by Pati Baur

Created on: March 22, 2009   Last Updated: March 23, 2009

I am proud to say, that although I have received many odd and strange gifts I have never been able to sell them. The number one reason for that is, that I believe that the person giving me this gift has done so because they really believed that I would like it or need it. So I have managed to hang on to some odd vases and pictures and clothes that make me break out when I wear them.

Some of the pieces I have even displayed at my house and they have turned out to be great conversation pieces! But when spring cleaning comes, somehow and don't ask me how, they seem to disappear and be given away. I cannot hold on to them forever. The only exception would be some pieces given to me by my family or friends. I have to honor them forever no matter what. They survive the spring cleaning somehow.

In my view it would be totally impolite to do this or maybe I am just a big chicken and don't want a 3 hour confrontation about why their lovely gifts are not there anymore.

Nevertheless, I think it is bad manners to sell a gift. I want to advise people to try to find some use and maybe donate it instead of selling it. That is the more polite way to go.

Now that we are on this topic , I wonder how many of my gifts have ever been sold. I feel panic mode coming over me. I always thought as myself as the perfect gift giver and now that bubble might have been popped. Maybe, we can all learn from this? I'm starting to think that I should probably really think twice before giving a gift from now on. The idea that it could be sold at some garage sale is killing me.

So, for all of you out there who think it is totally acceptable to sell gifts, well it is not. Do you see my pain? Please try to resist the temptation to sell the gift and instead display it in a prominent place for a year and see what people say about it.

To be honest the biggest gripe for me is why sell it? That is the part that caught my eye. Sell you say! No, so very impolite. How would you explain it to the person who gave it to you? Lie? So sell and lie? Oh that is so sad. How can you sleep at night? I seem to be coming down hard on all the people who think this is fine to do..I am sorry..but please stop doing it. I for one will be grateful that you don't do it. Especially if you do not need the money and are just trying to make a profit out of someones gift to you. I hope this has helped you either way. It is always better to be polite than impolite in my eyes.

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