How to Handle Getting a Bad Gift the Right Way

We’ve all been there. It can happen on a birthday, Christmas, anniversary, and countless other occasions too. You excitedly rip open the wrapping paper on a gift, just to discover that you’ve received something that you really don’t want or need.

Almost everyone will end up getting a bad gift at some point in their lives. The key to success (and happy friends), is making sure that you know how to respond to a poor present the right way. If you’re concerned that some of your nearest and dearest might surprise you with the wrong gifts from time to time, here are some tips to help.

1. Always Be Prepared

The first step in making sure that you’re ready for a bad gift, is being prepared. There’s always a chance that no matter how hard you hint at the items you want; you’ll end up with something that you would rather not have. With that in mind, train yourself to avoid responding too quickly to anything you unwrap. Your instant response should be a smile and gratitude, but it can be difficult to avoid a little disappointment coming through. Before you get together with your loved ones to exchange gifts, write down some things you might say if you get something you don’t want. If you don’t know what to say, just focus on keeping your face as happy and pleasant as possible.

2. Practice the Right Response

If you know that you’re going to have a moment soon when you’re going to be opening a present from someone who doesn’t know you very well, focus on practicing the right kind of response. You can ask your friends or loved one to wrap something they know you wouldn’t like so you can practice being gracious and smiling through the disappointment.

Practicing your poker face will make it a lot more believable when you’re struggling with a bad gift. At the same time, remember to act properly after you receive the item too. Don’t talk to your other friends or coworkers about how bad the gift was, as that kind of talk could get back to the person who gave you the gift.

3. Figure Out What to Say

The most obvious thing you can say when you get a bad or good gift from someone is “thank you”. Unfortunately, there are situations when you’ll say this, and the person giving you the gift will continue to stare at you, waiting for you to say something else. When this happens, consider asking what the story is behind the gift, or why they were inspired to buy it.

Another option could be to say that the gift was very thoughtful and try to link it to something in your life. For instance, if someone gets you a sweater with a picture of a dog on, you could talk about the dog you used to love from your childhood, and how the garment reminds you of that.

4. Try to Hide any Negative Thoughts and Feelings

Even if someone didn’t seem to put much thought or effort into your gift, it’s important to remember that they bought you something – even though they didn’t have to. That means that the classiest thing to do is to show gratitude. If you respond negatively, then you could harm your relationship with the other person. There’s also a risk that other people who are present at the gift exchange will think less of you because of your response. Train yourself to remain a positive and pleasant face at all times. Avoid anything that sounds like sarcasm when you’re talking, and don’t make a grimace or a strange face when you’re talking about the present. The only time you can really let your real feeling show about the gift is when you’re at home with someone you know isn’t going to relay your thoughts to the gift giver.

5. Be a Good Sport

Sometimes, a negative response to a gift happens not because the item is disappointing, but because someone deliberately bought something for you at a joke. There are times when colleagues and coworkers exchange “gag gifts”, usually around the holidays, and it’s important that you know how to respond to these too.

Try to act positively, even if you think that the gag gift is hurtful or embarrassing in some way. It’s usually a good idea to try and laugh the awkwardness off. If you feel that the person who gave the gift might be open to criticism, ask them to avoid similar gifts in the future at a later time, when you can talk privately.

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