Present Etiquette; should you open a present when you receive it or wait until later?

Question

When my relatives come over they bring gifts. I don't know whether or not I should open the gift right there or not. If I do, I feel greedy and worry I may be acting like I only appreciate the gift and not them, but if I don't I feel like I'm not appreciating the gift and making them feel bad their effort was wasted when it really wasn't! I'm not saying opening the package of see's or something, just opening it out of it's packaging (i.e. wrapping paper, gift bag) and like that.

Answer 1

If you want to wait to open it you could always send them a thank you note or email telling them that you love/appreciate the gift so they'll know that their effort wasn't wasted.

Hope that helps :)

Answer 2

Open it whenever you feel like it.

Answer 3

I wouldn't open it right away..like maybe after dinner or something so it won't seem rude that you opened it as soon as they handed it to you, but if you don't open it while they're there, i'm sure they may feel as though you don't appreciate anything they do for you. so i would wait until a family gathering, like after dinner.

Answer 4

Thank them for their gift and then set it aside to be opened later (i.e., once they're gone).  

Answer 5

my father in law doesn't open the gifts we bring him for special occasions, and it bugs the h**l out of us. i think its ungrateful. when a person gets a gift for someone, half the fun is seeing the person open it. i dont think u should open them right away, when they pass u the gifts, say, i will put them here until we've finishe dinner, or whatever...

Answer 6

If it's Christmas or for my birthday or some type of EVENT, then I'll open it in front of them so that I can exclaim about how great it is and thank them.  It doesn't look greedy, in fact, I think most people would be hurt if you didn't open it right then, because it might look like you don't care.

Answer 7

Depends on the person... some people like my aunt, love it when you make a big deal about it so you might want to open it right away. Other people like my grandmother dont mind so I wait till I get home to open it.

Answer 8

I would recommend taking special care to place it in a prominent place in your home as soon as they give it to you (I'm guessing at the door when they come in), such as on the coffee table or dining table.  If they give it to you at a specific point in the evening, such as after dinner, then open it right away.  In the first instance, wait until your greetings are finished and you have some time to visit.  Then, express your excitement and ask if you can open it, then do so.

I would not wait to open a gift in this situation after they leave.  Rather, express thanks and place it in a nice place and wait for the right time in the evening to open it.

Answer 9

I think that you should wait for a little bit, but still open it while they're there. Like, if your grandma arrived for dinner at 5, and you eat at 6 wait until after you eat to open the gift, like at 7.

Answer 10

Open it while they are there so you can thank them right then.