One more shower question-OOS girls having a NY shower

I am just thinking early-my shower will probably be in December in NY. We live in South Florida. I am not having a Florida shower as my friends and family live mostly in NY and my shower will be around the holidays (not ideal, but I really do not want to chance anything in January and we have some holiday parties in NY that DH and I are set on going to). So here is the question-if I ask to have big items shipped directly to me, do people tend to listen or do they tend to either not buy the big items or not even listen and just bring them to the shower? I know we are going to have to drive back and we are probably going to get a U-Haul, since we have a small storage unit that we are going to want to empty then. I really need the big gifts and I would prefer not to get a bunch of clothing that DC will outgrow in 2 weeks.

Any advice? What should we do? I am inviting a lot of people to my shower.

ETA-a friend here in FL suggested that maybe we ask for BBB or BRU gift cards. I don't know if that is presumptuous.

Message edited 8/4/2009 1:28:13 PM.

Re: One more shower question-OOS girls having a NY shower

mich, i think we're asking (via word of mouth) to have bigger items sent directly to us.

otherwise we are either going to just return things to BRU and buy them back in CA.... or ship them ourselves.

Re: One more shower question-OOS girls having a NY shower

I live in Ohio and had my shower in NY. We opted to fly to NY and rent a Uhaul for the ride back. I just felt that the big items were already expensive and then to add shipping would be an added expense. Another idea I toyed with was returning stuff in NY and then re-purchasing it when I got home.

Re: One more shower question-OOS girls having a NY shower

DH's cousin lives in Charlotte and she had her shower in NY.

She noted on the registry at BRU to call her local store to place the order and let her know and she'd pick it up to avoid potential shipping charges. Her mom and sister also spread the word around verbally.

She got a lot of items at her shower and it was difficult for her to bring them all home.

Re: One more shower question-OOS girls having a NY shower

It really depends upon your guests. I find that girls with lots of sisters, aunts, SIL, or close cousins get the big ticket items but those that don't have people that close in relation tend NOT to get these things. Sometimes a group of friends or co-workers will go in on them too. As for having them at the party or not, that is a guessing game. Some realize that it is easier for OOS girls to get a picture of them and have them sent to the persons house, but b/c that adds extra cost to the gift givers end they don't always do that.

What I would do in your case is provide the contact info for your LOCAL BRU and write on your registry that the gift giver call your local store so you can pick it up in store. That should save the gift giver the shipping costs.

Re: One more shower question-OOS girls having a NY shower

Thank you everyone for the great ideas!

Re: One more shower question-OOS girls having a NY shower

Re: One more shower question-OOS girls having a NY shower

We put a note on our BRU registry to all the NY-ers something like: "Thank you for thinking of us! If you are purchasing a large item (stroller, toy box, glider, car seat, etc.), please have it shipped to our home or call 555-555-5555 to order and we will pick it up."

We had two people order from the store and we picked up and had about 10 big things shipped to the house. My mom spread it around too that they should do that. We still got TONS of stuff at the shower and a few larger items so I was glad we drove (the car was packed!) but it can't hurt to put a note on your registry.


Oh and we've had NO problems with BRU and returning items. We hardly had any gift receipts either but as long as they saw it came from our registry they gave us the credit.

Re: One more shower question-OOS girls having a NY shower