12 Rules for Re-gifting

As noted earlier this week, I've written positively on re-gifting a couple of times (see Is Re-gifting Okay? and Over Half of Americans Re-Gift, Do You?) and have had a fair amount of success with it (success defined as I got rid of a nice gift I didn't want and the recipient got a nice gift they did want.) So when I saw this piece from Money Central detailing their 12 rules for re-gifting, I knew I had to share/comment on it.

Let's start with their suggestions:

• Don't mention it, please.
• Do update the wrapping.
• Don't give hand-me-downs as regifts.
• Do keep track of who gave it to you first.
• Don't EVER regift these items.
• Do have the courtesy to clean your regifts.
• Don't give partially used gift cards.
• Do remember that regifts can be funny.
• Don't give something you've owned for a while.
• Do regift champagne.
• Don't give products from defunct companies.
• Do sell your gifts on eBay.

Not a bad list, but here are my rules:

1. Only re-gift new items. I would never give someone something I'd used and try to pass it off as new. Now I might tell them I tried it, liked it, and thought they'd like it too, but I'd be upfront about it.

2. Keep track of who gives you the item. Otherwise, be prepared to be embarrassed.

3. Only give gifts that you know the recipient will like. As such, if you know the person will like a fruitcake, it's ok to give them a fruitcake.

Basically my rule is to give a present that 1) I would like to give (the type of quality I would like) and 2) in a way that I would like to receive it. It's the whole "do unto others" rule. I have found that if you simply do that, you'll be ok no matter what gift you give.

BTW, I don't mind receiving re-gifted gifts either.

Comments

[Matt]

Re-gifting is a great way of giving a nice gift a proper home. The only times I've ever regifted is when my family has gotten me gifts that were so off the mark and I knew there was someone who would like the item.

A nice safe bet for regifting - booze (just make sure the bottle is unopened)

[Jessie]

You make good point here. One of the things I do as a fellow regifter is I actually keep a pad of paper with the gift I got, who gave it to me, and when I got it. This way I absolutely won't forget. This helps with regifting to two different groups. I know if a co-worker gave it to me, I am free to give to any family or visa versa.