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: for Student. Given by my cousin as a congratulation for my passing the college exam. She didn’t know I don’t believe in that stuff anymore.

I’ve been given ornaments I’d never display in a blue fit. I’ve put them in a cupboard. I’ll probably come across them one day when I decide to spring clean. They should go to the op shop really.

A necklace with a plastic pendant. It went in my jewellery box never to be worn. An ivory necklace. Same end but someone stole that.

One of those handbag hook things! I actually would use that but I didn’t know what it was when I opened it and I have no idea where it is now.

I have more than one vase or platter that I could do without that were given to me as gifts. I do really appreciate the thought, some of the items I even really like, but most of it is in a cupboard rarely if ever going to be seen. I don’t need anymore of that stuff.

This last move I wrote on Facebook I don’t need one more thing for the house. Something like that. I didn’t want people bringing me something when they came to visit. Food fine, but please no chotchkees. Not unless you know exactly what I really need. I don’t want you to waste your money and I don’t want to have to find a place for it or move with it again.

Plus, it’s psychologically hard to get rid of it, because I do care about the sentimental value. I don’t want to be put in that spot.

My cousins gave me a gold bracelet when I graduated college. It wasn’t my style and sat in a drawer for about 15 years. Then, suddenly I decided I really liked it and wear it several times a year.

@SavoirFaire Thank you for sharing. It’s a lovely story that reflects your personality.

@Dutchess_III Do you have any of the owl or cat gifts still in possession?

@chyna What was the fate of the coffee maker?

@Mimishu1995 A co-worker gave me one of the Chicken Soup books. The giver thought that they were brilliant. Like you, it wasn’t my cup of tea either.

@Earthbound_Misfit How did you find out that the ivory necklace was stolen?

@JLeslie You hit upon two psychological factors that I struggle with: the sentiment and that it might be appreciated at a later time. Even when I am able to pry it out of my own hands, a lot of thought goes into the best way to pass it on to someone else who will appreciate it, be it re-gifting, a charity shop or other donation, or a yard sale.

@Pied_Pfeffer I’ll hang on to it forever because they may come to visit me someday (doubtful), so I have to have it at the ready. Which means I have to find a place to store it and it’s a monstrosity.

@chyna Major joke between my daughter and I,
A few years ago her dad took a new position in Houston Texas.
He sent her an Armadillo wine holder!
Stupidist thing ever!

Not only doesn’t she drink wine, at all, but it’s an Armadillo of all things, dressed like a cowboy, with hat, scarf, cowboy boots, upside down on it’s back with it’s feet in the air to cradle a wine bottle. She was so blown away, gee thanks dad. lol

What a jerk.

@Pied_Pfeffer I used to have an owl pillow hanging around, but I’m not sure what happened to it. I had an owl piggy bank that I gave to one of the grandkids. As far as what I still have, this is about it. She sewed me the pot holders in the late 90’s, and made 7 matching place mats.

@Coloma The armadillo wine holder sounds hideous, but props for putting some thought into it, albeit skewed. Okay, that may be a stretch.

@Dutchess_III Are you interested in an apron with a cat on it? I’ve got one that was a gift and don’t need it because I already own three others and none were purchased by me. :)

Sure! I don’t wear aprons but I’ll take it!

Wow. I’m looking at my pot holders with new eyes. I just realized, my mom did not use a pattern for those cats. Also, I just noticed their bow ties. My mom was an artist, BTW.

An ashtray for a motorbike, I neither smoke or own a mota sickle.
Also, wind & shit.

How could you even smoke on a mota sickle?

Err, high speed collision?

@Pied_Pfeffer, I kept it in a specific place with other pieces I didn’t wear. Most of the other stuff was junk. The ivory necklace was missing. I’ve never worn it. I know who took it. There were other expensive items of jewellery that went missing. For instance, a large aquamarine pendant my brother bought me. I wore that on my first wedding day. The cheap stuff was left and the stuff the person I believe stole the items were also not taken.

They stole your stuff? I’m so sorry.

The last sentence should read “The cheap stuff was left and the stuff the person I believe stole the items bought me was also not taken.”

Is anyone else having problems using messaging or editing boxes? I get Forbidden messages.

And yes @Adirondackwannabe. That’s the only explanation for them not being there. Other things were also taken from different places. I don’t keep all my jewellery in the same place. Only someone who knew what I had and where it was could have taken them. They couldn’t have been misplaced as I never wore most of those pieces. I didn’t miss them for years. Ironically, when my house was broken into I found those pieces had gone. However, the place they were kept was not found by the people who broke in. The ivory necklace was in a washbag under the kitchen sink (long story!). Other more expensive jewellery was still in the bag like diamond engagement rings. I think the person took the jewellery a long time before that and I just didn’t realise. Anyway – that’s all off-topic to this discussion! :-)

Oh jeez, I’m so sorry. I had a car I left unlocked and someone stole my speakers. I felt violated. It sucked.

@Pied_Pfeffer Well the garden fairy was in the garden and I made sure it was mostly concealed in the plants and, deliberately left it out all winter so it was dirty and moldy and then I threw it away. haha

I keep all those odd gifts. The intention of the giver always makes them special. I use them, place them, tuck them away, etc. Some items have made hysterical impacts when grouped in an obvious cluster various places around the house. It’s not hard to pick out the pass-along gifts. You are merely the next stop on the ‘get it away from me’ gift train. Poor little things…