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Giving someone a Tester as a gift.... would you? have you?

post #1 of 23
4/16/10 at 1:55pm
Thread Starter 
The question is: Would you (or have you) ever give someone a tester as a present?

Background:
As my father's birthday approaches, after weeks of rotating him through my collection for some months, I've finally found a cologne he likes - Terre d'Hermes, no surprise here. As I looked at my options for purchasing him a bottle, I found that there's obviously a price difference between Used, Tester, NIB, etc.

In many cases, I'd be paying $10-20 for the retail box, plus the item being "sealed".
What am I getting in return?

1. Well a quality assurance it's never been used or tampered with,
+ perhaps my biggest reason. If I'm giving a gift, I want to make sure it's not tampered with.
- Then again, how many testers end up being defective bottles or have old juice?

2. and of course the retail box which I suppose is a nice display piece,
- in my case I know he's probably going to just throw out the box anyway 2 minutes later...

3. and some sign to the receiver that I didn't go all "cheap" on them.
- is this a legitimate reason? is getting a white tester marked cardboard box a sigh that "I like you, but not not enough to spent an extra $10"?

So would you give someone a tester as a gift?

I realize there are some specifics about my particular case, but I'm just curious as a general topic how y'all feel about this.
ADDED EDIT - I'm not looking for advice as much as i am interested in starting an interesting discussion about this, the practice in general. So please don't get too hung up on me and my dad
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post #2 of 23
4/16/10 at 2:05pm
I have received some as presents from a friend who worked at a perfume shop and i knew didn’t have much money. I never minded the fact that the fragrances were testers as they were in pristine condition and it would have been a way too expensive present if she bought them.

But it’s not about giving someone a tester as a gift, but giving your dad one. And, sorry, you should know best if he would mind or even notice. My advice would be: If you don’t know, play it save. Good luck!
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post #3 of 23
4/16/10 at 2:07pm
I would never give someone a tester of a commonly available fragrance as a gift. Never. Presentation is half the fun and makes the juice smell sweeter.

If it's rare and discontinued and the OP really wants it: absolutely!

But if it's OK or not depends on the circumstances. It is the thought that counts, like they say. A gift that seems to scream cheap coming from someone with means won't be too popular, while the same gift coming from a different person would be perfectly appropriate.
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post #4 of 23
4/16/10 at 2:16pm
  • kbe
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"Never look a gift horse in the mouth"

I would be thrilled to receive it sans box and cap. But you know your dad better than any of us..
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post #5 of 23
4/16/10 at 2:16pm
***
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post #6 of 23
4/16/10 at 2:19pm
You know your father best. My mother wouldn't care at all if it was a tester. But many people would feel offended if they felt the gift was second-rate.
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post #7 of 23
4/16/10 at 2:21pm
... as long as he dosn't think it's stolen,
like most testers on eBay are!
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post #8 of 23
4/16/10 at 3:48pm
It totally depends. On what his values are, where he keeps his scents (on display or tucked away) and if he's generally very aesthetic about the gifting process.

My dad would probably be delighted to get a tester, as long it was "with cap". He's a pretty casual guy.

I, on the other hand, would not like to receive a tester of any sort. I would be hurt. I put great effort into wrapping and presentation, and I appreciate the sentiment of a well-presented package: I consider a form of respect and adoration in and of itself.

You might consider buying an affordable, masculine atomizer for the contents, if the savings is great enough to justify it. I have done that as a means of gifting a used fragrance before, and it was lovely.

The one on the left and others like it are available at perfumeatomizersking.com.
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post #9 of 23
4/16/10 at 4:02pm
Your dad is worth the extra 10-20 bucks.
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post #10 of 23
4/16/10 at 4:05pm
It wouldn't bother me a bit to get a tester as a gift. (as I've said in other threads, the giver and the intent is more important than the gift... and if someone gives me scent, I know they've been paying attention.) I think if I were the giver, I'd make a point of coming up with a very nice way to present it. Or as Hillaire suggested, decant it into a special bottle. But then, if you can't afford the extra for the bottle, a little creative wrapping and presentation goes a long way.
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post #11 of 23
4/16/10 at 4:12pm
I would not give a tester as a gift (especially something like Mother's or Father's Day), and I would be disappointed to receive one if it had no cap (no box, eh, okay). I pass on testers for myself that have no cap, even if it means saving $20. But it does depend on the recipient. DH likely would not mind a tester of something he uses often as he places more import on value and frugality than appearance, but he too can be swayed by a really cool bottle.

So my thoughts agree with Hillaire and 30 Roses on this one (except my mother would care!).

edit: Actually, I see now that nsamadi sums it up perfectly.
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post #12 of 23
4/16/10 at 4:33pm
I would buy a tester for myself, but I wouldn't give one away for a special occasion. I think I've attached a stigma to fragrance testers, as well as to fragrances that are unboxed. Somehow, they just don't appear "new" for gift-giving.
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post #13 of 23
4/16/10 at 10:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bossanova_boy View Post

I would buy a tester for myself, but I wouldn't give one away for a special occasion. I think I've attached a stigma to fragrance testers, as well as to fragrances that are unboxed. Somehow, they just don't appear "new" for gift-giving.

That's how I felt about it too, like I'd buy it for myself and save the $20 for buying something more but as a gift somehow it just seems "cheap", even though in my case I know he'll just throw away the box a second later.
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post #14 of 23
4/17/10 at 12:20am
I gave one to a friend of mine perhaps 18 (?) years ago. We were both university students on limited incomes, but he was thrilled because it was his fave fragrance; trouble is, I couldn't help but feel cheap and as if I cheated him in some way. He kinda had this fleeting expression of "where's the rest"?
Lesson learned: only real, fully-packaged stock from that day on. Bossanova_boy sums it up best.
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post #15 of 23
4/17/10 at 12:33am
Probably, I would not ever give a tester as a gift

Yet, I would probably not have any problem with receiving a tester as a gift, the fun would be the same
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post #16 of 23
4/17/10 at 1:01am
As fragrance enthusiasts, many of us--myself included--are more interested in what lies inside the bottle than the bottle itself. I would be delighted to receive a quantity of anything that I really enjoy, independent of the vessel containing it.

Those for whom designer fragrances are more luxury items than sensual pleasures may not feel the same way, and those feelings should be considered and respected when purchasing. Myself, I would rather spend the extra twenty bucks on a meal or movie tickets shared with the recipient than some pastel-colored cardboard (caps are a MUST, though).
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post #17 of 23
4/17/10 at 1:16pm
I have never given a tester to anyone as a gift. If it were a casual non-occasion gift for a friend who loves fragrance, I wouldn't hesitate. Perfumistas understand. But as a more formal gift for a special occasion, I wouldn't give the person a tester.
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post #18 of 23
4/17/10 at 4:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lilybelle View Post

I have never given a tester to anyone as a gift. If it were a casual non-occasion gift for a friend who loves fragrance, I wouldn't hesitate. Perfumistas understand. But as a more formal gift for a special occasion, I wouldn't give the person a tester.

I agree, I think it comes off too cheap just giving someone a tester that might not even have the cap on it. I buy the thing in its entirety for someone, i sometimes buy myself testers depending on what it is.
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post #19 of 23
4/17/10 at 4:26pm
I suppose that I have friends who are informal, and understand my "quirks"... of course my presentation of a gift would be unusual anyway...
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post #20 of 23
4/21/10 at 2:47pm
I would not mind to get a tester as a present. I would not, however, 'surprise' anyone with a tester.
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post #21 of 23
4/22/10 at 7:11pm
I'm sure I won't say anything that hasn't already been said at this point but:

- It's relative to the person both giving and getting the gift. If I received a tester as a gift, I'd be thrilled! BUT, if I was giving a fragrance to a friend for his/her birthday at the risk of appearing cheap by gifting a tester I would almost certainly spring for a NIB frag.
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post #22 of 23
4/22/10 at 7:12pm
Also, this thread could've benefitted from a poll!
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post #23 of 23
4/24/10 at 9:17am
Thread Starter 
yeah, poal fail, lol. Interesting thoughts y'all... looks like NIB for dad is the right call for me at least.
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Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › General Discussion › Off topic › Giving someone a Tester as a gift.... would you? have you?