Odd moral/ethical dilemma, sorta PAIFR, WWYD?

[ProfessorChaos]

The baby shower invites recently went out with a note that we are registered on Amazon, so we've been getting a few gifts in the mail. We received one gift that is quite a mystery. It's one of those grass drying racks (like this), so it's not a huge gift, but it didn't come with a name or note. It has been removed from the online registry list, so it's marked as purchased. Here's what we know about the sender:
Initials ("A.I.")
An address from a different state (reverse look ups show unfamiliar names)
A gmail address that looks spammy
A phone number (I think it's a Google Voice acct, but I'm not sure)

None of us, including our immediate families, have a CLUE who this person could be! I finally tried calling the number earlier today. Some youngish dude answered, and I said, "Hi, this is weird. My name is P____, and I'm trying to figure out if I know you. We received...." Then he HUNG UP on me! I did dial *67 to block my number, so I'm sure he thought I was spamming him, but I was surprised he didn't hear me out.

We're pretty much out of ideas in trying to figure out who this person is, especially since we're a little nervous about contacting them and giving our own information out. AND we're nervous that this might be some spinster aunt (or whatever), trying to hide her identity for security reasons, and who will be dreadfully offended if we don't send a full thank you with a pic of the product in use. The timing would strongly suggest that we should know this person, to say nothing of the question of why someone we don't know would buy off our registry. It IS possible, as these registries are public, but that seems unlikely.

So, would you send a thank you to this address?  Anyone have an idea for how to handle this?

[IFinTN]

I would send a thank you note to the return address but I would not put your return address on the envelope. I think Amazon hides your address on a registry. Then you've done the polite thing without divulging any personal info.

[jessimi06]

Did you find the address/initials by looking at the thank you list from Amazon (they make a list of the names and addresses of the people that bought you gifts)? If so, the addresses aren't always updated from the account holders original profile. My SIL sent us a gift from our Amazon registry, and it arrived without a note (was supposed to) and when I looked up the thank you list it was from her but the address listed was from over 5 years ago (she's since moved twice).

So maybe that's what's going on?

I would probably send a generic thank you note (prob not include my return address) just in case.

[ginnyjones82]

I'm gonna go with everyone else on this and say to send a generic note and not include a return address.

[Deleted]

I'm w ifintn!!

[katemonster]

Weird. Did you invite anyone from that state to your shower? If it were me, I'd probably wait until the shower and ask around if anyone knew who it was from. I'd also ask our mom's. If it was some aunt trying to hide her identity, it's likely she talked to someone about it.

[ProfessorChaos]

Feb 20, 2015 14:37:12 GMT -5 jessimi06 said:

Did you find the address/initials by looking at the thank you list from Amazon (they make a list of the names and addresses of the people that bought you gifts)? If so, the addresses aren't always updated from the account holders original profile. My SIL sent us a gift from our Amazon registry, and it arrived without a note (was supposed to) and when I looked up the thank you list it was from her but the address listed was from over 5 years ago (she's since moved twice).

So maybe that's what's going on?

I would probably send a generic thank you note (prob not include my return address) just in case.

You solved it!!! It's from my godparents, and none of the info given has anything to do with them (came from the packing slip and a follow up phone call). It must be some weird third party seller thing. I didn't even know about the thank you note function.

Whew. I feel much better now!!!

[IFinTN]

jessimi06 for the win!!

[vballbaby]

So...are you going to call them and ask why they hung up on you? That's so funny! Glad you solved the mystery. I think I would have waited a while also and talked to people at the shower. Interesting gift, I thought it was real grass at first, like some super green friendly way of drying stuff on a real patch of grass, haha!

[jessimi06]

vballbaby I think she meant that the address/phone number that was included was the third party seller's, which makes sense on why they would hang up on her haha.

ProfessorChaos glad the mystery is solved! I didn't know the thank you list existed either until I was trying to figure out who sent our stroller.