The Original Post
I gave me partner a painting for her birthday by one of her favorite artists. She already owns several pieces from this artist.
A while back, the artist was having a sale and my partner mentioned she was thinking about buying one, but decided not to when she realized the price was in USD and not CAD, making it too expensive. I ended up buying the piece as a surprise for her birthday. It cost me about $1,400 CAD.
Afterward, she told me that it would cost around $850 CAD to get the piece professionally framed. Apparently, this specific artwork required a special frame and glass to properly preserve it, which is also what the artist recommends. The pieces also tend to appreciate in value, so proper framing matters.
My partner is now upset because she feels that she’s stuck paying for the framing, which she says isn’t affordable for her. She believes that since I bought the artwork as a gift, I should have agreed to cover the framing as well, and that otherwise it’s “not really gift” if she now has to spend $850 because of it.
From my perspective, I already spent a significant amount on the gift itself, and I didn’t realize framing would cost that much. I also didn’t intend to give her a financial burden, I just wanted to surprise her with something meaningful.
She has also expressed frustration that she had to bring this to my attention and that I didn’t realize or come to the conclusion on my own.
AITA for not paying for the framing?
What Reddit Said
Reddit was surprisingly divided on this expensive gift framing cost dilemma. Many users acknowledged both perspectives had merit. However, the consensus leaned toward “No Assholes Here” (NAH) rather than picking a clear villain.
Art collectors and artists chimed in to validate that framing costs often match artwork prices. Moreover, they emphasized that proper preservation is crucial for valuable pieces. Meanwhile, other Redditors sympathized with the girlfriend’s frustration about receiving a gift that creates financial pressure.
The Verdict
The overwhelming consensus: No Assholes Here (NAH). This expensive gift framing cost situation arose from ignorance, not malice. Reddit advised the couple to work together on a solution rather than fight over who should pay. This represents a classic case of relationship advice where good intentions created unexpected money problems.
Original post from r/AmItheAsshole (1,130 upvotes, 297 comments)