Retirement Gift

November 20, 2017 6:15 AM

Assume you know nothing about someone except that he is in his early 60s, Brazilian but living half the time in Florida, and an executive at a multinational corporation. What would you buy this person as a retirement gift in the $350 range?

All suggestions welcome.

And before anyone brings it up, I cannot ask for more information about this person's hobbies or likes.

posted by something something to Grab Bag (15 answers total)

Best answer: Very very expensive consumable. Even a wealthy person probably doesn't open a $350 bottle of champagne all that often, you only retire once, and he won't have to worry about traveling with it or displaying it :)
posted by ftm at 6:19 AM on November 20, 2017 [17 favorites]

An iPad with something nice engraved on it? I feel like even if he has an iPad, you can never have enough iPads?
posted by dpx.mfx at 6:42 AM on November 20, 2017

A Tumi gift certificate or other high-end luggage?
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:45 AM on November 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

Very very expensive consumable. Even a wealthy person probably doesn't open a $350 bottle of champagne all that often, you only retire once, and he won't have to worry about traveling with it or displaying it :)

This! I was gonna suggest a single-malt scotch the age of however long he’s been working at the company he’s retiring from ($350 should get you up to the 30-year range if you’re not too choosy about your distillery/clever about sourcing from independent bottlers); something like that is a nice gesture for someone who can buy themselves pretty much anything.
posted by Itaxpica at 6:58 AM on November 20, 2017 [2 favorites]

+1 consumable. I would imagine that the Mystery Person probably already owns most things they want, and you don't know them well enough to pick something else out.

Alternatively, donate to a good cause in their name, assuming you can find something that both you and they agree is "good".
posted by katrielalex at 6:59 AM on November 20, 2017 [2 favorites]

Donation, maybe to an organization with a mission that dovetails with the corporation, or to something Brazil-oriented. That will probably make them feel better, and be more meaningful, than a gift they could get for themselves. The real gift is the thought that goes into researching the donation organization.
posted by amtho at 7:09 AM on November 20, 2017 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Japanese whiskey
posted by WeekendJen at 7:11 AM on November 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

Do you know his heritage? Something related to that might be appreciated.
posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 7:56 AM on November 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

Also +1 consumables. My number 1 tip for gift giving is never stretch. If I have an amount to spend, I figure out what would be right for 1/3 to 1/2 that amount, then get an extravagant one for the full amount. So I wouldn't get a $350 bottle of 30-year old Scotch, because you will have to stretch to do it (Scotch prices are ridiculous). But maybe a bottle of wine or a couple of really high-end steaks.
posted by rtimmel at 8:00 AM on November 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

Consumables are iffy. For all you know he's in AA or is a member of a religion that forbids alcohol. Maybe he's a vegetarian.

Luggage, yes, or how about a camera?
posted by mareli at 8:11 AM on November 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I should say: he does love to drink, I have witnessed first-hand. I suggested champagne already but apparently "Brazilians don't prefer wine." Whatever. Japanese whisky is a very intriguing idea, though, as our company has a heavy presence in Japan and I know he's had some wild nights there entertaining clients.

Thank you for all this so far! And keep them coming!
posted by something something at 8:37 AM on November 20, 2017

How about a gift cert to a decent watch website? $350 would get you something nice.
posted by carter at 8:39 AM on November 20, 2017

Soaring/Glider lessons, indoor skydiving, a half day at a race car track, deep sea fishing, or some other "experience".
posted by at at 9:24 AM on November 20, 2017 [3 favorites]

For some reason I am thinking an art glass sculpture - one example.
posted by lakeroon at 6:00 PM on November 20, 2017

A luxury version of an everyday good. $350 should get you in or near cashmere robe territory.

Failing that, yes, consumables, with a preference for booze. (I never worry about gifting it to teetotallers, though admittedly I would be more cautious at that price level. It is the most easily re-gifted thing going, and a pleasant thing to have in one's gifting stockpile.)

Having had pricy whisky I think I would go for two or three good bottles rather than one $350 one -- I do think there's a point at which the benefits of overpaying definitely max out. Plus with three bottles you can invite more people, or be more generous with the pours, when having people over for a tasting party.

I would not buy a rich man a $350 watch. In my experience they wear Timexes or luxury ones, if they wear one at all; I haven't seen any in-betweens. But if you don't want to buy booze, I would browse the on-line MoMA store.
posted by kmennie at 8:06 PM on November 20, 2017