Question re:second-hand gift basket; does it matter?

[Ginevra]

I might make this a poll.:) People love answering polls and it lets me see where opinions fall graphically.

 

For MIL, my parents, and my sister, I am making themed gift baskets for Christmas. MIL is pretty hard to buy for; she needs nothing and doesn't have hobby stuff really, and has dementia. But, I decided to put together a kitchen goodies basket. I bought individual things for the basket - potholders, kitchen towel, hand soap dispenser, salt, coasters, etc. it's quite adorable and I think it is perfect for her. I did not buy a basket at the store because here was my thinking: a) she does not care about the actual basket; b) she is frugal and knows I am, too; c) whenever I am at the thrift store, there are a bazillion baskets; no doubt they once held themed stuff given from Harry and David, Vermont Country Store, etc.

 

I went to GW and found what appeared to be an ideal basket for .60. But it had a stained area on the interior and a bit on the exterior towards the bottom. It looked like it held food once, which leaked and something like soy sauce or whatever spilled in it. No problem, I think. I'll spray paint the basket. So this is what I did; sprayed it red and it is very cute and the perfect size and shape for my purposes.

 

BUT! The paint did not fully conceal the stain, either on the inside or the outside. The outside, it is barely noticeable unless you are looking it over carefully, but you would plainly see it on the inside if you took out all the gifts and the tissue paper. At first, I was going to get a different basket, but DH said it wasn't necessary. He said it is so improbable that she would *ever* care, if indeed she *ever* notices it. After seeing how cute all the items look in the basket and how well they fit, I think I may just let it be. Would you get a different/new/perfect basket?

[Arcadia]

I know my in-laws won't mind. Both in-laws and my side of the family reuse gift baskets. So the baskets just keeps going around. Sometimes my MIL would put oranges in a gift basket and just use that as a centerpiece for her coffee table.

[Pink and Green Mom]

You need on of those tags that says something like "changes in color of this product are meant to show its natural beauty and should not be viewed as flaws...."

 

Kidding.

 

I think it is fine.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

Well, I would probably paint over the stained areas with primer, to seal the stain, then repaint.  It would add a couple extra hours drying time, but it would be worth it to me to make it as perfect as possible.  (Note, I'm not such a perfectionist about everything, but this kind of thing would bug me forever, wondering if she was looking at it, and wondering...)

[zoobie]

Nope! Sounds good! It's just the gift packaging.

[Guest]

You need on of those tags that says something like "changes in color of this product are meant to show its natural beauty and should not be viewed as flaws...."

 

Kidding.

 

I think it is fine.

Or, "Basket was crafted by an artisan who might have been drunk." :D

[Pink and Green Mom]

Or, "Basket was crafted by an artisan who might have been drunk." :D

Lucky you :lol:

[Annie G]

I would use it especially since dh gave his seal of approval.  I'm a container junkie and I'd use the basket for something if it was given to me...whether it had a stain or not.  Go for it!

 

I voted the first option but the second also matched how I feel. 

[Word Nerd]

I'd use it.

[SebastianCat]

I would use it because it's just the container - the gift is what's inside.    Honestly, by the time packages get opened at our house, bows are smashed, ribbons are twisted, and nothing looks "perfect" anymore.   Especially since your DH gave you the go-ahead, I doubt she'd even notice.

 

I use the same reasoning in my household to purchase books used rather than new.   By the time one of my kids reads and re-reads a book, it certainly looks "used," but who cares?   The important part is the story, not the condition of the pages.

[cjzimmer1]

I'd use it without a second thought.  It's just a container.  But you also mentioned she has dementia, so even if she did happen to notice, it's not likely she is going to be sitting and dwelling on it and wondering why you gave her a used basket.  If she even notices she will probably forget just as fast.  Use it and don't give it a second thought.

[Guest]

I'd use it without a second thought. It's just a container. But you also mentioned she has dementia, so even if she did happen to notice, it's not likely she is going to be sitting and dwelling on it and wondering why you gave her a used basket. If she even notices she will probably forget just as fast. Use it and don't give it a second thought.

There's probably a fair chance that she'll see the basket on the counter a week after Christmas and think, "Well, now that's lovely...where did it come from?" ;)

[regentrude]

I'd use it. The basket is not the actual gift, it is just the container.

[barnwife]

I'd use it...and I wouldn't have ever thought to make it a poll online. Not using it would be so out of the realm of the world I live in that that wouldn't occur to me.

[Caclcoca]

I voted other.  I would use it, but not just because your husband said it was okay.  You took the time to find this basket that fits the gift perfectly.  You found a flaw in the basket and painted over it.  This isn't just a last minute thrown together gift. It was well thought out. 

[Tap]

I wouldn't think twice about it. I would just go with it.

[Guest]

I voted other. I would use it, but not just because your husband said it was okay. You took the time to find this basket that fits the gift perfectly. You found a flaw in the basket and painted over it. This isn't just a last minute thrown together gift. It was well thought out.

This is what DH said as well, that I had chosen each gift in the basket personally and took extra effort to paint the basket. It was not a Click-of-a-Mouse purchase and he feels that says a lot.

[nd293]

I might glue or stitch a piece of fabric to the base to cover the stain, if that were practical. Otherwise I would worry. Well, I would obviously worry, because I worry about stuff, but I'd give it anyway!

[TammyS]

I voted other.  I would use it, but put a bow or something on the spot to cover it up.

[Luckymama]

Quill, I think that's a lovely gift for your mil :)

[Rebel Yell]

I have a bit o a basket obsession, and I ONLY buy them at thrift stores. A tiny stain or flaw would not even register with me, especially for a $0.60 basket!

 

If I had to spend $10-$20 on a new basket, they would be getting an empty basket. :glare:

[J-rap]

I think you are overthinking it.  Whenever I make a gift-basket gift, I always first see if I have a basket already in the attic.  It actually never occurred to me to always get a new basket!

 

 

[mamiof5]

I'd use it, but spray another coat to see if that covers the stain more

[Professormom]

Well, I would probably paint over the stained areas with primer, to seal the stain, then repaint. It would add a couple extra hours drying time, but it would be worth it to me to make it as perfect as possible. (Note, I'm not such a perfectionist about everything, but this kind of thing would bug me forever, wondering if she was looking at it, and wondering...)

This is what I would do. No problem on the second hand thing, but the stain would make me jog that little extra mile to conceal it.

[Professormom]

Quill, I think that's a lovely gift for your mil :)

:Iagree:

[HomeAgain]

I thought about how I would feel receiving it.

I wouldn't care in the least. :)  I probably wouldn't even look that closely at the inside of the basket, or if I did figure it was there from being new.  I think most people would respond the same.

[SparklyUnicorn]

Or, "Basket was crafted by an artisan who might have been drunk." :D

 

Oh well then I'm sold.  I say you use it.

 

If this were my MIL, she'd find fault with it.  She'd find fault with absolutely positively anything though.  If she were dying of thirst and someone finally gave her a life saving glass of water she'd complain about the color of the glass.

[Guest]

Oh well then I'm sold. I say you use it.

 

If this were my MIL, she'd find fault with it. She'd find fault with absolutely positively anything though. If she were dying of thirst and someone finally gave her a life saving glass of water she'd complain about the color of the glass.

That's too bad. :( My MIL is a wonderful, good lady. It's just heartbreaking to see her slip into her own little world.

[Guest]

This is what I would do. No problem on the second hand thing, but the stain would make me jog that little extra mile to conceal it.

I may do this yet, just to put my mind at ease that I made every effort to "perfect" the basket.