A mum has called out her "rude" friend after being left "offended" following a birthday present mishap.
The woman took to parenting forum Mumsnet to seek advice after she purchased a £70 bracelet for her friend's 30th birthday. She received a message the next morning from her friend asking if she could exchange the gift for something else.
The friend then sent the woman a link to an item costing £150, which she said made her "look cheap".
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The mum wrote: "Went to a friend's birthday last night and bought her a bracelet - not that it should matter but for context it cost me £70, which for me is a lot, I have two kids, work reduced hours and it’s Christmas time (it was a milestone bday).
"Anyway today I wake up to a message asking me if she could exchange it as she’s prefer something else. I want to know if this is rude or the done thing nowadays?
"To me I think it is rude - I was brought up to never expect a gift but to be grateful if you get one. There’s also a gift receipt in the bag, she doesn’t actually need to tell me 'hey I don’t like the gift'."
She continued: "Anyway she’s sent me a link for an item she prefers -£150- she says in the message “if” the bracelet was more she’ll find something else.
"So not only am I offended she’s now making me look cheap. Am I being unreasonable?"
Before long, the post had received dozens of replies from fellow Mumsnet users. The majority were in agreement that the woman's friend was being "spectacularly rude".
One said: "Yes, it’s rude, especially if the gift receipt was included. I personally wouldn’t return a gift."
A second agreed: "Wow, that is rude. Does she really think you will send her more money?
"I would be fuming! Is this a family member, because that is a lot of money to spend on someone who is not a partner or child."
"Very unnecessary and offensive, spoilt and entitled," commented a third.
"Spectacularly rude," said a fourth, while a fifth revealed: "Last gift she’d get from me".
Meanwhile, one said that other users' reactions were over the top, writing: "What a totally unnecessary over-reaction to an admittedly tactless message from someone the op describes as an otherwise good and thoughtful friend."
Others felt the friend was right to get in touch, with one stating: "If I’d spent £70 on somebody then I’d prefer them to be honest that it wasn’t really their style and ask if they could exchange it rather than pretend and then it just live in their drawer forever."
A second echoed: "This is a tough one and she is being rude but if the bracelet isn't to her taste it might just sit in a drawer forever. Better that she swaps it for something else that she will wear."
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