giving something used as a gift

[nostatic]

OK, I have my theories on this but thought I'd get the collective wisdom. Say your significant other has a b-day coming up. Said s.o. has always liked your Leica P&S camera, and in fact asked to borrow it last week. Say there is a new version of said camera out, and you've been thinking of upgrading.

Q: do you buy the new camera for yourself and give the s.o. the used camera (packed in the original box with manuals, etc...but obvious that it is your old camera) or is that rude/cheap/etc?

Note that other gifts including a weekend away are included in the b-day celebration thing. We're also not talking trivial amounts of money - new camera is $850, the used one is worth at least $500 on the market.

[kstar]

FWIW, I wouldn't give a known, used camera to a SO.

Get yourself the new one, sell the old one and pay the spread to get her a new one too.

But, YMMV.

BTW, do you expect this thread to become religious or politically heated?

Best,

[HardDrive]

Nope. The fact that you are going to buy the new model for yourself makes you look....I don't know. But my 'She ain't gonna like that' radar is going off......

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by kstar

Get yourself the new one, sell the old one and pay the spread to get her a new one too.

Good idea.

Better yet, get HER the new one first. Who knows, perhaps she will want your old one instead. If that is not the case, wait a couple weeks, then sell the old one and get the new model for yourself.

[Seahawk]

Some of the best gifts I have ever received were used and meant a lot to me:

- Grandfathers old Hamilton naval officers watch from WWII...high school graduation gift.

- A painting done by a friend of the family; my Mom gave it to me as a house warming gift. Still hangs prominently.

- Old guns from my Dad, meted out over the years as he wound down from hunting.

It truly is the thought that counts...the Leica isn't broken, is it

[kstar]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Good idea.

Better yet, get HER the new one first. Who knows, perhaps she will want your old one instead. If that is not the case, wait a couple weeks, then sell the old one and get the new model for yourself.

Yup, definitely wait a bit after her birthday before getting your cam.

Glad I thought of that.

[the]

My bday is coming up. You can give me one of your cast off, 2 wheeled conveyances. I won't complain!

[stuartj]

You are on a hiding to nothing.

Is this religous or political, btw?

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

'She ain't gonna like that' radar is going off......

The logical side of me says, "not a problem" as given our various interests and histories, passing it on to her would make sense. However there is a nagging feeling that it is kinda selfish.

Cheapest approach would be to just forget the whole thing (camera swap, not her b-day) - which is what I originally was thinking. I really can't afford to spend $1700 on a pair of new cameras, even if I get $500 from selling the old one.

[Vipergrün]

Depends if you want to still be gettin some AFTER her b-day........

[vash]

no hand me downs. used gifts should be hard to find things.

this situation has the same feel i get when i see a couple on a motorcycle riding double. you know, when the guy has the new shiny racer replica helmet with nice leathers, and the loved one is riding in back with an old helmet, sprayed flat black, missing the visor. ok, i may be stretching it a bit.

get her a nice gift, buy yourself the cool camera, and give her the old one later.

[TerryH]

Maybe tacky is the word.

Not really selfish, but too lazy to shop, no imagination. Or... "hand me down that's not good enough for you, but I should be thrilled?"

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by vash

no hand me downs. used gifts should be hard to find things.

this situation has the same feel i get when i see a couple on a motorcycle riding double. you know, when the guy has the new shiny racer replica helmet with nice leathers, and the loved one is riding in back with an old helmet, sprayed flat black, missing the visor. ok, i may be stretching it a bit..

Actually i bought her a jacket that was more expensive than mine

Tacky was the word I was looking for...thanks. Always good to have an appropriate label for one's self.

[stomachmonkey]

Todd,

I you have to ask....

[masraum]

Well, if you buy the new one and then offer it as a gift for no reason, that's fine. If the gift is for a B-day, X-mas, Valentines, anniversary, etc..., I think that would be very bad.

UNLESS it was a small afterthought type gift and there was a main big gift besides the hand-me-down.

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by vash

buy yourself the cool camera, and give her the old one later.

thats what i was thinking. christmas will be here before you know it....

T$

[porsche4life]

boob job. cant go wrong with a boob job. you both get fun out of that.

[aigel]

I would ask if she would like the camera as a gift instead of you trading it in on the new one. You can always add a little something to have a surprise on the birthday.

There are women that would be offended by a used gift, but IMHO those would be the ones to avoid for a LTR. You need someone that likes your old stuff and is smart enough to look at the value of the gift - not if it is used or not.

George

[nostatic]

That's the thing - she loves the camera and is totally not a "material girl." Part of the whole artist vibe/ethic (and a reason we've been together over a year). Actually making the offer to give it to her rather than trading it in is a good one. Already have a couple of other surprises for her b-day (assuming they get here on time). The "feeling cheap" is more my paranoia of looking bad than the reality of her personality.

[Hugh R]

You have to ask??? Tacky is right. Give her the new one and then borrow it a lot.