Does Anyone Seriously Get These As A Gift For Someone For Christmas?
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
December 15, 2009 5:16pm CST
Okay you might wonder what I'm talking about. But every year one can't help see those ads on TV for those rather dumb Chia Pet things....you know the ones I'm talking about. They usually come as a clay type animal, like a rabbit, sheep, cat, and the idea is that you smear the seeds on it and you "watch it grow"
I mean I don't know about you, but I'd be a bit insulted if someone gave me one of those tacky things.
The latest is a Chia Pet for Cats...you grow grass seeds in a bowl with a snoozing kitty on it and it's painted. Uh, I wonder about this. Since it's made in China and it's painted is there a danger of that paint being lead paint? Just wondering. Besides one could just as easily buy grass seeds, and plant them in a regular clay planting pot.
So what do you think of these Chia Pet things? Have you ever gotten one for yourself or given as a present? Do you think they're dumb, cute, what? Would you be insulted if someone gave one to you? I know I would. Hope one of these links works
http://www.chia.com/index.php/chia-products/original-chia.html
: http://www.chia.com/index.php/chia-products/original-chia.html
6 people like this
17 responses
@jahernandezrivas (11288)
• United States
15 Dec 09
OK, do you remember Wayne's World? It was my daughters favorite movie growing up and there was a quick commercial with Chia Pets in it in the very beginning (and also the clap on, clap off things).Anyway, she wanted one, but never got one. To this day, she still wants one, but I didn't know they were made in China and with all the lead poisoning, it worries me to get one.
@jahernandezrivas (11288)
• United States
16 Dec 09
IDK, I think a lot of people got annoyed because it had such a sensitive noise thingy. Even if you weren't clapping, just a similar sound could make it turn off/on.
2 people like this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Dec 09
I have given one as a gift and the point actually was for the recipient to be insulted by the gift. You see, there was a comment made about the recipient of the gift the year before that she looked like a Chia pet and thus the next year for Christmas she was given one to keep the joke alive. However, other than as a gag gift I don't think that they make a good gift at all. Actually, I don't even really understand the point of them other than just something maybe for the person who has everything.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Dec 09
Even as a gag gift though they're kind of expensive. As for buying one for the person who has everything..LOL..hmm..wonder how someone like Donald Trump might feel in getting one
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
16 Dec 09
I would never want to get one as a gift. I have never even thought to purchase one to give as a gift either. There is a market for them because they have been around since the 70's.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Dec 09
Yes they have been around a long time...still makes you wonder who actually buys them though
1 person likes this
@snowcat46 (2322)
• United States
16 Dec 09
Don't take this wrong, but you probably don't have a problem with growing things. Now if you have a black thumb like me, any sort of growing thing that I can't kill (cross your fingers!) would be a plus. I do love looking at greenery, and I'd like it better in my house. If it wouldn't keep dying!
If the darn thing would live, I wouldn't care. I just figured they'd die like all the rest, so I never bought one. Nor do I give out plants unless the recipient is a green thumbed goddess. One touch of my hand and it's almost destined to die. Sigh.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Dec 09
Wow snowcat haven't seen you in ages..hope things have been good for you. Nope you're not the only one sadly lacking a green thumb...used to but somehow vanished over the years
@snowcat46 (2322)
• United States
26 Dec 09
Yeah, I'm good. Just busy with work. I just saw the silliest chia "pet" ever. It's an Obama head!! Now that's just way too much. Don't mind the cats or other objects, but an Obama head? Unfreaking believable!!
1 person likes this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
15 Dec 09
I think Chia Pets were a big part of the nineties. But now that we're in the 21st century here, they haven't been so popular. They were kind of a "fad" thing that didn't seem to stick around for very long (at least with the people I knew who had them.) I honestly wouldn't mind getting some for Christmas (I've gotten WAY worse gifts in the past), but.. let's just say it's not something on my wish list!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Dec 09
It sometimes makes you wonder who came up with the idea for Chia pets...did you know there are actually Chia Pets in the shape of Pres Obama's head? Now THAT'S tacky..LOL
1 person likes this
@olisaur (1922)
• United States
15 Dec 09
I got a Chia pet for Christmas once!
It was a while ago when I was 7 or 8, in the 90's. I remember seeing info-mercials for them all the time on tv back then. My god-grandmother (my mom's god-mother, that my sister and I refer to a "grandma") gave me a Chia pet one Christmas. I think it was a hedgehog shape or something. I can't remember. She always gave out pretty tacky gifts. I remember another year she gave me a stuffed animal of the Pillsbury dough boy.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Dec 09
LOL--my own mother kept constantly buying me Barbie dolls as a girl when I would have rather have had maybe books...was into reading even when very young..like how many dolls can one have?
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
17 Dec 09
A few years ago - maybe 2005 or 2006 - my aunt gave us chia pets for cats. It was wheat grass that was grown in a Sylvester & Tweety pot IIRC. Not sure if the pot itself had lead, but we grew wheat grass in the planter quite a few times.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Dec 09
I think just a plain clay pot would do....LOL And instead of grass seeds maybe catnip
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
16 Dec 09
I've often wondered the same thing. Why would anyone want to give or receive one of these ugly things? However, they have been around for decades, so obviously someone is buying them. The one I think is the worst is Spongebob. Where in a house would there be a place for something so ugly?
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Dec 09
I could never figure out the fascination with Spongebob either, yet he does seem to be very popular
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
16 Dec 09
Lol Pye I have never seen them here I have to be honest but that is something I would buy for myself as yes I do like those type things lol and I do believe they are cute so I guess I will have to confess this is something Gabs would go for but only herself, saying that I think my Daughter would like that sort of thing to 
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Dec 09
The only thing I might be tempted to buy for myself is the herb garden, otherwise, nah, wouldn't get them..LOL
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
16 Dec 09
I bought one years ago when they first became popular. My oldest daughter who is now 32 had wanted one. She was just a little girl and I think she did enjoy watching it grow for a while but it soon lost it's charm. I've never bought one since nor received one for a gift. Your're right...they are just kind of a dumb waste of money. Like you said, if you really want to grow grass in your home, a bag of grass and a clay pot would be cheaper.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Dec 09
Funny...I was never even interested when they first came out. And instead of grass seed for the Chia Pet for cats, one could as easily plant some catnip in a clay pot--bet the kitties would love that more...LOL
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
17 Dec 09
Oh trust me...I thought they were dumb even back when they first came out. If not for my daughter wanting one so bad and back then they were like 5.00...I'd never have bought one. As for the cats...I don't have a cat now cuz of where I live but when I did have one, I grew my own catnip and made catnip toys out of felt. hmmm...is that contributing to the deliquency of a cat? Cuz if you really think about it....
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Dec 09
hi pyewacket no I would not like to get one or to give one to anyone as I think they are so silly and why waste money on stuff
like that. they have been around forever it seems like and I never
could get enthusiastic over the silly things.even the clapper would be more likable to get or give as a gift. i would like one of those snuggie blankets though that you have armholes in and it wraps around you, they look sort of comfy.I would be worried about that paint on the cat things as what if a cat licked it and it had lead pain on it?
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Dec 09
I could never understand the concept behind those snuggies...uh, can't one just wear a long robe backwards
@snowcat46 (2322)
• United States
16 Dec 09
My hubby bought me a snuggie. Don't bother. Honest. Wrapping a quilt around you works much better. Those things aren't all that warm, and the dimensions make them awkward. When I'm wrapped up, I feel like I'm strangling, but I'm still cold.
There used to be snap blankets. It was a like a small comforter with snaps to make arms and legs. I never could figure out the right way to do the snaps to work, but I still have that mini comforter. I've been patching it for the last 20 years, so the original is a memory, but it's still super-snuggly. The newbies just can't compare.
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
16 Dec 09
My grandma had a Chia pet way back when and I remember thinking even then as a little kid that it was a supremely stupid gift. I wouldn't mind getting the Chia herb garden though. It's just a set of little clay pots with different herbs that would be perfect for a window sill.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Dec 09
Yeah I wouldn't mind the herb garden...LOL..wonder if my two kitties would like it too?
@Tuffcookie08 (272)
• United States
16 Dec 09
I think chia pets are the new fruit cakes of this generation don't get me wrong fruit cakes were once popular eyons ago as were chia pets back in the NINETIES! Come on I mean who wants pottery that grows fungus out of it's head for a gift. I mean really, who!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Dec 09
LOL--Actually I don't mind fruitcake, would rather have that then a Chia Pet...
@SCStepney (15)
• United States
16 Dec 09
I have never gotten a Chia Pet for myself or anyone else. I don't see the point. However, people must like them because they have been selling for around twenty years now. I don't get it, I agree that its dumb and useless. However, there are people who think its cute. Anyway, to each's own.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Dec 09
Yes to each their own and someone must be buying them since they are still around..LOL
@themdno (402)
• United States
16 Dec 09
I wouldn't be insulted by it, unless it was the only gift. It would also be a good gift for a person that you don't really know, and wouldn't spend much money on. It's just kind of a joke gift, like a "Here I was thinking about you" type of thing. It's kind of like a card. It has no real use, but it's the thought that counts.
Now, if I bought somebody a new TV or something, and then I open my gift and it was a stupid Chia pet, I'd be mad. You have to be mad about that.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Dec 09
Yeah that really would be an insult if one bought a TV as a gift and one got back a Chia Pet thing
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
16 Dec 09
I've always thought of them as more of a gag gift, except some of them are a little on the pricey side. I remember one of the kids wanting one when they were little, I think it was a garfield, someone got it for them and they couldn't get the seeds to stay in the goo.
As for the cat grass..that's exactly what I have for our cats, a clay bowl with sweet grass seed planted in it..I think it cost me all of 50 cents for the seed and the bowl was one I had in the basement. There is no sleeping kitty but the cats don't seem to mind.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Dec 09
Yes I would imagine a simple clay bowl, dirt and some grass seen would be a lot cheaper than that chia pet thing and perhaps safer too for cats
@mai2boies (38)
• United States
16 Dec 09
wth? i've never seen them down here in hawaii, maybe the shipping is to expensive. I wouldn't want one. lol
1 person likes this
