No matter how much you may say it's not true, the first present a guy gives you can either win you over or turn you off. A survey by a U.K. dating site found that over a third of women would consider dumping a guy over a bad gift. Unfortunately, some men are just clueless when it comes to giving presents to their sweethearts. Check out these real-life examples of the good, the bad and the ugly presents received from potential beaus. Then leave a comment to share your own stories -- we'll run the best and worst gifts in a future post on Lemondrop.
THE BAD
These poorly planned presents made women wonder what their men were thinking.
Recycled Ring
"He gave me a ring that I found out later he'd originally bought for his ex-girlfriend. It was too big for my finger, too!" -- Jervilyn, Maui
Total Writeoff
"One guy gave me a pen from Tiffany's and said it's because I was such a great writer. I guess he wanted to be a big-shot and get something from Tiffany's, but couldn't commit to getting something that might be interpreted as romantic. I'd say it was a corporate gift he was recycling, but he'd never had a real job, so probably not." -- Sandy, Burlington, Vt.
Gadget Guy
"This guy I was seeing got me a DVD player, which I thought was pretty sweet, since I'd been borrowing his for a few months. That is, until two weeks later, when he dumped me and made a point of asking me for his DVD player back -- I guess that had been his point." -- Coco, Los Angeles
Lit Up
"A whole group of us had a big dinner party, and the planned highlight of the night was a gift exchange. Apparently the guy I'd been seeing had neglected to buy me anything, so when it came time for his turn, he beamed and gave me a Zippo that he claimed was 'very special' to him and that he'd clearly just fished out of his pocket." -- Rita, Dallas
Great Gifts $25 and Under
Cube Cocktail Jigger, $25, MOMA.
www.momastore.org
Sushi Shower Curtain and Wastebasket, $18.95, Archie McPhee.
www.mcphee.com
Cupcake Stand Kit, $9.99, Wilton.
www.wilton.com
Custom Aveda Gift Baskets, from $10.50, Aveda.
www.aveda.com
'Sandtastic' Bucket of Candy, $22.50, Dylan's Candy Bar.
www.dylanscandybar.com
Combination Cutting Board and Colander, $24, MOMA.
www.moma.org
Schick Quattro Titanium Trimmer, $12, Schick.
www.schickquattro.com
Lego iPod Dock, $25, Urban Outfitters.
www.urbanoutfitters.com
Travel French Press Coffeemaker, $5.37, Bodum.
www.bodumusa.com
Bacon Band-Aids and Bacon Wallet, $4.95 and $9.95, Archie McPhee.
www.mcphee.com
Art-Stopper
"I went out with this super-artsy guy for a while in college. That wasn't my normal type but I guess I liked that he was sensitive. I changed my mind that December, when he gave me a drawing he'd sketched of me, naked, with a star of David drawn next to me. Apparently he was trying to show how open he was to my religion, in addition to how interested he was in the idea of seeing me naked. Super creepy." -- Miriam, Minneapolis
Juvenile Junk
"An oversized stuffed teddy bear that looked like three pillows combined and a mix tape of 90's alternative and house dance songs. What was he thinking?" -- Cheryl, Rockland
Cruel Lintentions
"When my husband and I started dating, he gave me three gifts that were obviously purchased at our local Walgreens on the way over to my parents' house. He saw my disappointment, left the party and came back with another gift that was beautifully wrapped. I assumed the other stuff was a joke and excitedly opened this one, only to find that it was a lint roller. He assumed a lint roller would be a perfect gift because I worked in an office. Guess he figured all people that work in offices are covered in lint." -- Lynna, Seattle
Book Learning
"My boyfriend always lectured me about nutrition, because I was a vegetarian and he was convinced I wasn't eating healthily. So for Christmas he got me 'The Omnivore's Dilemma.' As if that weren't romantic enough, he then proceeded to take it from me, read it himself, and lose it. Quite a giver, that one." -- Gail, Philadelphia
Click here to read some of the best gifts women have received.
TELL US! What's the best or worst gift you've ever gotten from a guy? Leave a comment to share your story.












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Friday 19 December
By BANCHEE
i we have been married 35 years after 10 years of buying the wrong girt ( with HER MOTHERS HELP) i have learned to say ( HERE ARE THE CREDIT CARDS GO BUY WHAT I AM GIVING YOU FOF CHRISTMASS ) DAMN I AM PROULD I HAVE N O T GIVEN THE WRONG GIFT IN Y E A R S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Saturday 20 December
By prae57
My dear EX husband bought me a brand new shiney WHEELBARROW!!! Yes I did a lot of yard work but no guys...this is NOT a Christmas gift...it is one of those things you buy because she just needs it...give it to her on a Saturday for NO occasion other than to show you care.
One of the funniest gifts I got from a guy on our first date...Valentines Day... He walked in with a White Teddy Bear Bigger than he was...this thing stands 6 feet tall!! I swear I could not stop laughing...it was sooo huge! I still have it although him and I didn't make a couple. It made darling pictures with my grandson he used it for a bed!
The best gift I ever got was a hand-written invitation from my 14 y/o grandson inviting me to grandparents day at his school telling me all the resons I was the best MiMi...and then after the celebration he told me, "MiMi...I was looking at everyone elses grandparents and you just don't fit in with them...but PawPaw gets pretty close!" Look out ladies when he turns 21...he is going to be a ladies man!.
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Friday 19 December
By rosa
Response to Emmy: No, I'm truly not materialistic. I just expected my husband to listen to me as I asked for a simple Christmas gift. And to try to know me well enough to know what's my style and what isn't. Isn't that all any woman wants from her man? We want to be paid attention to, to feel like we're important in their eyes and not an afterthought. Thoughtlessness in gift-giving can carry over into other areas of a relationship too.
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Friday 19 December
By Lily
The worst presant ever waz........ CHEATING with my best friend and me
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Friday 19 December
By k3nzi3k00x3
I have a bit of an ironic story to go along with the "crappy Valentine's pendant whose chain broke."
My boyfriend of over a year had spontaneously bought me this cute little necklace. We're teenagers so I thought it was adorable (hey, I'm not expecting anything over $10!) and especially since it was just a random gift.
I wore it CONSTANTLY and never took it off. Occasionally, I started to doubt my feelings for him as anything more than a real good friend. That day it broke. I was a bit paranoid for a bit, got it fixed and continued to wear it.
It broke for good two months later immediately after I broke up with him.
(and we're still good friends... so here's one for the GOOD gifts list with a twist of irony!)
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Friday 19 December
By Cheryl
My X husband bought me a golf cart one Christmas and a vacuum the next! I don't play golf!
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Friday 19 December
By Oprah
I gived the whole damn audience cars one year, and they gots mads cause they had to pay the tax!!!! (actually Pontiac gave me the cars to give away)
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Friday 19 December
By wolfmara
Best Gift?
My son was born a week after my birthday...Best Birthday gift I've ever received. =-D
also, thinking that he might be born ON my Birthday- My Hubby sent me two dozen roses a few days earlier than my birthday with a note saying he wanted to make sure i got the birthday flowers in case i was stuck in the hospital actualy giving birth on my birthday... =-)
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Friday 19 December
By jan
My husband bought me the most adorable tiny terrier puppy. I loved it but was it terrible for our sex life. The tiny dog would get so jealous when we made love we were in fear for our lives. It would yelp bite and claw us.
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Friday 19 December
By Stef
I had a boyfriend who asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I told him CK-1, which is a fragrance by Calvin Klein. He went shopping and called me later, saying, I went to the mall and saw the CK-1 but it cost too much so I got you White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor. Needless to say I was fuming because I hate White Diamonds. He said, you can always exchange it, which is exactly what I did. after adding a couple of dollars to it.
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Friday 19 December
By marcia
My Mom tells me Dad gave her an electric drill one year, then asked for it when he moved out before they divorced! I thought this topped every bad gift story I had ever heard until she said he wrapped up a brick for her gift the year before! I have never had the nerve to ask him what in the world he was thinking but his current wife has learned to provide lists and he has learned to follow the list or suffer her wrath!
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Friday 19 December
By colleen
Christmas 2005 is when I received the BEST present, which was totally unexpected!! I had only been dating my boyfriend (who is now my husband) for 2 months and he bought me the most beautiful diamond necklace for Christmas! It was one of those 3 stone ones from Kay, the past present future ones, and it meant the world to me. We've been madly in love since the day we met and even if he hadn't bought me anything that Christmas, he'd still be my wonderful husband today :)
I've also been told that I give the best presents! On my husband's 20th birthday I took him to see a basketball game out of town, court side seats and all! I saved up for months to afford that trip! But it was well worth it to see him so excited and happy!!
But, probably the best gift of all, ever in my life, is my daughter :)
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Friday 19 December
By Bruce
I gave my wife the shocker for her birthday, the best part was she returned the favor!!!
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Friday 19 December
By Greg
Nor surprised to find AOL full of selfish, ungrateful and humorless bitches
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Friday 19 December
By Lea
Greg: NOT A SURPRISE TO FIND AN OBNOXIOUS, BITTER ASS LIKE YOU ON AOL! BTW: WATCH WHOM YOU CALL BITCHES...YOU JUST MIGHT BE HEARING IT YOURSELF! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Friday 19 December
By julia
OK, I know sometimes people get really awful presents. But really? As long as they're trying, then it doesn't really matter. Unless he's a jerk. But that has nothing to do with presents.
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Sunday 21 December
By Dee
The worst gift I ever received was a Thighmaster from an ex-boyfriend many years ago. I was in total disbelief when I unwrapped it - he just chuckled and said they were popular. I tell you I just wanted to squeeze, squeeze, squeeze him!
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Friday 19 December
By Jeff
Hey Mitzi.... After reading your post, I'd say your boyfriend is one lucky guy. Happy Holidays to you both!
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Friday 19 December
By Mitzi
Hi Jeff,
Thanks, but I feel like I'm the lucky one. Even though we're on opposite sides of the world right now, I feel his love for me and that is the greatest gift!
Merry Christmas to you and God bless!
Saturday 20 December
By martha
My ex gave me Arby's coupons one year for Valentine's Day.
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