Ah, it's good to know we've got company, isn't it? Who likes to be the only one getting gifts that were not our taste?
DH will repeatedly ask what I want. I will tell him. Specifically, and tell him if he's not getting that, nothing is okay. He will get something similar, but not what I asked for. Been happening for years. When we were first married, money was very tight. I showed him socks I loved. Yes, I got socks, no, not the ones I liked or even the same style.
Twice I've gotten tv's I didn't ask for, didn't want (one for bedroom here, one for bedroom in FL). I don't like tv's in the bedroom, but he does. Now I can go to sleep to the sounds of annoying football/baseball/basketball games.
I asked for a camera, said I wanted one that was small and simple. Got a big one w/ all kinds of stuff on it that makes it hard to use. However, he likes it...
My favorite, though, that he still doesn't understand my displeasure over... For our 25th anniversary, he arranged a surprise vow renewal & party and a cruise to the western Carribean. Everyone thought he was SOOOO amazing.
A couple of little glitches: He knew that I hate vow renewals, and can't take heat. The cruise was in AUGUST. No air conditioning at the church where vow renewal/party was. Cruise hotter than heck. I had to pay for excursions - nothing I wanted to do would he do. He wanted to go to the Myan ruins, which was a whole day trip. Do you know why they are called ruins? Because they are RUINED!! It was about 100 degrees and miserable. That was a lot of money down the drain. The best thing is it's over!
The last couple of years, I've said, "let's not do gifts." After 30+ years, it's the best way to go for us.