Sister demands to get back the chair she gifted her sister 4 years ago because she wants to sell the expensive high-end one she has now: 'I'd have to replace [my chair], plus it has been 4 years!'

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Jul 23, 2026 1:00 PM EDT

You don't have ownership over something that you gifted away.

When you decide to part ways with something you own, and you gift it or donate it, you lose the ownership of the thing, as ownership is tied to having it. This overly complicated sentence is my way of trying to make the story below less dumb. Because let's face it, it's bananas to expect someone to return something you gifted them just because, after 4 years, you want it back. I think that part of the story is quite obvious. You gifted it, is not yours anymore, easy to comprehend. But there's something under this story that I can't stop thinking about. The fact that the sister dared to ask something so dumb. 
Because of how this story is written, I have reason to believe that the previous owner of the chair usually gets her way about the things she wants. In every family, there's always one person who makes everyone else do as they say. But what's interesting about that is the fact that kind of power is not something they just claim, is something given by other family members.


When you were a kid, didn't you have a cousin or sibling who everyone said yes to just to avoid them throwing a tantrum? Well, have you ever thought what kind of adult someone who was raised like that would be? Not a functioning one, I tell you that. Most of the entitled people we encounter in our adult life are just children who didn't know the word NO. They always got their way and were never actually disciplined, which led to becoming an adult that still expects everyone to do as they say. 
 

The fact that the sister asked for her chair back is a problem, but not because of the chair, but because she expected to get it back just because she wanted it. That is entitlement and lack of discipline. So, if you are a parent who always favors your child with what they want just to avoid a bad situation, don't! Your child needs to learn. By giving up, you are just teaching them that they are the only people that matter, and that is completely untrue. 
 

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  • 01
    Four years ago, my sister bought a new, very high end office chair for herself. She gave me her old one - same brand, but several years old. It was way nicer than my office chair, so I got rid of mine and have been using it at work ever since. Sister is now moving, and selling household items to make money. Her office chair is worth a lot, even used, so she's planning to sell it. She told me she'll be needing her chair back, since she
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  • 02
    A woman working on her computer while sitting at a desk.
    via Windows

    A woman working on her computer while sitting at a desk. 

  • 03
    needs a quality chair for work. I refused, because my old chair is long gone, I'd have to replace it, plus it's been four years! AITAH for refusing to return a gift?
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  • 04
    ShannaraRose NTA. A gift, once given, is no longer the givers.
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  • 05
    CatsMom4Ever NTA. It's not hers anymore.
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  • 06
    Own-Object-6696 NTA. It was a gift from your sister. It belongs to you now. She can find a different chair.
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  • 07
    melympia NTA. But if you decide to return the office chair, charge her for storing it.
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  • 08
    Visual representation of a computer and a mouse resting over a desk.
    via Luca Bravo

    Visual representation of a computer and a mouse resting over a desk. 

  • 09
    Heartandstake NTA, she gave it to you, it's yours, it's ridiculous for her to even ask.
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  • 10
    unimpressed-one I gave my office chair to my DIL because I changed my office around and it didn't really fit the space. Well a year later, I changed it again and really miss that chair, I just bought another one. I would never dream about asking for it back.
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  • 11
    is_it_worth_itt NTA. Once a gift given you lose any claim to it. It's yours, and yours ONLY.
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  • 12
    PerceptionOk3196 This happened to me when I was still a teacher. A colleague didn't want the chair anymore, so she gave it to me. I gave mine away. Three months later she wanted it back. I was so poor, and had to dig into grocery money fo buy a chair. I was so ped I couldn't see straight. NTA.
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  • 13
    aaseandersen Nta, just tell her that the storage fee for storing her chair for four years is way more than she could hope to sell it for. Then call her a cheap a on the way out.
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  • 14
    Korneedles NTA. You don't have any rights to a gift you've given away. She would never do this to someone that wasn't in her family. Don't let her take advantage of you.
    via Ordinary_Sail_414

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gifts sisters family feud entitled people
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