An Awkward Dilema - Help!

LegacyUser

I realise this isn't a big problem. It's just that it has me in a quandry right now.

Recently I got a birthday present of a €300 voucher code in a card from a very good friend, Dave.It was not a piece of paper ,just a number code writen in the card that I could use on an online shoe store.It was a lovely gift but I did feel a bit uncomfortable about it because I don't like to take so much money off a friend, particularly in the current economic climate. I explained this politely and tried to return the voucher to him but he said he wanted me to have it and wouldn't accept it back.

Fast forward on two weeks I go to use the voucher code but find out it has already been redeemed. I presumed this was a mistake so rang head office of the store to enquire.They told me the voucher had indeed been redeemed by someone.They confirmed the voucher had been bought by Dave and they gave me the name of the account that had redeemed the voucher. I recognised the name as that of a very close friend of Dave's.

Now I'd be 99% sure this person would not have stolen the voucher code from Dave. The only logical explanation for the scenario arrising seems to be that he had initially bought the voucher for his close friend and gave it to her a few months back.I think then when he still had the code lying around in May he forgot it had been given away,and then gave it to me for my birthday.That just seems like the most probable reason to me. I realise I'm filling in quite a few blanks with total conjecture so I might be wrong.

Now the dilema :

Do I say anything to Dave about this?
I can only imagine that if the scenario outlined above had happened that it would cause him embarrassment and that he'd feel obliged to buy me something of an equal value to make up. I would hate to put him through the awkwardness and REALLY do not want to cause him anymore expense. I'd have been happy with an empty birthday card initially and with his friendship. I very much do not want him to go spending more of his money on me when it really isn't necessary.

On the other hand I wonder if I should say something when there is such a large sum of money involved in case he gave me the wrong code or there was a mistake somewhere along the line that cost him €300.

Help! What do you think I should do ?

BaubleFreak

Ask him to lunch or something, somewhere not very expensive. At the end tell him what happened then say he can pay for lunch to 'make it up'! That way he's not forking out another €300.

dyl10

If I was in your place, I'd just tell him the code didn't work but explain you're not too fussed about it and leave it in his court.

That way you can limit the embarrassment if your assumptions are correct or if the friend did steal the code, you'll also have covered the potential theft.

Xiney

BaubleFreak wrote: »

Ask him to lunch or something, somewhere not very expensive. At the end tell him what happened then say he can pay for lunch to 'make it up'! That way he's not forking out another €300.

Whatever you do, do not do this.

Inviting someone out to lunch with the intention of having them pay is extremely rude!

TheBlock

If you guys are really close friends and I assume you are what with him giving you a €300 voucher in the middle of a recession then just say it to him. Most likely he wrote down the wrong code on your card.

LegacyUser

"Dude, that voucher you gave me.... I tried using it but it was already redeemed by someone else - they said it was X. I hope you aren't regifting presents now"......

If you're mates it won't matter - just tell him.

joeybloggs

I'd have been happy with an empty birthday card initially and with his friendship. I very much do not want him to go spending more of his money on me when it really isn't necessary.

Sorry, I just don't get it.

You yourself even said that the gift is too much anyway.You just wanted his friendship, then surely its the thought that counts right?

Assume it was just an honest mistake, do nothing. This way you'll still have your good friend Dave and no uncomfortable moments for either of you.

Unless you really want new shoes......

zxcvbnm1

I recon teh best thing to do is presumably at some point in teh future he will ask you what did you use the voucher on.

At that point just casually mention that it was already used.

He will probably say something along teh lines of you shoudl have mentioned it to him in teh past.
Just pass it off and say you meant to but forgot.

To be honest - he actually will probably ask you at some point how you used it.
SO you will have to give him some answer at that point.

You could of course just lie at that point and say you bought x with it.

TEh sceanrion will probably arise at some point though so have some answer prepared in your head for when that moment arrives.