Is it Rude to Sell Gifts You’ve Received – No
Gifts are usually wonderful to receive, but there are times when the gift you receive is not appropriate for you. It seems as if our culture thrives on over promoting gift giving to entice consumers to shop and move the economy forward. During Christmas time, shoppers are usually so anxious to buy anything to give to their loved ones that they buy what they BELIEVE their loved one will enjoy, not necessarily what their loved one will want. When Christmas day arrives and the one who the gift was intended for tries to hide the horror and disappointment in their face stemming from their displeasure about the gift, we can all take a guess as to what will happen next. A half-hearted thank you followed by the gift recipient mentally calculating all of the different ways to dispose of the gift without anyone finding out lest feelings get hurt is most likely going to happen. That is no way to enjoy a happy celebration!
Sometimes in life, we need to do what works best for us, regardless of how other people may react to our decisions. When someone buys a gift for someone else, they are taking a chance that the gift may not be truly liked or wanted. While it is wonderful to give, it is even better to know that the person on the receiving end is truly going to enjoy the gift that you gave to them. However, if they don’t enjoy the gift, once the gift has been received it becomes the property of the recipient and they have every right to sell or dispose of the gift as they see fit. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure and that really is true. If I received a gift that I didn’t want or need, I would have no qualms about selling it to someone else who wanted it. Regardless of whether the gift I was receiving was a family heirloom, a newly store-bought gift or a handmade gift, if I don’t like it then I don’t want to keep it. I have enough items in my life that I don’t need and am trying to get rid of and the last thing I need are more “things” to dust and store in a box never to be seen again.
Thank goodness there are options for people who want to sell their unwanted gifts! Garage sales have existed for years and they are wonderful events that bring the community together while you make some extra cash on the side at the same time. Ebay is another great way to sell your unwanted gifts and the best thing about eBay is that you can be as discreet as you’d like about the way you sell your items. You might as well make a profit from something that you didn’t ask for in the first place. That family member or friend who originally gave you the gift does not need to know that you sold the gift because once you accepted the gift it is your property to decide what you want to do with it.
