On Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:02:41 -0400, cshenk wrote:

> "ChattyCathy" wrote
>
> > The invite says that 'guests are under no obligation to buy any gifts' -
>> but they've registered at *two* home ware stores and given all the details
>> about them - just in case.
>
> Common if newlyweds. Especially common in Hawaii. They do a money tree in
> Hawaii as well and you clip money (or checks) to it with paperclips.

They're not newlyweds, as far as I know...
>
>> That is, until I saw the 'wish list' that they had also tacked on to
>> the invitation. It includes (among other things): a new HD Television,
>> a new double door fridge and a home theater system. I thought this
>> might be a joke, but they have actually stated the name of a store
>> where one of the items on the wish list can be purchased.
>
> Again, sorta depends on the background of the folks. With the larger
> items, it's close family who get them or what you do is dontate a
> portion of the cost towards an item.

We're not family, or even close friends. So why send the 'wish list' to
acquaintances unless they were 'on the make'?

> Say they pick out some nice china?
> You go and see it's 300$. They arent expecting you to pay 300$, just
> perhaps put down 10$ or so with the store towards the purchase. If 15
> folks put down 10$ each, they can then get their china for just 150$.
> Mom and Dad might put down 500$ towards that new fridge but not the
> casual guest.

We would qualify as 'we barely know them' guests.

>
> If you did want to go and have a friend like you who's also confused, a
> 40$ gift certificate at a reasonably decent store like JC Penny makes a
> good housewarmer gift. You each pay half and from it they can pickup
> that stray small appliance that they still need.

Point is: if they hadn't mentioned gifts in the invite, I would have
accepted and bought something for them anyway. It's just the
whole "this is what I expect" thing that put me off.

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Egg tastes better when it's not on your face...