Got a terrible Christmas gift? Here’s what an expert suggests you should do to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings

Report Issue

Please complete the required fields.

Your Name

Email

Reason (required)
This post contains broken linksPost has incorrect informationPost has spamCopyright IssueOther

Description

Submit

Did your stomach drop after seeing the Christmas gift you got from a beloved family member or friend? Here’s what you can do to avoid hurting their feelings, according to an expert.

First things first, be honest. If someone gave you a kitchen appliance you know you’ll never use or a piece of clothing that just doesn’t fit, asking politely if there’s an option for an exchange is considered reasonable.

“If it’s, say, the shirt that doesn’t fit, you might say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is lovely. But I have to tell you — would you mind if I switched it for the right size?'” Diane Gottsman , the founder of the Protocol School of Texas, a company that offers services in professional etiquette training, told CNBC.

If that oversized pair of pants you got didn’t come with a return receipt, there’s a few things you can do to ensure it doesn’t take up unwanted space in your home.

If you’re a coffee drinker who received a tea kit, Gottman says donating it to charity can be the right thing to do.

Another option is to regift the present. If you do this, Gottsman said being transparent about where you got the Christmas gift — and showing thoughtfulness — to the person receiving the gift is a matter of common decency.

“If you regift it, you need to be honest, and say, ‘listen, I received a tea kettle, and I know you love tea. I would like for you to have it if you think you could use it,'” Gottsman told CNBC.

If you decide to recycle the gift, Gottsman suggests handing it to someone outside of the original gift giver’s friend group. That way, feelings won’t be hurt if the original gift giver finds out.

“I always say, regift in another city,” Gottsman said.

And if a person you don’t know very well gave you the Christmas gift, saying a simple “thank you” should be enough, Gottsman said.

Returning Christmas gifts? You are not alone, billions of gifts are returned and this you should know