Social Etiquette Tip of the Week - “The Art of Regifting”

[Maria Brady]

Regifting is a grand old holiday tradition that many practice and pretend they don't. Even Peggy Post, etiquette advice columnist, admits she's done it. So, if you are going to regift this year, here is how to do it right.

Do update the wrapping
There might be a personal message or gift card inside that would make your regift obvious. Besides, raggedy old wrappings are a sign the recipient is getting a regift.

Don't give partially used gift cards
As technology evolves, the chance of being discovered only grows. Don't give a $25 gift card to Starbucks that has $17.56 left on it.

Don't give hand-me-downs as regifts
Novice regifters often get hand-me-downs and regifts confused. A hand-me-down is an item you've already used such as a sweater you've removed the tags from and worn several times. A regift is a gift you've never used that you're giving away as though it were a . . . real gift!

Don't give something you've owned for a while
Not only does this violate the hand-me-down rule above, but the recipient will recognize that picture frame from your living room shelf.

Don't give products from defunct companies
This is a dead giveaway that the item has been in your closet for a long time.

Clean regifts
Those wine glasses have collected a lot of dust sitting unused at the back of your cupboard. Have the decency to give them a good polish and pack them carefully in a gift box.

Don't regift to the giver
If you rarely regift, you'll likely remember the source of a gift. But if you keep a closet full of possible regifts, keep an Excel spreadsheet of who gave you what to avoid embarrassing scenes.

Don't regift swag bags
Trade-show freebies don't make good regifts. This includes coffee mugs, key chains, T-shirts and anything with a company logo.

Don't EVER regift these items
Certain items are a total, dead, instant giveaway that not only are you regifting, but you're not even good at it: random books, mysterious CDs, obscure software, cheesy jewelry, scarves (do we not all own a scarf?), fruitcake, pens, cologne, boxed sets of extinct bath products, hot-air popcorn poppers, anything with a cassette deck in it or outdated electronics that make frequent garage-sale appearances (think Presto Cookers).

Handmade gifts
Handmade gifts are extremely obvious and simply not suited to be used as regifts. You're pretty much stuck with the cardigan, signed art, homemade jams and macrame plant hangers.

DO regift champagne
There is an old joke about fruitcake…there are only two fruitcakes made each year, and we just keep passing them off on each other. The same is true of the 11 bottles of champagne that circulate during the holidays. But there are seldom hard feelings from regifting a bottle of bubbly…unless it's really cheap.

So, now that you have all this useful information it’s time to start rewrapping…but before you go…let me add that although this spoof was just meant to be humorous, I would love to know what you really think. Is regifting okay? Have you done it? Do you think you've ever received a "regift"?