| This simple guide will help you to write | | | | |
| thank you notes for baby shower gifts you | | | | Occasionally you may receive an item you do |
| don't want. Unless you're expecting | | | | not want, and the gift giver did not include |
| triplets, you may not need three baby | | | | a gift receipt. These situations are delicate |
| carriers, or maybe you received a bedding | | | | and should be handled according to your |
| ensemble you didn't register for and clearly | | | | relationship with the gift giver. If it was a |
| do not want. These gift-giving scenarios may | | | | close family member or friend, it's |
| occur and must be handled candidly, without | | | | appropriate to let them know you would like |
| embarrassing the gift giver or yourself. | | | | to exchange the gift for something else and |
| | | | ask if they received a gift receipt that you |
| When opening gifts at your shower, be | | | | could use. If they don't have a receipt, |
| open-minded and know that you will probably | | | | hopefully you can find out where they bought |
| receive duplicate items or gifts you do not | | | | the gift and you may still be able to |
| want. Upon opening the gift, thank the gift | | | | exchange the item or receive credit for a |
| giver for their present. After the shower, | | | | future purchase. Thank the gift giver |
| you can make plans to exchange or return the | | | | appropriately, as described above, especially |
| item, but you should always send a nice thank | | | | if you already discussed your future return |
| you note thanking the gift giver for their | | | | of their item. Here's a sample of a |
| thoughtful present. | | | | traditional thank you note where the gift |
| | | | giver does not know you'd like to return |
| Receiving Duplicate Gifts | | | | their present: |
| | | | |
| There are several reasons why you may receive | | | | Dear Ursula, |
| duplicate items. Thanks to convenient store | | | | |
| policies, returning gifts is often easy. When | | | | Thank you for the fun animal mobile that |
| you receive duplicate presents at your baby | | | | plays the great tunes. It's amazing that some |
| shower, immediately thank each gift giver for | | | | really wild creatures have been created to |
| her thoughtfulness. The givers will know you | | | | entertain our children! I know baby will have |
| have to return a duplicate, and usually | | | | fun watching the monkey, toad and bunny whirl |
| someone will give you the gift receipt for | | | | above her to Beethoven. Thanks again. |
| the exchange. When sending the thank you | | | | |
| note, do not mention that the gift was a | | | | Fondly, |
| duplicate. Thank the giver for their | | | | |
| thoughtful and generous gift as if it was the | | | | Diane |
| only one you received. | | | | |
| | | | Receiving a Broken or Damaged Gift |
| Receiving Something You Do Not Want | | | | |
| | | | With the advent of the Internet, registry |
| You may have a friend who chose to buy a gift | | | | shopping has never been easier, including |
| without looking at your registry. When | | | | having items shipped directly to your home. |
| opening the gift at your shower, it's always | | | | Occasionally, however, something may arrive |
| best to show your appreciation and find | | | | broken or damaged, in which case the receipt |
| something nice to say about the item. If | | | | or shipping invoice should offer detailed |
| someone who isn't expected to visit gave the | | | | instructions on how to return the item. The |
| gift, send a thank you note as if you plan to | | | | store will usually ship a new item upon |
| put the gift to its intended use. If, on the | | | | notification, in which case you should send a |
| other hand, it's a family member or close | | | | thank you note upon the gift's arrival, |
| friend who is sure to visit when the baby is | | | | without mentioning that it arrived broken. |
| born, let them know before their visit that | | | | However, if your friend self-packed an item |
| you exchanged the item and why. Here is a | | | | that arrived broken, etiquette suggests that |
| sample of an appropriately written note for | | | | you do not mention the damage to prevent the |
| something you do not want. | | | | sender from feeling obliged to spend |
| | | | additional time and money on a new baby gift. |
| Dear Aunt Christina, | | | | Thank the gift giver appropriately, as if the |
| | | | gift arrived ready to be used. If the |
| Thank you so much for the zebra quilt and | | | | package was insured, a label will provide you |
| pillow for baby. We completed setting up the | | | | with detailed instructions on how to recover |
| baby's room last month, and we had already | | | | the gift's value from the shipping company. |
| purchased a complete bedding set that matches | | | | |
| the rest of the room. The ensemble you picked | | | | When receiving gifts for your new baby, |
| out is very nice, and I hope you don't mind | | | | remember to handle yourself as graciously as |
| that we exchanged it for lovely curtains | | | | possible, especially if you receive things |
| we've had our eyes on. They look beautiful in | | | | you do not want. Open the gift, thank the |
| the baby's room, and I can't wait to have you | | | | gift giver and move on to the next present. |
| over to see them! Every time we look out the | | | | Send a nice note after your shower and then |
| sunny windows, we will remember you and your | | | | find a new home for it or set it aside until |
| generous gift. Many thanks again. | | | | a future need. It's important to remember |
| | | | that the gift giver probably spent a little |
| Love, | | | | time and money trying to find what they |
| | | | thought was the perfect present, and it's |
| Diane and Brian | | | | your role to show your appreciation for their |
| | | | efforts. |
| Receiving an Unwanted Gift Without a Receipt | | | | |