I agree that it's neither necessary nor kind to tell the gift givers that their gift was in any way unwelcome or inappropriate (wrong color, already got one, wrong size, whatever). And I thoroughly approve of:
a) "white elephant" exchanges at next holiday
b) donations to charity*
c) "regifting" -- i.e., passing it on, unabashedly, to "the right recipient" (someone for whom the size, color, etc., is appropriate) later on.

My friends and family all have an understanding that regifting is a fine, noble, and respectful thing to do.   We recognize that "one person's trash is another's treasure."


But the best solution, to me, is this one:

Liz the Squeak said: "Ask them to buy you a llama - several charities like Oxfam and Tearfund run schemes whereby you can buy a llama or a goat or some trees and send them to a village in Africa or India in your name.

I was toying with the idea of a llama this year but I found it was so cute I wanted to keep him myself!

LTS"

Cute llamas aside, most of my circle of adult friends and family several years ago discussed "unplugging the Christmas machine," complete with bringing up the issue of good money being spent on unneeded, unwanted, and ill-fitting items.   We agreed that making donations via the Alternative Gift Market or people's favorite charities, in their names, is a great way to express the Christmas spirit and give a valuable gift that will in no way go to waste.   It's worked out beautifully.

Genie :-D










* though if it's a really nice item of a certain type, e.g., perfume or cosmetics, you might as well throw it into the trash as give it to most thrift shops, because the package will be opened, sampled, and otherwise 'trashed' before it finds the right buyer