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