Gift

[TruthBTold]

A situation has arisen and I thought I might get some advice. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with a steamy night with an escort. Instead, I currently see someone socially that I used to work. It is very infrequent and is generally because a friend I see all the time currently works with him and invites him to lunch. My friend is having a birthday party for the person I used to work with and invited me. I do like him and would like to bring a gift ($40-50) but have no idea what to buy him. I thought that you gentlemen might have an idea of what to get. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[bigvalboy]

When in doubt, an Amex gift card is always a simple but nice touch, and I would do the $50 one. I always put the gift card in a greeting card and then wrap the envelope with a ribbon, indicating that it is more of a gift than just a birthday card. Good luck.

[LaffingBear]

Gift giving is tricky.

 

For me, I always try to give a gift that shows Im a good listener. Coworker, acquaintance, relative or close friend.... I've likely heard them say something I can use for gift ideas. What do you remember talking about? Music, wine, a subject for which you can buy a book, a shirt in a recalled color. I once gave someone those horseshoe-shaped travel pillows because we'd discussed them previously.

 

 

And, I admit, Im bewildered by generic gifts. The cufflinks from a coworker when I don't own a french cuff shirt. The Starbucks gift card from someone, about 3 weeks after a conversation when I said I prefer Peets and never go to Starbucks. The pen with my name carved in it from a good friend (oh, you're so hard to buy for....). Generic gift cards -what a cop out! Ive been touched by impractical and even tacky gifts that at least showed they put a little though into it. Eg. A computer keyboard in the theme of my favorite sports team - I'll never use bit, but it meant alot.

 

Price range is also tricky. You never know what the norms are in particular social circles. Ive gone to parties and given costly gifts, only to learn the celebrant's group gave funny little gifts.

 

One question- upon receiving a gift that's a miss, why do we say

 

"Its the thought that counts

."

 

When, it would seem that there wasn't really alot of thought given?

[rvwnsd]

A situation has arisen and I thought I might get some advice. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with a steamy night with an escort. Instead, I currently see someone socially that I used to work. It is very infrequent and is generally because a friend I see all the time currently works with him and invites him to lunch. My friend is having a birthday party for the person I used to work with and invited me. I do like him and would like to bring a gift ($40-50) but have no idea what to buy him. I thought that you gentlemen might have an idea of what to get. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I would ask your friend for suggestions. If he can't think of anything or you feel uncomfortable asking your friend for a suggestion, I'd follow @bigvalboy's suggestion and buy him an American Express gift card. He can use it anywhere Amex is accepted and the Amex name carries with it more cache than a VISA or MC gift card.

 

If a may suggest a gift to avoid, that's a multi-restaurant gift card. Someone gave me one of those things and we were both dismayed to learn it was pretty much limited to chain restaurants. I made him join me for a meal at one of them. ;-)

[+ nycman]

I respectfully disagree about the AMEX gift card.

 

Amex gift cards are for my nephews and people who work for me.

They need cash...not sentimental crap they're never going to use.

 

A social acquaintance is different. If a social friend gave me a gift

card, I would think that they're worried that I can't pay my rent.

Either that or they're just plain tacky and lazy.

 

Even the horrible sports themed keyboard mentioned above beats

a $50 AMEX card in my book.

 

We do secret Santas at work....which I openly hate. It has a $25 limit.

I feel sorry for the poor employee that pulls my name every year.

Nonetheless, this year I got a pound of coffee that I love and a beautiful

coffee thermos with the logo from one of my "play cars" on the side.

 

It was nice, stayed within the boundaries of the exchange, and

showed that she genuinely thought about what to get me.

 

I was touched and it was a lesson learned for me.

[LaffingBear]

I'll add that I dont think all gift cards are bad... just that totally generic, spend it anywhere cards show lack of interest. Why not just put cash in an envelope?

 

There are restaurants that have their own gift cards... if I know its a favorite of the recipient, I'd consider it. If hes a reader, I'd buy a bookstore card. iTunes card for a music lover that downloads. Liquor store card, with a note in the birthday card hoping they splurge on favorite wine or bourbon... shows you're attentive to their likes, but prevents buying something specific they wont like.

[+ José Soplanucas]

A situation has arisen and I thought I might get some advice. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with a steamy night with an escort. Instead, I currently see someone socially that I used to work. It is very infrequent and is generally because a friend I see all the time currently works with him and invites him to lunch. My friend is having a birthday party for the person I used to work with and invited me. I do like him and would like to bring a gift ($40-50) but have no idea what to buy him. I thought that you gentlemen might have an idea of what to get. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

Are you sure? When I do not know what to give as a present I take it as a sign I do not know that person well enough to give him/her a present.

[+ purplekow]

You might ask your mutual acquaintance what he is planning to give and buy a related gift.

 

I disagree with the thought that if one does not know what to get, that perhaps you do not know him well enough to be buying him a gift. It would be better to take that to a different conclusion, that if you do not know him well enough to know what a nice gift for him might be, then perhaps you best excuse yourself from the party.

[Bearofdistinction]

Most

When in doubt, an Amex gift card is always a simple but nice touch, and I would do the $50 one. I always put the gift card in a greeting card and then wrap the envelope with a ribbon, indicating that it is more of a gift than just a birthday card. Good luck.

 

Most of us on Daddys' likely do not need a gift card or another whipplenoffer or widgetometer. Over the last several years for people I care for who are similarly situated, I make a charitable donation in their honor for a cause they apparently support --

 

Animal Lovers

Political Activists

Survivors of Disease _______

Opera Company

Etc.

 

Gay it forward!!!

[Good Grief]

I respectfully disagree about the AMEX gift card.

 

Amex gift cards are for my nephews and people who work for me.

They need cash...not sentimental crap they're never going to use.

 

A social acquaintance is different. If a social friend gave me a gift

card, I would think that they're worried that I can't pay my rent.

Either that or they're just plain tacky and lazy.

 

Even the horrible sports themed keyboard mentioned above beats

a $50 AMEX card in my book.

 

We do secret Santas at work....which I openly hate. It has a $25 limit.

I feel sorry for the poor employee that pulls my name every year.

Nonetheless, this year I got a pound of coffee that I love and a beautiful

coffee thermos with the logo from one of my "play cars" on the side.

 

It was nice, stayed within the boundaries of the exchange, and

showed that she genuinely thought about what to get me.

 

I was touched and it was a lesson learned for me.

 

Forgive me but I'm so damn sorry but I don't see any true offering of advice in this post.

 

What do give and what do you get?

[+ nycman]

Forgive me but I'm so damn sorry but I don't see any true offering of advice in this post.

 

What do give an what do you get?

 

Try reading it BEFORE the third martini darling.

 

Mine will make more sense....unfortunately...yours will make less.

 

C'est la vie!

[+ Autumnal]

A really nice bottle of wine "$40-$50" is a good choice. If he drinks he will enjoy it - if he doesn't he has a nice wine to offer his guests.