My MPP today is that I'm annoyed on behalf of my MIL that she spent money on Christmas gifts for us (which she wasn't even supposed to buy, as we had agreed, but she had to get us "just a little something") and they don't fit. They're from Costco so I figured returns would be simple, but apparently she bought them like 10 months ago (what? why?) so without a receipt you only get credit for the last sale price, which was a whopping $4 for one item. THEN I find out that the other item wasn't even bought at Costco in this country, but in the US last time she was there (see above re: 10 months ago). So she spent probably $30 or so on items that are totally useless to us. I know it's petty to be annoyed by something so minor and that was supposed to be a nice gesture but I just despise the waste of money. We agreed no gifts! Stick to the plan!
Oh well. The clothes might fit my BIL and SIL so we'll pass them on and hopefully it won't be a total waste.
I'm not sure why my brain is compelling me to write this, but that only happens at Costco if you're not the member who purchased the item, and you have no receipt. I just returned some sheets I purchased several months ago with no receipt. It was no hassle and I was refunded the price I paid. I hadn't opened them yet and they were on sale. I returned them and bought the same sheets for $20 less. The Kirkland 680 sheets are the bomb, btw. Best constructed bottom sheet I've ever seen, and I have a thing for nice sheets.
As to the fact that she bought whatever it was ten months ago while she was traveling, could you reframe it a bit? At least she didn't wait until the last minute to think of you, lol.
Fair observation. I was trying to return them myself because I don't want the angst from her of "oh no I'm so sorry I'm a terrible gift-giver" if I ask her to return them. So yeah, if I gave her the one item back and she returned it she could get the full price back, you're right. And yes, I know I'm contributing at least a bit by letting my feelings about her feelings prevent me from just getting her to return the thing. It's a vicious cycle.
As for the 10 months ago complaint it's symptomatic of this thing she's starting to do where she just grabs stuff she sees while she's shopping thinking "so and so might like this!" and then it sits in a cupboard, forgotten, until she remembers it. Like, both of us have had birthdays since the shopping trips where she got these items, so why not give them to us then? I've had two separate grandmothers (one of them her own mother) who ended up with a house full of junk that she kept buying because it was there and on sale and then never used or gave to anyone. Stuff like 20 pairs of gloves or 100 (no joke!) pairs of pantyhose. When she does this kind of thing it makes me feel like she's going down the same road. So, again, feelings.
Plus, especially with clothes things can change in 10 months! People lose or gain weight, kids grow. She bought some other clothes for my nieces throughout the year, and by the time Christmas came around some items almost didn't fit them anymore.
Anyways. This is an MPP for a reason, it's silly and petty and just something that annoys me because I wouldn't do it so I'm venting here. Life goes on.