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Some folks are very hard to gift shop for. Their interests are arcane, they never say what they want, they seem to already own everything they like. However, at the very least most of us can get a mediocre gift, some chocolates, maybe a generic gift card, some snacks. But a few people out there have a special gift, if you’ll forgive the pun, for horrible items.
So we’ve gathered some of the worst things people have gotten for Christmas this year. So settle in, thank your lucky stars if you actually got something nice, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own thoughts and experiences in the comments section down below.
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#1
KatSaidThat 1 day ago
Could use this in my house where apparently I am the sole provider of said shampoo and body wash. But now I have been gifted chanel body wash for xmas and I defy the 3 male freeloaders to use that.
Child of the Stars 1 day ago
It's probably intended for use by hotels and such.
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Did I say that out loud? 1 day ago
Sorry, but if I can't also use it as an industrial degreaser,car shampoo,paint strípper, lubricant, driveway and oven cleaner, then I'm not interested.
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#2
UKGrandad 1 day ago
My wife said to me 'You haven't listened to a word I said'. I thought 'that's an odd way to start a conversation'.
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#3
Crystal M 18 hours ago
Unfortunately, no. I received one of these a few years ago.
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Child of the Stars 1 day ago
Ok, but this is cute! It's not all that different from the topper things some people put on theirs.
There’s a specific sound that defines late December: the crisp, satisfying crinkle of wrapping paper being torn apart. Whether you’re five years old or fifty-five, that moment of holding a mystery box triggers a primitive excitement that’s hard to replicate. But have you ever wondered why we, as a species, are so obsessed with the ritual of gift-giving?
It isn't just about the "stuff." If it were purely about the items, we’d all just buy what we wanted in July and call it a day. Instead, the psychology of Christmas gifts is a complex dance of neurobiology, social signaling, and the high-stakes art of being "seen" by another person. It turns out that the "magic of Christmas" is actually a very real chemical cocktail happening inside your brain.
#4
Philip Cutler 1 day ago
A Stupid gift for sure, but maybe the wife/husband has been telling him/her for months the tap in the bathroom has been leaking for months?
Did I say that out loud? 1 day ago
That looks like a man's hand, someone hasn't been taking the fúcking hints.
#5
MeFromTheFBI 16 hours ago
I’m LDS but I mean, why would you get someone that, a lot of the people on these comments are planning on burning it, maybe don’t get someone that because they may not want to be in the religion which is fine with me, you do you boo
#6
Stardust she/her 1 day ago
I’d like to assume that the gifter for both was the same
Load More Replies... UnclePanda 1 day ago
If I were renting today, I'd have my own fire and CO2 warning devices anyway. Why count on unknown equipment?
When you see a stack of presents under a tree, your brain begins producing dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with reward and motivation. Interestingly, research into the psychology of anticipation suggests that we often get a bigger chemical hit from the lead-up to the gift than from the object itself. That’s why the beautiful wrapping, the ribbons, and the "Do Not Open Until Dec 25" tags are so effective, they prolong the dopamine loop.
#7
Beansie-never-visited-me-once 1 day ago (edited)
I would LOVE that gift. I love Marmite AND Elton John.
KatSaidThat 1 day ago
Stuff keeps for ages, that will be a collector item one day. Think long game.
#8
Chuck the Cat 1 day ago (edited)
I don't know why you got downvoted Billo, it's a harmless funny comment. Have an upvote to counter it.
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Julie S 1 day ago
Someone is probably putting hand cream in their cooking and wondering why it tastes weird.
Blue Bunny of Happiness 18 hours ago
Would go nicely with the tin of tomatoes my sister got from her mother in law last year
We love getting gifts because it satisfies an ancient human need for social bonding. In a tribal context, exchanging items was a way to signal peace and mutual support. Today, a well-chosen gift serves as a physical manifestation of a relationship, a way of saying, "I know who you are, and I value you."
#10
Sarah 23 hours ago
Bet you could eat it if you really tried. Those rashes and cramps are just imagined
Load More Replies... KatSaidThat 1 day ago (edited)
Nan lived in an era where GF was mostly unheard of. [intollorent of education, poster?]
#11
Marie 1 day ago
Unless there's another real gift to go with it, letting him stay on the couch would be generous.
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Shark Lady 1 day ago
Really useful, in the UK it is mandatory to have one in your kitchen if you rent your home. If you own your home, you should definitely invest in one.
Ryan-James O'Driscoll 1 day ago
It is not mandatory for rented accommodation. Only certain types, e.g. HMOs.
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Bec 1 day ago
My sister got everyone fire extinguishers one year because she realized everyone had a story where they almost burned their house down at some point - a good gift but they do expire eventually, I'd like to have one of the blankets
Child of the Stars 1 day ago
Both are probably a good idea. And good for your sister. I'm the kind of person who would love being gifted a household appliance (I just had to drop $300 on a new vacuum; someone else paying for it would've been AWESOME!), so to me a fire extinguisher would be a fantastic gift!
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Fire Singer 17 hours ago
Same! My mom got us all these one year. It's not a "fun" gift but it's practical and not something I would have bought myself most likely.
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This brings us to the fascinating "Reciprocity Principle." When someone gives us something, our brains are hardwired to want to give something back. This isn't just a social obligation, it's a biological drive to maintain social equilibrium. When the exchange goes well, it strengthens the "social glue" that holds our families and friendships together.
#13
Sarah 23 hours ago (edited)
Why are you wasting that on fruit? It’s for your glass of wine with dinner on a Friday. Fruit.. pah.. whoever thiight the likes of that.. ( from another sarah K!)
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Cee Cee 1 day ago
For non-UK residents she's a character in a loooonnggg running soap opera 'Coronation Street'.
Norfolk and good 1 day ago
The character left last year, making this slightly more bizarre.
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#15
We feel a sense of belonging and security. However, this same high-stakes social contract is exactly why gift-giving can go so hilariously, or tragically, wrong. Because if a good gift says "I know you," a bad gift can accidentally say "I have no idea who you are, and I might have forgotten your name for a second."
#16
KatSaidThat 1 day ago
Do you not have electronics or remote controls? I think you sound a little ungrateful - what did you get her? Soap? Socks?
#17
Keith Handly (Ike) 1 day ago
I agree this is a nice present. It doesn't belong in this category at all.
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Tropical Tarot 1 day ago
I once got 5 lb (2.27kg)of mango flavored gummy bears in a gift exchange.
#18
Nadine Debard 1 day ago
That's a score! I mean, that's kitsch AF but there must be a market for those.
Sarah 23 hours ago (edited)
Word of warning.. beware of gifts from People with dementia. My mother has it.. caught her throwing out heirlooms in bin ( jewellery etc) you could be receiving a gift thats worth something . This was only last week. Her logic wa the jewellery was old so ready for the bins
IamMego 22 hours ago
I would be too. I have the plates of her and Charles's wedding. One of my most cherished posessions
Load More Replies... Shark Lady 1 day ago
Probably not, there was a ridiculous amount of stuff made during her life and even more after she died. It was maas produced and not rare.
Load More Replies...So, what exactly makes a gift "bad"? It’s rarely about the price tag. In fact, some of the worst gifts are incredibly expensive. The primary culprit is often what psychologists call "egocentric giving." This happens when the giver buys something they would love, rather than considering the recipient's tastes.
#19
#20
WindySwede 23 hours ago
I'd be thinking this, and not eat it: "and has led to approximately 10.9 million excess infant deaths between 1960 and 2015" - VoxDev. 🖖
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Ace 1 day ago
Assuming the age is that of the recipient, not the bubble-bath, I see nothing wrong with this. Do you magically stop using bubble-bath once you get past 20 or something?
For example, gifting a high-tech espresso machine to someone who only drinks herbal tea. It’s a great object, but a terrible gift because it ignores the recipient's identity. Another common pitfall is the "gift with a chore attached." This includes things like complicated DIY kits for someone who is already overwhelmed, or a "self-help" book that implies the recipient needs fixing. Instead of feeling loved, the recipient feels burdened or criticized.
#22
Billo66 1 day ago (edited)
Ah, natural "spring" water. When spelled backwards, why does it say Naive? I ask because there is a company in town that bottles this and 17 other brands. All from the same pipe. It's heavily filtered city water. It "Springs" forth from the tap I guess.
Maya_D 18 hours ago
Tastes good though. A 1000 times better than my tap water.
Load More Replies... #23
Savannah greenleaf 1 day ago
That appears to be a fairly nice trash can. I would not complain.
ABC NrTen FCK CENSORISM 1 day ago
It appears to be one of those you get in the domestic needs section of large supermarkets. Your mileage may vary, but the only place where I'd put that out in the open to be seen would be the garage workshop.
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#24
There is also the dreaded "thoughtless" gift, the generic candle or the pre-packaged bath set that looks like it was grabbed during a frantic gas station run on Christmas Eve. These fail because they lack "symbolic meaning." A study on the science of bad gifts points out that humans are highly sensitive to the effort behind a gesture. If the gift feels like a checked box on a to-do list rather than a genuine attempt at connection, the social bond isn't strengthened, it’s slightly bruised. We’d often rather have a small, thoughtful $5 item that references an inside joke than a $50 item that feels like it was chosen by an algorithm.
#25
#26
Dog Mom to Zoe 23 hours ago
Don't eat beef or pork bacon but I agree; it's a win!!
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#27
UnclePanda 1 day ago
At the nearest dispensary - "We tried to tell her but she insisted she wanted to buy the doormat, and, well, we are a business."
MeFromTheFBI 16 hours ago
I like touching grass, grass in the go (especially when you are on a cruise ship)
Ultimately, the reason we love getting gifts is that we love the feeling of being understood. A perfect Christmas gift acts as a mirror, reflecting a version of ourselves that someone else appreciates. When you open a box and find exactly what you didn't even know you wanted, it validates your existence in a way few other things can.
#28
Roxy222uk 1 day ago
OMG, I immediately heard the theme tune in my head and had to look it up on Youtube. 'Bod is a DJ' is hilarious!!
Julie S 1 day ago (edited)
Same I absolutely loved bod when I was a child this would make me so happy.
Load More Replies... Ace 1 day ago
Classic BBC kids' TV series from the 1970s, music and narration by the legendary Derek Griffiths.
Julie S 1 day ago
And guessing which milkshake he was going to have at the end of the show.
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#29
#30
On the flip side, we navigate the "bad" gifts with a polite smile because the ritual itself, the gathering, the shared meal, and the attempt at kindness, is usually more important than the accidental "World's Best Accountant" mug you received even though you’re a florist. Christmas gifts are just a medium for the message, and that message, hopefully, is that we aren't alone in the world.
#31
#33
#34
#35
Norfolk and good 1 day ago
If the recipient is from Hull, then this is quite funny. I'm from Birmingham, and I've got a hoodie that says 'Brum Ting' on it.
#37
#38
Huddo's sister 1 day ago
I would love this! I had one I inherited from my grandma, but it kept making my fingers hurt/go numb because of how you had to hold it.
highwaycrossingfrog 23 hours ago
I just did a DIY course, and my tutor recommended the middle aisles for cheap tools. She had one, an electric grout remover I think, that she got from Lidl in an emergency 9 years ago and it's still going strong. She also said you can get unlucky and it'll be proper shite, but if it's only a tenner you might as well take the gamble (although not on proper power tools like drills, obvs.)
Load More Replies... BookFanatic 23 hours ago
Jeez. I gave my BF one of these (his request). Came home and everything was soldered. Pretty sure the only reason the cat wasn't soldered is because she's faster than he was (kidding--he'd never do that to her).
#39
#40
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What do you think ?
G A 1 day ago
Some must be joke gifts, otherwise there is a lot of undiagnosed senile dementia.
Sian E 1 day ago
I've had random stuff like washing up liquid or toothpaste, but that's because my mum knows I forget to buy it myself. But yeah a lot of these are either confused old dear gifts or the grandparents don't actually like the grandchildren!
Load More Replies... Nadine Debard 1 day ago
Many of them are practical, some of them are cheap, and the others are just crappy free stuff. I've had worse. Stupid dollar store mini toys for a 40yo for example.
KatSaidThat 1 day ago
Some of these nans are just being practical from another era. I'd be happy with some of that stuff. But then again I am not a yoof who just expects electronic based shizl.
persephone134 21 hours ago
Years ago, I was looking for some joke gifts for my brothers. One got a sample size breath spray, the other a sample size shoe deodorant. The faces they pulled were well worth it. To this day, they still reproach me for it on occasion, which makes me laugh all over again. So, a small investment, a huge laugh for me.
S P 23 hours ago
It would be helpful to know why people think these are bad gifts. For example, I would love the dried mango, but if the recipient were allergic thaybwould be different. Some of these APPEAR to fit a need someone observed, as eith the smoke alarm; while those aren't the most exciting gifts, they're thoughtful. Contexy matters, otherwise you're just mocking someone's effort.
Chuck the Cat 1 day ago (edited)
It's not about the article, but does anyone else keep getting annoying Mcafee popups saying that their device is infected? It's very obviously a scam and I don't even have Mcafee anyway. I'm using my phone, by the way. Edit: To clarify, it does only seem to happen on BP.
Julie S 1 day ago
Yes this happens to me I'm glad you have confirmed it's a scam I was beginning to worry.
Load More Replies... Tom Hardeveld 1 day ago
Most of these are just ungratefull people whining they didn't get what they wanted and don't apreciate usefull gifts
G A 1 day ago
Some must be joke gifts, otherwise there is a lot of undiagnosed senile dementia.
Sian E 1 day ago
I've had random stuff like washing up liquid or toothpaste, but that's because my mum knows I forget to buy it myself. But yeah a lot of these are either confused old dear gifts or the grandparents don't actually like the grandchildren!
Load More Replies... Nadine Debard 1 day ago
Many of them are practical, some of them are cheap, and the others are just crappy free stuff. I've had worse. Stupid dollar store mini toys for a 40yo for example.
KatSaidThat 1 day ago
Some of these nans are just being practical from another era. I'd be happy with some of that stuff. But then again I am not a yoof who just expects electronic based shizl.
persephone134 21 hours ago
Years ago, I was looking for some joke gifts for my brothers. One got a sample size breath spray, the other a sample size shoe deodorant. The faces they pulled were well worth it. To this day, they still reproach me for it on occasion, which makes me laugh all over again. So, a small investment, a huge laugh for me.
S P 23 hours ago
It would be helpful to know why people think these are bad gifts. For example, I would love the dried mango, but if the recipient were allergic thaybwould be different. Some of these APPEAR to fit a need someone observed, as eith the smoke alarm; while those aren't the most exciting gifts, they're thoughtful. Contexy matters, otherwise you're just mocking someone's effort.
Chuck the Cat 1 day ago (edited)
It's not about the article, but does anyone else keep getting annoying Mcafee popups saying that their device is infected? It's very obviously a scam and I don't even have Mcafee anyway. I'm using my phone, by the way. Edit: To clarify, it does only seem to happen on BP.
Julie S 1 day ago
Yes this happens to me I'm glad you have confirmed it's a scam I was beginning to worry.
Load More Replies... Tom Hardeveld 1 day ago
Most of these are just ungratefull people whining they didn't get what they wanted and don't apreciate usefull gifts
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