After Being Called ‘Cheap,’ She Took Back His $400 Gift

You know, the feeling of finding the perfect gift for someone you love is just the best. But what happens when that perfect gift is met with insults and entitlement? One older sister found out the hard way when she gifted her 14-year-old brother a much-coveted PS5 for his birthday.

His reaction wasn’t just ungrateful, it was downright rude. And her response? It was a masterclass in immediate consequences that left the birthday boy stunned and empty-handed. Let’s just say this is one birthday he’ll never forget.

Get ready, because this story is a wild ride:

Oh, my goodness. You can feel the generosity just pouring out of this sister at the start of the story. She thinks of her brother, knows what he loves, and decides to give him an amazing, high-value gift. And his reaction? It’s a gut punch.

To be called “cheap” for giving someone a gift worth hundreds of dollars is just shocking. The line, “a good sister would give him the new one,” is the kind of entitled statement that makes you want to gasp. What she did next wasn’t stealing. It was teaching a hard, swift lesson in gratitude that, frankly, he was long overdue to learn.

The Problem with ‘Used Junk’

Let’s talk about the brother’s attitude for a moment. He called a perfectly good, highly sought-after gaming console that his own sister lovingly prepared for him “used junk.” His reaction shows a complete disconnect from the value of things and the kindness behind the gesture.

What’s wild is how out of step his thinking is with the real world. Giving pre-owned gifts, especially high-end electronics, is becoming more popular and accepted every year. A survey from the resale marketplace OfferUp found that a whopping 74% of shoppers believe giving second-hand gifts has become more acceptable. Even more telling, 83% of people would welcome receiving one.

So, where does this kind of entitlement come from? It’s a question many parents and siblings wrestle with. Dr. Jan Miller, a psychologist with Thriveworks, suggests it can happen when “there is a clear lack of boundaries, rewards are given without earning them and there is a lack of punishment for violating rules or boundaries.”

The sister’s response, taking back the gift, was exactly the kind of boundary-setting Dr. Miller talks about. It wasn’t mean, it was a direct consequence of his rude and ungrateful behavior. She was communicating a simple, powerful message: “My generosity is a gift, not a requirement, and it can be withdrawn.”

Here’s what the Reddit community had to say.

The verdict was a resounding “Not the [Bad Guy],” with nearly everyone cheering the sister’s actions.

How to Handle a Moment Like This

It’s tough when a thoughtful gift is met with a bad attitude. So what do you do? The sister’s approach was direct, but there are other ways to handle this. The key is to address the behavior without getting pulled into a huge fight at a birthday party.

First, stay calm. It’s so easy to get angry, but that just escalates things. You could say something quiet and direct like, “I’m really hurt by how you’re acting. I put a lot of thought into this, and I’m sad you don’t appreciate it.” This shifts the focus from the gift itself to their hurtful behavior.

If the person doubles down, as this brother did, it’s completely fair to set a boundary. Taking back the gift is an option, but you could also just state your intentions. For example, “Well, since you don’t seem to want it, I’ll find a new home for it.” The goal isn’t to be punitive, it’s to teach a natural consequence: if you insult a gift, you might not get to keep it.

The Final Word

This sister’s story is a powerful reminder that generosity should be met with, at the very least, basic kindness. Her brother’s entitlement cost him dearly, and while she was kind enough to leave him with $100, the real lesson here is priceless. Maybe next time, he’ll understand that a gift comes from the heart, not just a store shelf.

What do you think? Did the sister do the right thing by taking back the gift? Have you ever dealt with a truly ungrateful gift recipient? Let us know your stories!