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Lady’s Try To Participate In Gift Exchange Way Under Spending Criteria Backfires As She’s Exposed
Imagine that you have the opportunity to do something unethical or even reprehensible – but at the same time get a significant profit, and with a low probability of being caught red-handed. Would you take this risk? Of course not – and this is commendable, but as it turns out, people often do exactly this!
Moreover, it also happens that people significantly underestimate the risk of being caught – and as a result, everything turns into a huge scandal. As it happened, for example, in the story described not long ago by the user u/Fit_Caregiver_1277: the story that we’re going to tell you today.
More info: Reddit
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The author of the post is a member of a local club which recently arranged a white elephant gift exchange
Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)
There were two price tiers of gifts and only 9 club members, among which was the author, decided to participate in the most expensive one
Image credits: Fit_Caregiver_1277
Image credits: user21829937 / Freepik (not the actual photo)
Another woman in the club, named Jen, also joined the expensive tier, and the author picked her gift
Image credits: Fit_Caregiver_1277
Image credits: karlyukav / Freepik (not the actual photo)
It turned out to be a cheap hot chocolate set – and Jen ended up getting a brand new Keurig
Image credits: Fit_Caregiver_1277
The author of the post complained to the club chairperson, and Jen then texted them with accusations of tattling
The Original Poster (OP) says that they are members of a local club, and recently the participants held a large-scale white-elephant gift exchange. Participation, it must be said, was completely non-mandatory and it was possible to apply for two price tiers of gifts – under $25 – $50 and $75 – $100. Most folks, as the author recalls, went with the less expensive tier, but the OP was among the nine who chose more expensive gifts.
Among those people was a woman named “Jen,” who, despite, as far as the author knows, not being in the best financial situation, showed up with a large, beautifully wrapped gift – and it was this gift that the OP chose. And now imagine their surprise when it turned out to be just a hot chocolate set, clearly not in line with the price range!
The author didn’t start a public scandal, but simply, seizing the moment, cornered the club chairperson and complained about Jen, who apparently just wanted to exchange a cheap gift for something way more expensive – she ended up getting a new Keurig. Which, de facto, is a kind of a swindle. The leader agreed with this – but nothing else worth mentioning happened until the very end of the event.
And then Jen texted the author and attacked them for complaining to the group leader. According to Jen, just because she can’t afford to “waste money” like other club members doesn’t mean she can’t expect expensive gifts. The OP simply forwarded this text to the group leader – and soon there was an announcement that Jen had been expelled from the club. But the OP is now tormented by remorse…
Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)
“Rules are rules – and no matter how you disguise it as a desire for social justice, they cannot be broken,” states Irina Matveeva, a psychologist and certified NLP specialist, whom Bored Panda asked for a comment here. “Apparently, this woman simply hoped that other people either wouldn’t notice this cheap trick, or wouldn’t find it necessary to be indignant.”
“And when it turned out that she was trying to swindle, instead of admitting her fault, she just chose to go dramatic. Most likely, again expecting that the club management would simply prefer to hush up the conflict. The wrong choice – but many people often do exactly the same things in such situations,” Irina summarizes.
By the way, it’s interesting that the original poster writes in the update that it later turned out that many members of the club actually complained about Jen. Apparently the woman sent angry texts not only to the original poster, but also to many people, and the reason for her exclusion from the club was, in fact, other members’ numerous requests. So the author’s conscience remains clear.
People in the comments also noted that it was Jen who was completely wrong in the described situation, and that if she wanted to receive an expensive gift, she should have forked out for something more expensive herself. “She’s unethical. She deserves to be booted from the group,” one of the responders reasonably wrote. And do you, our dear readers, also agree with this interpretation of the case?
Most commenters, however, sided with the author, and claimed that Jen was wrong for joining the wrong tier and also getting dramatic after being caught
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What do you think ?
lenka 8 months ago
I agree with the last comment. The whole purpose of a white elephant gift exchange is to have fun. It should have been kept low budget and achievable for everyone in one single group. The organisation of first class and budget gifts defeats the purpose of the game entirely and divides the group by haves and have nots.
Princess Possum 8 months ago
The ones I've participated in are low budget. Max of $20. My son's youth group had one with a $10 limit. He found a literal white elephant at Goodwill - a tacky ceramic figure with some painted on jewels. It was the hit of the party and a lot of fun.
Load More Replies... greenideas 8 months ago
I don't see the fun in a white elephant gift exchange. I mean, maybe I like my gift and someone takes it away from me? Does that sound like "fun"? Similarly, I would never want to take someone else's gift, because a) maybe they like it and b) it would imply I don't like my gift, which is rude.
Squirrelly Panda 8 months ago
Done correctly, a white elephant gift exchange is alot of fun. A lot of laughter, alot of jokes, etc. In my opinion it is best when low budget. People tend to take things more seriously when more money is involved.
Load More Replies...
JB 8 months ago
Never came across white elephant gift giving until I moved to North America. WTF is wrong with you people? Force folks to participate in giving gifts to people you would never give gifts to in the first place. Then allow others to steal the gift even if you really like it! Yeah, sounds like fun. This said, during a secret Santa exchange, one colleague pulled a face and abandoned the hand crocheted shawl they were given. I proactively offered whatever the stupid thing I was given and told the person who had crocheted the shawl I thought it was gorgeous. A couple months later they gave me a matching hat. I regularly wear the shawl and hat during winter, because they are bloody gorgeous!
K. LNU 8 months ago
To be fair, no one was forced to participate. OP stated that they could participate or not. I don't agree with the lower and higher tier, but to also put in a cheap gift in order to receive an expensive one (because she felt she deserved nice things) is just wrong.
Load More Replies...
Jonas Fisher 8 months ago
I loathe White Elephant exchanges. I've been a part of them for years (I'm 50), and have never once had a good time. I almost always leave with utter garbage.
FreeTheUnicorn 8 months ago
No people presented in this story sound like pleasant people to be around. They act like 3rd graders and pay what I imagine are huge sums of money for the chance to be around the other children. If you have enough money to spend $75 on a white elephant gift, you have enough money not to cause drama because someone didnt respect the rules. The others should have respected the rules of the game. Crying to dear leader is ridiculous, texting angrily is petty. But it isn't work and it isn't family, spending time with such a group is easy to get out of, maybe put your membership dues towards therapy.
WonderWoman 8 months ago
I think Jen should have to give the Kerig to OP and she can take back her terrible cheap thing.
Damned_Cat 8 months ago
We used to do a white elephant exchange where you had to bring something from your house that you wanted to get rid of. Maybe those ugly candlesticks that Aunt Martha gave you; or the Live, Laugh, Love sign that you used to like for like 5 minutes. One person's junk is another person's treasure, so the "stealing" part really makes it fun. I remember the one prim, quiet, older lady who was not going to rest until she went home with the autographed Hulk Hogan poster that someone brought for the exchange.
weatherwitch 8 months ago
Ooof a white elephant exchange is as horrendous as a secret Santa. Terrible idea and forcing people into costs they don't have, to put on a brave face for c**p they didn't want to recieve. That said this lady Should absolutely have Stuck to the level she could Afford. Things like this just cause social and financial embarrassment. She's lost a group she liked because she was likely too ashamed to admit that she couldn't afford it. Awful all around and sounds like the group were as snobby as the HOA too.
K Barnes 8 months ago
We used to do a white elephant family Xmas gift exchange, it's not my thing so I'm glad we stopped. One of my cousins would always buy a purposefully cheap and crappy gift way under budget because he found it funny. He is wealthy and could afford actual gifts. No one found it funny but him. After the third year he did this we all agreed that he couldn't participate anymore.
lenka 8 months ago
I agree with the last comment. The whole purpose of a white elephant gift exchange is to have fun. It should have been kept low budget and achievable for everyone in one single group. The organisation of first class and budget gifts defeats the purpose of the game entirely and divides the group by haves and have nots.
Princess Possum 8 months ago
The ones I've participated in are low budget. Max of $20. My son's youth group had one with a $10 limit. He found a literal white elephant at Goodwill - a tacky ceramic figure with some painted on jewels. It was the hit of the party and a lot of fun.
Load More Replies... greenideas 8 months ago
I don't see the fun in a white elephant gift exchange. I mean, maybe I like my gift and someone takes it away from me? Does that sound like "fun"? Similarly, I would never want to take someone else's gift, because a) maybe they like it and b) it would imply I don't like my gift, which is rude.
Squirrelly Panda 8 months ago
Done correctly, a white elephant gift exchange is alot of fun. A lot of laughter, alot of jokes, etc. In my opinion it is best when low budget. People tend to take things more seriously when more money is involved.
Load More Replies... JB 8 months ago
Never came across white elephant gift giving until I moved to North America. WTF is wrong with you people? Force folks to participate in giving gifts to people you would never give gifts to in the first place. Then allow others to steal the gift even if you really like it! Yeah, sounds like fun. This said, during a secret Santa exchange, one colleague pulled a face and abandoned the hand crocheted shawl they were given. I proactively offered whatever the stupid thing I was given and told the person who had crocheted the shawl I thought it was gorgeous. A couple months later they gave me a matching hat. I regularly wear the shawl and hat during winter, because they are bloody gorgeous!
K. LNU 8 months ago
To be fair, no one was forced to participate. OP stated that they could participate or not. I don't agree with the lower and higher tier, but to also put in a cheap gift in order to receive an expensive one (because she felt she deserved nice things) is just wrong.
Load More Replies... Jonas Fisher 8 months ago
I loathe White Elephant exchanges. I've been a part of them for years (I'm 50), and have never once had a good time. I almost always leave with utter garbage.
FreeTheUnicorn 8 months ago
No people presented in this story sound like pleasant people to be around. They act like 3rd graders and pay what I imagine are huge sums of money for the chance to be around the other children. If you have enough money to spend $75 on a white elephant gift, you have enough money not to cause drama because someone didnt respect the rules. The others should have respected the rules of the game. Crying to dear leader is ridiculous, texting angrily is petty. But it isn't work and it isn't family, spending time with such a group is easy to get out of, maybe put your membership dues towards therapy.
WonderWoman 8 months ago
I think Jen should have to give the Kerig to OP and she can take back her terrible cheap thing.
Damned_Cat 8 months ago
We used to do a white elephant exchange where you had to bring something from your house that you wanted to get rid of. Maybe those ugly candlesticks that Aunt Martha gave you; or the Live, Laugh, Love sign that you used to like for like 5 minutes. One person's junk is another person's treasure, so the "stealing" part really makes it fun. I remember the one prim, quiet, older lady who was not going to rest until she went home with the autographed Hulk Hogan poster that someone brought for the exchange.
weatherwitch 8 months ago
Ooof a white elephant exchange is as horrendous as a secret Santa. Terrible idea and forcing people into costs they don't have, to put on a brave face for c**p they didn't want to recieve. That said this lady Should absolutely have Stuck to the level she could Afford. Things like this just cause social and financial embarrassment. She's lost a group she liked because she was likely too ashamed to admit that she couldn't afford it. Awful all around and sounds like the group were as snobby as the HOA too.
K Barnes 8 months ago
We used to do a white elephant family Xmas gift exchange, it's not my thing so I'm glad we stopped. One of my cousins would always buy a purposefully cheap and crappy gift way under budget because he found it funny. He is wealthy and could afford actual gifts. No one found it funny but him. After the third year he did this we all agreed that he couldn't participate anymore.
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