# Need some white elephant gift ideas for work **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 7, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508 "2019-12-07T13:14:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/1 "2019-12-07T13:14:42Z")
Price limit $20-$25. Must be unisex gift. No gift cards. Doesn’t necessarily have to be a single item. Link to item(s) would be extremely helpful. Go! (I mean, \*please \*go!) ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/2 "2019-12-07T14:05:10Z")
[Coasters](https://www.amazon.com/Coasters-Absorbent-Housewarming-Birthday-Elephant/dp/B07X31HGGT/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImMK4g9qj5gIV2IVaBR3aWA2DEAAYAiAAEgI0rfD_BwE&hvadid=318587306102&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9007691&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t2&hvqmt=b&hvrand=4089770051334401943&hvtargid=aud-840076997981%3Akwd-302931694755&hydadcr=15313_10335667&keywords=best+white+elephant+christmas+gifts&qid=1575727420&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFMSjlSTk5ZMkVUV1UmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAwMjE4MTkyMkJZUVVITVZVQlZKJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3NjM3NzY3NzRWMEcxU0xXNDQmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl)? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/3 "2019-12-07T14:31:37Z")
There are two kinds of white elephant gifts: normal gifts, or gag gifts. The point is that you never know if you’re going to get something useful or just silly. Which type of gift are you looking for? ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/4 "2019-12-07T14:36:23Z")
Useful and silly, How about the Forever roll of toilet paper from charmin, lasts about a month. I saw an Etsy seller has washable tp for the family. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/5 "2019-12-07T17:00:55Z")
If you have a Homegoods nearby, just walk in and look around. You’ll find something within 5 minutes.\* - Cite: I was in one on Wednesday and the number of things that made me think to myself, “Oh that would make a good Christmas present for someone I didn’t really care about” approached triple digits … and that was just while standing in the checkout line. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/6 "2019-12-07T17:07:35Z")
Great gag gifts, if that’s the route your are going, can be found at thrift stores. I’ve found things like a brand new ant farm, or the Liberace Christmas LP, for peanuts. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/7 "2019-12-07T17:14:20Z")
At a clearance sale at a bookstore a few years ago, I ran across a bunch of Presidential paper doll books. I bought one each of the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon family and saved them specifically to use for a white elephant exchange. A guy at work would put together a “workplace survival kit” as a gag gift, which was a box of about a dozen various mini-bar sized liquor bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/8 "2019-12-07T17:23:04Z")
I saw at Wal-Mart they have those weird head massager thingys. It looks like a wire whisk. In the Pharmacy dept. I thought those would be a great gag gift that actually does something. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/9 "2019-12-07T17:24:49Z")
Dbl post ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/10 "2019-12-07T17:25:38Z")
Something like [this](https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-80s-Pelzman-Designs-Vandor-Japan-HandPainted-Ceramic-Face-Mask-Flamingo/254438731926?hash=item3b3dbaf096:g:N6cAAOSwKzVdQHbH) is sure to be a big hit. (ebay) Maybe literally! ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/11 "2019-12-07T17:32:00Z")
Goal Zero rechargeable USB flashlight? Very handy. I like mine. It is bright and lasts a long time on a charge. No removable batteries. $20. [Solar Lanterns | Goal Zero](https://www.goalzero.com/shop/lanterns/lighthouse-micro-flash-lantern/) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/12 "2019-12-07T17:52:45Z")
[Simulated Mars Soil](http://unitednuclear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1350). [Coprolites](https://www.fossilicious.com/dinosaur-coprolite/). A [shrunken head](https://www.salangome.com/shrunken-heads-for-sale/stock-shrunken-heads-detail). Cheaper items from [Odditymall](https://odditymall.com/) or [Dudeiwantthat.com](http://www.dudeiwantthat.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/13 "2019-12-07T19:11:37Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > If you have a Homegoods nearby, just walk in and look around. Or a Tuesday Morning. I bought my SO a ceramic lily pad knickknack from one; she uses it as a change tray. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/14 "2019-12-07T19:13:20Z")
Mr VOW just asked me yesterday for a White Elephant gift to take to his Astronomy Club party. I made some suggestions. He wanted to go to Sam’s Club. I shot that down: letting him go to Sam’s THIS time of year, unescorted??? He wanted a box of candy. I have an extra one, I donated to his cause. But I also explained what a “white elephant” really IS. “You have a big, ugly-colored candy dish from your Great-Aunt Sarah…and it’s covered in swastikas. THAT is a white elephant! You get rid of the awful thing, and it becomes somebody else’s problem!” ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/15 "2019-12-07T20:18:48Z")
Chia heads have been successful hits for me and are great for re-gifting. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/16 "2019-12-07T20:27:34Z")
I have done [this](https://www.amazon.com/Fun-Express-Giant-Inflatable-Inflated/dp/B074H24RNY/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3DU5ZDU97J0HZ&keywords=globe+beach+ball&qid=1575750285&sprefix=globe+beach+ball%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExRlJDT0U5QzUyUFNJJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwOTAwNjI3MTRBVUFKM0lOMlozWiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTY3MTc5U1BSVkVHREg3QVNaJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==) in the past. Why it works in a work gift setting is that you inflate it and put it in a big box. Everyone likes the big box. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/17 "2019-12-07T22:15:41Z")
OP back in to clarify that I’m not looking for a gag gift. Also nothing with obscenities. Although that inflatable globe has me thinking that may be the ticket. The flashlight idea’s not bad either, but so far it’s globe. What else ya got? ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/18 "2019-12-08T00:47:37Z")
> **[Our online shop feature books, devotional objects, artworks and folk art from...](https://www.morbidanatomy.org/shop)** > > The Morbid Anatomy Online shop carries objects from makers and collectors around the world. We have many books--new, used, and signed. We sell paintings and other fine art, religious and devotional objects, morbid jewelry and objet de art, tarot... what else ya need? I especially like the handcrafted skull necklace. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/19 "2019-12-08T01:19:07Z")
[Porg bundt pan.](https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/le-creuset-star-wars-porg-stoneware-pie-dish/?catalogId=66&sku=1812331&cm_ven=PLA&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Bakeware%20%3E%20Pie%20Dishes%20%26%20Tart%20Pans&cm_ite=1812331&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItdKi2PCk5gIViJ-fCh28hQRmEAkYAiABEgJB-PD_BwE) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508/20 "2019-12-08T01:53:44Z")
As Seen On Tv items, found on shelves on every drugstore in the land. “Emergency Bloody Mary Kit” - a 6-pack of little cans of tomato juice taped together with 6 little teeny bottles of vodka. Throw in a jar of olives. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-white-elephant-gift-ideas-for-work/844508.md?page=2)