Comments on: Please Don’t Give High Upkeep Gifts

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:21:30 +0000

I would completely disagree that an iPod has to be high maintenance, at least in the sense of having to buy music. I have never purchased anything (that I recall) from the Apple Store, yet I value my iPod greatly. I still have the “old” 160GB version which I have all my music collection and a large number of videos I got from many sources, including iTunes itself.

Free stuff abounds. The only large “cost” is my time finding and clicking stuff to load, along with the listening. I won’t ever listen to a lot of it, but it allows me to have plenty of choices wherever I am!

Brad

By: Levon

Levon — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:09:23 +0000

An iPod is fine because you can legally fill it up with music you already own on CDs. This point is clueless, the rest are spot on.

By: sara l

sara l — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:00:09 +0000

My husband and I were watching one of the many car commercials recently and I told him I’d hurt him if he ever did that. The maintenance doesn’t bother me (you have to maintain any car), but the up front cost is way too much in my eyes.

On the ipod note, it was one of the best gifts I ever received. I spend around the same (or less) each year on CD’s and load them onto my ipod but get to take my entire music collection with me wherever I go

By: Carla

Carla — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 07:09:14 +0000

I cant imagine one of us buying a CAR for the other. We purchased our cars together and put a lot of thought in research into it before going to the dealership. Then after that, we needed to drive the cars to see if it would work for us. Even if money wasn’t an issue, I don’t see the point of giving (or receiving) a car to the other.

By: Shelby

Shelby — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:25:29 +0000

That’s a great idea for gamers… let em play stuff before they decide they want to buy it. Thanks for the tip.

By: Ahope

Ahope — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:53:04 +0000

Ahh yeah! I’ll take the experience gift. Like for a photographer they can receive a photo shoot seminar session with their favorite Studio Trainers.

That was a blessing Indeed.

By: jim

jim — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:12:57 +0000

I’m a big fan of experiences vs. things too, I like memories.

By: AJ Kumar

AJ Kumar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:01:52 +0000

I agree, buying a car is NOT A GOOD IDEA. Not only do you raise a bar that’s nearly impossible to beat for you to beat the following years, people are very picky when it comes to cars. Hence why they have an overwhelming choice of options.

I personally believe that the best gifts are experiences compared to materialistic goods. Obviously it depends on the person, but I gave the gift of skydiving

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:52:50 +0000

I totally want to buy my wife a car and have it in the driveway on christmas morning. She needs a new car anyway and she knows exactly what she wants, but she has stated dozens of times that she’ll kill me if I do that – she thinks it would be inconsiderate of me to buy her a car without her even seeing it or driving it.

By: jim

jim — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:39:42 +0000

Well obviously something that requires maintenance! I think, in retrospect, the iPod was a poor example because you can get lots of stuff for free and because you can upload your CDs. I think the best example is a pet, where maintenance is a huge issue.

If you want, you can send me your ugly ties.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:30:18 +0000

not sure about this. i guess i would rather have a gift that requires, by your definition, high maintenance, if is use it all the time, versus a closet full of sweaters or ties that i will never wear. so what is worse: something that requires maintenance or something that is never used/worn?

By: Secret Santa

Secret Santa — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:04:22 +0000

I bought the bf an iPod for Christmas and spent the past month (secretly) loading his entire CD collection on it, in addition to a few games which I purchased and hours and hours of free television shows and podcasts. He shouldn’t have to shell out a $ for a VERY long time!

By: Cap

Cap — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:10:26 +0000

Good post. Got a few gifts that ended up costing me more money. My first camera phone from years ago was one such gift with high upkeep cost. I had to say goodbye to my grandfathered cell phone plan at Pacific Bell and switch to a higher cost plan on Verizon. Would of said no to the gift but didnt want to be a jerk as it was a gift from a girlfriend at that time…

By: Rocco

Rocco — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:28:28 +0000

On of the best gifts I got was a 6 month Gamefly subscription along with a shiny new Wii. Games are ridiculously expensive and what’s worse, is half the time they don’t measure up to the hype and you’re out $60 on a game you’ll never play again.

I now count these among my top stocking stuffers and what’s better is that around the holidays they knock off up to 20% on them. They’re a no brainer option for anyone who’s got a console or two. Why shell out $60 a game when that will carry you through unlimited rentals for 3 or 4 months? At least that way you can actually play games before you buy them and decide if they’re worth it and gamefly lets you buy em on the cheap too.

Here’s their gift certificate info if anyone’s inclined. Single best gift I’ve received period. http://www.gamefly.com/giftcert/giftbuy.asp

By: Miss M

Miss M — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:56:15 +0000

For college graduation my dad gave me a boat, which then cost $100/month to store. I just wanted a couch or a piece of furniture. I agree you should never give a gift with a recurring cost, that boat has been a source of much tension.