Dispute with Siblings over How to Split Price of Gift

LSenorUmberto on 21/12/2017 - 11:55

I am having a small dispute over the price of a gift, OzBargainers please weigh in.

My 2 sisters and I always give our parents a gift and split the cost 3 ways.

This year I was responsible for purchasing the gift and bought an item from JB Hifi.

I had recently taken advantage of the 15% off gift card offer - I had bought 2 $100 gift cards for $85 dollars each.I had intended to use these on personal items for myself, but as I was purchasing the gift from JB Hifi, I thought I may as well use it on the gift.

Either way I will save $30 by using them and there was no point in saving the gift cards for another time.

I requested that each of my 2 sisters transfer my 1/3 of the full price of the gift before the gift card discount was taken into account as the gift cards were my own business.

What happened next is one sister read the receipt and saw that I had used the cards. After explaining to her my discount she is refusing to pay 1/3 of the full price and wants only to pay 1/3 of the price after the gift card discount. I feel this is unfair as I bought the gift cards to advantage myself.

What does Ozbargain think is the right thing to do? Stick to my guns or relent?

Poll Options expired

  • 49
    Insist on splitting the full price
  • 1118
    Share the bargain and collect only the reduced price
General Discussion

closed Comments

  • MeesusEff on 21/12/2017 - 13:15
    +42

    Hypothetical: if you went for lunch with your sister, paid your share and then find out she had a buy one get one free coupon from her entertainment book, would you be OK with it or annoyed that it wasn't split half half.

      • picklewizard on 21/12/2017 - 13:26
        +65

        It's literally the same thing.

        • picklewizard on 21/12/2017 - 13:52
          +33

          @SenorUmberto: You have a strange relationship with people.

          Just split the bloody cost.

        • ThithLord on 21/12/2017 - 15:02
          +17

          @picklewizard: Nope, he's just doubling down because he know's he is in the wrong.

        • hogwarts on 21/12/2017 - 15:41
          +9

          @SenorUmberto: Well she paid $50-$60 for the book, does she deserve the discount now?

        • sabracad on 23/12/2017 - 13:49

          Not really, she wouldn't have been able to use the discount without another party being involved.

          I'd be happy to split the benefit of a discount coupon of my own and would expect to share in someone else's - unless it was non-dependent on multiple purchases.

          I'm with the OP on a gift card discount.

        • spice on 23/12/2017 - 16:30

          @sabracad:

          Actually, I have used buy 1 get 1 free vouchers from the Entertainment Card on my own before…mainly for takeaways though.
          But when I go out with a friend and use those vouchers, I share the discount with my friend.

          $10 (since it is only one sister that is not wanting to pay full price) is really not a lot of money to have a family rift over.

          Imagine how it would make the parents, being the the recipients of the gift, feel.

          So much for the Spirit of Christmas…

        • fefris on 23/12/2017 - 17:21

          god run out of negs for the op. it is literally the same thing as pointed out above…. this is like talking to special school kid.

      • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2017 - 22:18
        +17

        I have run out of down votes. But here is a personal one. đź‘Ž

      • ggbhai on 21/12/2017 - 23:22
        +3

        Well, she wanted to use that coupon with her boyfriend. Do you see it now?

      • Harold Halfprice on 23/12/2017 - 19:03

        10/10 troll.

    • John Kimble on 21/12/2017 - 13:43

      BOGOF is not exactly the same. Maybe 25% off or something similar.

      • MeesusEff on 21/12/2017 - 14:59

        Yeah true, maybe a better example would be, buy one get second @ 50% off

        • Blitzfx on 21/12/2017 - 15:29
          +3

          That is still not the same. JB Giftcard discount is unconditional and doesn't require any input from anyone else.

          Buy one, get second % off is conditional and requires a second party/person to participate, using their time and money.

          Makes me wonder if you really understand the problem, because you could have just used an example of "$10 off meal" which would be much better.

        • pegaxs on 21/12/2017 - 18:25
          +1

          @Blitzfx: Ok, let’s re-work it a little then…

          Ok, let’s say, one of your family bought a dining voucher and got 50% off the voucher. Family member takes you out to dinner and asks you to pay them for half so they can use the voucher. The family member then hands over the voucher to pay. Then you find out that they only paid 50% for the voucher…

          Should you pay the 50% of the meal and your family member gets to eat for free? Or should you pay 25%, because that’s half of what the voucher was worth…

        • Blitzfx on 21/12/2017 - 21:40

          @pegaxs:
          Your explanation is a bit convoluted but it adds small nuances in the situation. If it's the type of voucher where you pay like $40 and get a fixed set dinner, then it's still not the same since they're paying for a dinner for eg. 2-3. They weren't ever going to eat the entire set meal by thsemself, and require help from another family member to share the load.

          Unless there's a different type of voucher you had in mind. I know there's probably different types, I don't know what the other variations are.

    • Hunter14 on 21/12/2017 - 19:48
      +1

      Ha. I asked a similar question. However, your hypothetical scenario is not quite the same as OP's situation. A more applicable scenario would be if the 3 of them enjoyed a nice meal and the sister used a 25% off coupon but made him pay a 1/3 of the full price of the meal before discount.

      • John Kimble on 21/12/2017 - 20:02

        The difference is that the coupon is for 25% off the whole meal, which they all ate.

        The gift card value spent is exactly the same as real money, so he is paying his fair share, it's just that he got discount for the gift cards in the first place and doesn't want to share it.

        • Hunter14 on 22/12/2017 - 02:14

          It's the exact same logic mate. Except the gift is the meal. And gift card is the entertainment voucher. I can definitely see where OP is coming from now but considering all factors, which includes dealing with his sisters and being a Christmas gift, it's still a bit of a dick move. We are not Vulcans after all.

  • whooah1979 on 21/12/2017 - 13:20
    +27

    I requested that each of my 2 sisters transfer my 1/3 of the full price

    Can't wait for your post when your parents pass and you guys fight over their will.

    • Archi on 21/12/2017 - 16:54
      +6

      what will..? they will be fighting about who is responsible for the funeral cost
      siblings be like,
      "you earn more so you should contribute a bigger amount"
      "you are older hence spent more time with parents so you should pay a greater portion to the cost"
      "cremation is cheaper than burial, but I can buy a coffin from Costco."

      • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2017 - 18:18
        +1

        "you are older hence spent more time with parents so you should pay a greater portion to the cost"

        Youngest child here. Keeping that argument up my sleeve. Thankyou.

        • downbythecreek on 23/12/2017 - 08:14

          The neglected child here, also keeping that one up my sleeve.

  • askme69 on 21/12/2017 - 13:21
    +7

    Tightarse on a new level.

  • plmko on 21/12/2017 - 13:24
    +36

    LMAO this is hilarious.

    Ozbargain simply gets better and better with bottom barrel examples every year.

    • ThadtheChad on 22/12/2017 - 13:51
      +1

      So true. Some really miserable people come out of the woodwork.

    • Harold Halfprice on 23/12/2017 - 19:05

      These have to be troll posts. There's been so much ridiculous shit posted lately.

      Look at one of the comments above, where the guy gives the example about the entertainment book voucher.

      I would be, but I don't see it as analogous to my situation.

  • theHMASfriendship on 21/12/2017 - 13:29
    +2

    I'm sure you asked for a JB deal, you should tell them to pay 1/3 full RRP as well.

  • timthetoolman on 21/12/2017 - 13:49
    +6

    I don't see how this is much different to you finding the price cheaper in one shop than another, but asking them to pay the cost of the first more expensive shop? It's something either of your sister could have done to save money as well.

    • qwerty on 21/12/2017 - 14:17
      +5

      Imagine this scenario - me and you go to hungry jacks , i get you to pay for your burger and use the bogof coupon to eat for free - would you not be pissed if you found out?

      Just wait for another disount on jb cards.

      • Blitzfx on 21/12/2017 - 15:40
        +1

        That is not the same. BOGOF requires a second person to come along with you to buy a burger (unless you were going to eat both by yourself). You had no intention and never would have bought he second burger by yourself to begin with.

        JB Hifi card is unconditional and you can go spend it any time on anything in store without anyone else having to lend a hand in getting the discount.

        SenorUmberto was going to spend all the JB cards regardless of the time and situation, whether it be after Christmas or right now for the gifts.

        This is like Senor going to JB during eg. January instead and buying a $200 item for them self and then the sisters demanding, in hard cash, a 1/3 split of the savings on a TV or w/e they were going to buy.

        Everyone using BOGOF as an example but it's not the same. One state of play is completely different to the other.

        • qwerty on 21/12/2017 - 17:07
          +2

          Well change the scenario to an 10% ebay code with limited uses .

          You would be pretty crappy to use the ebay code and then charge your family full price.

        • Blitzfx on 21/12/2017 - 21:53
          +2

          @qwerty:

          I'm assuming we're now using a 10% ebay code to buy two burgers, which is a better comparison.

          It comes down to where you draw the line.

          You found the discount bargain on your own. Do you share this discount with your family or do you use the limited uses on Nintendo Credit.

          The sisters feel entitled to SenorUmberto's $ saved and must be rather greedy and feel offended over $10 that Senor saved on their own.

          They're essentially taking the potential savings from the Nintendo card purchase and putting it into their own purse, having done zero bargain hunting on their own.

          This is not a fair and square situation on Senor, and just because it's family doesn't necessarily mean anything for an unfortunately large % of people.

    • John Kimble on 21/12/2017 - 14:20
      +4

      Moral of the story, don't buy gifts for anyone. :p

    • peco on 21/12/2017 - 19:55
      +4

      Sounds fair to you?

      Yes

      • Captain Howdy on 22/12/2017 - 11:58
        +3

        Yep.

        I don't get this thread. It's quite hilarious in a sad way.

        If OP purchased the cards to use on Nintendo eShop, why didn't he just use the cards for the eShop and spend real money on the gift? Makes no sense. You'd avoid any potential complication eppecialky given this was the original plan. That's their reasoning for us feeling sorry for them?

        Sorry OP you made a stupid choice and are now trying to scum your family as a result. Says a lot more about your pettiness then it does anything else.

    • Hengis on 23/12/2017 - 07:18
      +1

      I’m going to wait 24hrs so I can come back and downvote you again

    • popcornready on 23/12/2017 - 08:23

      Mate, in a previous post you said you had no money as it was all tied upz
      So why are you buying this Nintendo crap?

    • hsingh1186 on 23/12/2017 - 11:56

      What I don't seem to understand is why didn't you just buy the parents gift with cash/credit card and use your gift cards for their original purpose which were the Nintendo cards? Did somebody force you to use the gift cards on your parents gift? You're acting like you're so disadvantaged now that you have to pay full price for your Nintendo cards when nobody put you in this position but yourself.

      You made a conscious decision to use your discounted gift cards to purchase your parents gift instead of any other method of payment available to you because you had the intention of profiting from the share your sisters were due to give you. You were found out and are now trying to justify your shitty behaviour.

      Maybe you can use this as a lesson to not be such a dirtbag especially to your own family. Merry Christmas

    • itajac on 23/12/2017 - 14:22

      I thought you were strapped for money..? Do they sell food at the Nintendo eshop?

    • fefris on 23/12/2017 - 17:23

      yes

  • Yttrium on 21/12/2017 - 14:04
    +12

    You should definitely poison your family relationships to obtain $20.

    It's good value.

    • Hunter14 on 21/12/2017 - 19:53
      +3

      Think of all the future gifts you don't have to buy anymore. Cha Ching!

  • John Kimble on 21/12/2017 - 14:10

    Just to clarify, if hypothetically the gift cost $600, you want to pay $200 each and your sister wants to pay $190 each?

    • SenorUmberto on 21/12/2017 - 14:15

      Yes that's the general idea

      • spice on 23/12/2017 - 16:45

        I thought it was only one sister, so hypothetically, one sister $190, another $200, and the OP possibly pays the balance if the first sister wins out:

        "What happened next is one sister read the receipt and saw that I had used the cards. After explaining to her my discount she is refusing to pay 1/3 of the full price and wants only to pay 1/3 of the price after the gift card discount."

        Be interesting to know what the 2nd sister thinks.

    • shanakatak on 21/12/2017 - 14:37
      +6

      It's more like the hypothetical gift costs $600 but he only paid $570 for it.

      He wants his sister's to put in $200 each.

      However, after seeing the receipt they want to pay $570/3 which is $190.

      • R-Man on 21/12/2017 - 15:01
        +4

        Funny thing is the receipt did not show a discounted price, it only showed Gift cards used. Siblings only found out about discount because the buyer confessed!

        • trongy on 21/12/2017 - 21:53
          +6

          Funny thing is …

          It's almost sounds like his siblings know what kind of person he is. Perhaps they spent some time together while growing up?

  • cnmarine on 21/12/2017 - 14:29
    +3

    Seriously? split bill is equal split. Do you go out with friends with BOGOF coupon and get them to pay full price while you get the item/meal for free? Even if you paid for the coupon you can choose to not use it/shout them/get them to shout you but never split bill with you paying with the coupon. If you want to go dutch, it's always an equal split and you pass on the saving.

    It's like ppl with staff discount that buys gifts at a discounted price and then splits the bill with family/friends on the retail price. Total scum.

    • SenorUmberto on 21/12/2017 - 15:25
      -7

      What if you bought the coupon with the intention of treating yourself to a solo meal.

      Is it then so wrong to use it instead when you go out with friends? You bought it to benefit yourself.

      • kryss on 22/12/2017 - 03:26
        +3

        Then go eat the meal by yourself. If you choose to do otherwise, don't whine about it and hold others accountable for your choice.

  • Adz81 on 21/12/2017 - 14:33
    +13

    Holy shit… You must be a blast at family gatherings. Christmas festivities ahoy!

    Why wouldn't you share the windfall with family? Hell… I don't even talk to my brother (more than a couple of times per year), but if were buying a joint present for the folks, then it's just a case of splitting the cost (the final cost).

  • omgitzrick on 21/12/2017 - 14:45
    +21

    Stick to your guns, alienate your family and bask in the glory of that sweet $30.

    I kinda hope they refuse to split the gift and you're out the whole amount, to be honest.

    • BartholemewH on 21/12/2017 - 22:48
      +2

      Yeah, they could always tell op to stick his gift up his a*se lol. Who's out then?

    • bongom on 23/12/2017 - 09:30

      This would be the best outcome so the OP learns that being a tightass has consequences.

  • MeesusEff on 21/12/2017 - 15:05
    +8

    Putting this as nicely as I can, even if you feel you are in the right to ask for the full amount, I would imagine your parents feeling more disappointed at the fact their children are fighting over $10/$30 and rather forgo the gift in the first place.. It's Christmas, isnt it supposed to make people/families happy instead of focusing on money and gifts???

    • SenorUmberto on 21/12/2017 - 15:14
      +1

      OK I can see your argument here, but wouldn't that make my sisters just as much at fault as me then?

      BTW, I picked up my Nintendo eShop cards…without the benefit of discounted gift cards.

      • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2017 - 15:28

        Those Nintendo eShop cards are getting a bit like delicious triscuit crackers.

        https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8pHY_5psG5w

      • MeesusEff on 21/12/2017 - 18:25
        +1

        Yes, I can relate to how you feel, it is unfair but some situations you gotta hold your tongue.

        When I go out to dinner with my friends, especially birthday dinners at fancy restaurants, they would always get a bottle of wine or two, and I don't drink wine. Bill comes and its all split evenly sans birthday person because it doesn't cross their mind otherwise. Couldn't say anything without it sounding like a drama, and now I cbb going anymore.

        • John Kimble on 21/12/2017 - 18:34

          There was a post about this a while back.

      • ThadtheChad on 22/12/2017 - 13:55
        +2

        BTW, I picked up my Nintendo eShop cards…without the benefit of discounted gift cards.

        Do you want a medal for this? Mate, you fked up by using the discounted gift cards on the present. Should have paid full price there, and used the cards on the nintendo thingy.

      • popcornready on 23/12/2017 - 08:24

        Mate, in a previous post you said you had no money as it was all tied upz
        So why are you buying this Nintendo crap?

      • GangGang on 23/12/2017 - 09:44

        Why didn't you use the gift cards for the games and pay cash for the gift?

      • Harold Halfprice on 23/12/2017 - 19:12
        +2

        OK I can see your argument here, but wouldn't that make my sisters just as much at fault as me then?

        Yes. If it makes you feel better you're all pathetic for giving a (profanity) one way or another. Brothers and sisters fighting over a $10 or $30 saving for a present for their parents.

    • Blitzfx on 21/12/2017 - 15:54
      -2

      Of all the answers here, I think yours is the most logical and makes the most sense.

      A lot of the other answers are pure shitty and apparently can't do simple high school accounting, where the net $ spent is exactly the same regardless of when the card is used, except now OP has forfeited their giftcard savings for the sisters and is now spending more.

      Exact same scenario as EB games having a 15% off sale on a $100 RRP game, then you go give your sisters $5 each because no reason.

  • PAOK11 on 21/12/2017 - 15:21
    +10

    stop playing nintendo and get a job

    • foxmulder on 21/12/2017 - 17:41

      But, I love my Mario!

      • PAOK11 on 21/12/2017 - 19:00

        Lets-a-go!! its a me mario i no pay ur home-a-loan

    • pegaxs on 21/12/2017 - 21:30
      +2

      Don’t need a job…. OP got bitcoin… can retire in a week… unless….

  • JimmyF on 21/12/2017 - 15:28
    +3

    What does Ozbargain think is the right thing to do?

    Either way its pretty crappy…. You're trying to scam some extra cash of them, and they are trying to split what you really did pay.

    You shouldn't have used your giftcards to keep things simple.

  • Euphemistic on 21/12/2017 - 15:29
    +4

    Share the discount, but then steal something twice the value from them.

    Or if that fails just take the gift back and give your parents nothing and blame your sister to get her taken out of the will.

    It's just not fair they are trying to stiff you out of $30. you need to stand up for your rights.

  • stralya on 21/12/2017 - 15:46
    +1

    Share. It's Christmas, and it's family. I've personally parted with a lot more money to keep the peace in the family.

  • npat on 21/12/2017 - 15:54
    +1

    GROW UP MAN AND SHARE BARGAIN WITH YOUR SISTERS

  • T1OOO on 21/12/2017 - 16:01
    +1

    Did anyone else imfigure out the op is lying ?

    He paid with gift cards. The full amount of the cards would have been displayed. Not his purchase price if the cards.

    If he had bout them in an earlier transaction that would shield him from it and since tat you can’t both but and use the cards the op is lying about his story.

    • SenorUmberto on 21/12/2017 - 16:03
      +2

      Read my original post again where I explained this. My sister saw that 2 gift cards were used and asked why.

      I explained the deal that was posted on this site a few days ago. I could have lied and that would have saved me all this drama.

      • T1OOO on 21/12/2017 - 16:07
        +8

        Right. Saw the receipt means saw ur receipt of the first card purchase? You didn’t say that. Nor should U had let them see it. “Oh the cards were a present from Jeff” no need to inform them they cost less.

        Imo. I think that u actually did nothing wrong. Ur sisters are in the wrong and need to pay their share. They are just jealous.

        If I get a better deal on a credit card or home loan does that mean I have to give them the savings too if they are paying 21%

        Rediculess

        • SenorUmberto on 21/12/2017 - 16:16
          -1

          Right on brother

        • T1OOO on 21/12/2017 - 16:43

          @SenorUmberto:

          make sure you never pay for anything with bitcoins that you for for $50 and are now worth 20,000 i can see some rifts forming.

        • Blitzfx on 21/12/2017 - 21:58
          -1

          Feel the exact same way as you.

          Draw the line on the far end of the scale and up the % savings into the thousands and suddenly the scenario isn't fair when it's essentially the exact same thing.

    • John Kimble on 21/12/2017 - 16:04

      There is no benefit of the OP lying about this…unless the whole thread is a troll or for attention…

      • GarrusVakarian on 22/12/2017 - 09:48
        +1

        what?!? that never happens! No one would ever do such a thing

        • Munki on 22/12/2017 - 11:34

          Nobody ever lies on the internet!

  • auna on 21/12/2017 - 16:13
    +1

    There was a limit of 5 gift cards per account. If you were at the max you should consider using it as your discount but if you didn’t buy the max then it’s not your discount.

    • foxmulder on 21/12/2017 - 17:44

      Yes, OP could easily buy another $50 gift card for herself.

  • Archi on 21/12/2017 - 16:21
    +5

    if my brother did that to me I would of told him to stick it and got my parents a gift on my own.

    he can go and get a refund and buy our parents a cheaper present the tight ass,

    • T1OOO on 21/12/2017 - 16:44
      +3

      hmmm,.. how are you any different in this equation?

      • Harold Halfprice on 23/12/2017 - 19:16

        Exactly, everyone involved in this is pathetic because they've all played a big part in turning it into such a drama.

    • dcep on 21/12/2017 - 17:00
      +5

      if my brother insist on splitting the discount I would of told him to shove it and borne the gift to parents wholly by myself without splitting 3 ways.

      he can go and buy our parents a cheaper present the tight ass on his own

      • Archi on 21/12/2017 - 22:12

        Hmm thanks same same hahaha

  • nobarginsarehere on 21/12/2017 - 17:03

    Are you seriously starting a family fight over $10 ?!

    Man up, split the discount, next time do not show them the receipts (you threw it out, sorry, here is a link to the page from jb)

  • ItsMeAgro on 21/12/2017 - 17:27
    +2

    It's not a lot of money, no reason not to just give in.

    …but yes OP, you're not wrong, there's nothing to justify them cheaping out of their agreed share of the cost just because they found out you spent the time to save some of your share.

    People in this thread who think you're hitler for not wanting to share your discount (on top of being the poor schmuck who had to brave Christmas shopping season to buy the damn thing for your lazy siblings) be crazy…

  • Plug on 21/12/2017 - 17:29
    +7

    So the OP is trying to make money off the gift? Bit of a dog move if you ask me.

    • John Kimble on 21/12/2017 - 17:44
      +1

      He's not making any money in this process.

      • aspirepranesh on 21/12/2017 - 19:36

        Of course he would be making money, if his sisters paid the full amount. And my gut feel tells me that he still has discounted cards for the Nintendo cards and simply decided to make money off his family

        • John Kimble on 21/12/2017 - 19:45
          +3

          He's spending less money than them. He's not making money. You make money from working, investments, etc

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