I personally don't think it matters. A gift is a gift. Did the used item look new? Did the employee handout gift look new? I don't think it matters where the gift came from. I'm happy when people give me a gift. Now some used, ratty garment, unless I'm told it's a re-gift, I might raise my eyebrows about that.

This thread made me smile because two of my friends and I have a standing agreement to give each other handmade and/or second-hand gifts. This year I received used books, a hand-knitted cashmere neck warmer and acrylic-alpaca infinity scarf, and an Eddie Bauer down vest from Goodwill. We really enjoy this tradition--but we do pay attention to sizes and gender. LOL

I have a couple of friends too that I re-gift with. They know I'm giving them something that I don't like / doesn't fit, and think one of my friends may enjoy it more. We even joke after Christmas "so, what'd you get that you don't want?"

I think that when it's agreed upon, it's one thing. The shirts were very worn and to be honest, my sister was upset.

My BIL gave his jacket back and mentioned that it was a women's size. She never replaced it.

Sephia, exchanging gifts with your friends is a fun idea.

Our church was collecting socks for the Men's Mission ... but they were to be new ones.

A friend gave me over a couple of dozen some time ago, all used, I think (may have been from a church-operated helping store with which he had a connection) ...

... so the church didn't get any for their agency.

When winter has been with us for a while, I may offer most of them to that agency, if they want them.

ole joyfuelled ... who likes warm socks (in a coolish house)

A former in-law used to wrap all gifts in brown kraft paper. But she didn't buy rolls of kraft paper -- she would carefully peel apart brown paper grocery bags and turn them inside out so that the inside of the bag became the outside of the wrapping paper.

And a late friend of my husband's used to wrap all of his gifts in aluminum foil.

For the great-grandkids' birthdays, I almost always use the comics from our Sunday newspaper for wrapping paper. They're in color and the double pages are usually big enough to wrap a gift. I'm known in the family for getting all of the 'Scotch traits' of our ancestors, so nobody is upset!

My sister's husband (the brother of the gift giver) received a similar
fleece for his birthday. A few moths later, when it was weather
appropriate, he tried it on and it was too small. He looked at the size
label and it was a women's medium.

I know it's the thought that counts, but gee…….

Doesn't seem like much "thought" went into that gift.

I don't need a high dollar gift to make me happy. But I don't think I'd be too thrilled w/the t-shirt like the above.

Alot won't like used gifts, they want brand name. I got some gifts my mother gave to me from thrift shop and ugh they were. I would rather have gotten money to go to a store and buy new clothing and what fits and looks good on me. And buying and not putting thought in like a women's t-shirt is not good. I don't care if it costs alot, I have gotten lots of gifts brand new too costing 99 cents, plastic butter dish, 9 glasses for 99 cents. I love them all and doesn't cost a fortune and I don't expect it too but I like thought put in gifts though.

kathy

A few moths later, when it was weather appropriate

I know it's just a typo but an appropriate one given the used nature of the item. Tickled my funny bone.

I love Thrift Store gifts. I have two sets of old china; any small piece in either pattern would delight me if the giver got a great bargain price on them. Old Singer or Pfaff sewing machine feet, vintage sewing tools, and old, out-of-print books all make me smile.

I also love "useful" gifts. A case of printer paper, a folder of postage stamps, or a box of plain Tetley tea would be delightful.

I am old and odd-shaped. I can't think of any clothes someone could give me, new or used, that would "work" unless I tried them on. A young friend made me a pair of the most wonderful mittens this year. She used wool sweaters she bought at yard sales. She felted them, then made the patchwork mittens and lined them with PolarTec fleece. They are beyond perfect.

A nephew gave me an old, one-cup stainless steel teapot; the kind they used in diners way back in the day. I love it. He shyly said he paid 25 cents; the perfect gift at the perfect price!

I receive used items for Christmas and birthdays and I love them. This Christmas one daughter gave me two nice decorative plates with Pomeranian pups on them and she bought them at a barn sale. The other gift was a very pretty wall plaque of two horses heads that another daughter bought me at Goodwill. I am thrilled with everything, new or used.

Sue

If someone gave me a bra ... I'd hope that it wasn't used.

(I'd have to come here to ask for advice as to whether I should re-gift it, I figure ... unused as I am to dealing with that kind of used undergarments).

o j

You are so clever, OJ. I'm so happy to see you up'n at us, and starting the New Year in a good mood! I too appreciate 'old' stuff (see!) and I truly miss my forays into our local thrift stores.

There's used and then there's used. The kind of things Caroline mentioned: sewing machine feet for a collector, a personal teapot, durable things that will be valued antiques in the future, but are now just not new, are one thing. An 1880's party dress or kimono, which has beauty and value as a display piece, is special. Regular old used clothing, which isn't intrinsically valuable (such as Classic Dior, or a leather jacket with just the right amount of wear-in) is not an appropriate gift except for very particular circumstances of the giver and receiver being in agreement about it. Caroline's example of the felted mittens is different--the wool might be upcycled, but the mittens were newly made. The felting process should also clean away any lingering schmootz.

As with everything else, one must use good sense. Ooooh! A 1972 Rolling Stones tour shirt in perfect condition! is not the same as There's still some life left in this John Deere tee shirt, even though it's stretched out and a little faded.