Philatelic Gift Blunder

Ever have someone who new you were a collector try to get you a philatelic gift.....but while maybe their heart was in the right place......they failed?
The only time my wife ever tried this was years ago. She had asked for and received a list of stamps I'd be interested in having. She purchased me a mint copy of US C1. It wasn't a bady copy, but she paid about 50% more than she should have. Of course I didn't point this out and thanked her profusely.

My wife did that with tools when we were first married. At first I would return things to get better, which p------ her off. Then she would go in and say to a clerk "I want the absolute best whatever you have", and often overspent. I repeatedly asked her not to buy me tools and after a few years she did quit. As for anything philatelic she would not spend a penny to add to the hoard.

My wife won't do it anymore than I would pick out clothes or shoes for her. She'll just alerts me to them if she sees any at an antique store. However, I do have relatives who do on occasion including my mother. I still haven't seen the 1960's-70's U.S. FDC collection yet that she picked up at an antique store, but I already know she overpaid. It still might be better than the bag of musty stamps with silverfish. That didn't even make it back to my house. I usually nod and say thanks. It's a nice gesture, but I wish they didn't. However, you never know - even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.

I always figured squirrels worked by smell.

Learned never to buy anything for anybody else's passion, 'cept at a bridal registry.

Q/ Why are there no stamp registries?

Also learned never to cook dinner to a date's ethnicity, so the Italian girls get Chinese, etc.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

That would be terrible to mess up a cannoli, ( which I had to look up to spell) for your Italian Girl friend. However it can also be seen as a nice gesture, If a disclaimer were mentioned before tasting. Fortunately for me, My wifes dad thought a steak came from a cardboard box and said Salisbury on it.
Like others, mt wife will save stamps from the mail and point out when one of my hobbies appears in a thrift shop, but she wont buy anything, just out of a pure lack of knowledge on the subject.
For the same reason, I dont handle health stuff.

Oh man, have I been there..........
It especially hit me with my other hobby, model railroading. Goodness, the money my older sister spent on "items with a train/loco on them" is more than I can comprehend. And my gift of packs of stamps is just of no use whatsoever.

The solution - usually - is to make suggestions before gift giving occasions. Ha, PayPal or gift cards work great!