‘Thieves stole £170 Givenchy wallet from my doorstep’

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Dear Katie,

I’m an art student living in London and although I work part-time, money is tight. Last year was quite difficult for me, but I have a mentor who has been a great support for me, especially when it comes to mental health.

I wanted to give him something special for Christmas, so I decided to give him a Givenchy card holder. I know she loves this brand and shops there often. I really couldn’t afford one but I saved up and ordered one online at the end of November for £170. I received a notification that it should be delivered and I ordered delivery company to leave it under the mat outside my apartment.

The day she arrived, our neighbors moved our mat so it was just outside the front door. When I got home a few hours later, it was the package was stolenI was broken.

I contacted Givenchy and he said he would investigate. I explained it was a Christmas present and they said they would look into it as soon as possible. I still haven’t heard anything and now I feel like I’m being ignored. I do not know what to do. I spent all this money and I have no gift for my friend. There is no way I can afford to buy another one.

– JH, London

Dear Reader,

Since you instructed the delivery company to leave the package in front of your house, you say that you understand that the fact that it was stolen is in no way Givenchy’s fault. You’ve also been hesitant to complain to the delivery company for fear of getting the delivery guy in trouble, even though he hasn’t really done anything wrong. In addition, you realize that you should make sure that you have been in the pick up the package yourself. So all of this begs the question: what exactly did you expect me to do to remedy the situation?

I called you and told you that I have a lot of sympathy for your problem, and dear reader, I really do. I could easily sit here and mock how stupid you were, but I won’t, because that would be lazy and downright hypocritical. I’m not embarrassed to admit that I made some poor financial decisions when I was a student in London. Having been there, I know that the best way to improve is to face your mistakes head on and learn from them.

I’m not ready to take your case to Givenchy, so here’s some free and friendly advice that you can take or leave as you see fit. First, saving on shipping costs is a false economy. If you have ordered something of value, you must pay for signed for and recorded delivery with the appropriate level of insurance coverage. Anything less, and you’re exposing yourself to risks you can’t afford.

Second, I know you were just trying to do something nice for this man who you feel was there for you when you desperately needed someone, and I really admire your generosity. But please save that for the day when you can afford such big moves. On this occasion, you didn’t have to spend £170 to show your appreciation. What matters most to true friends is how you think about gifts, not their monetary value.

To the sounds of this kind and caring man, a heartfelt letter or handmade Christmas card would leave him as shaken as a Givenchy wallet. And it would cost you next to nothing. I wish you much success in your studies and a happy and healthy 2023.