Wife’s ‘Revenge of the Wife’ Trade Me Listing Sends Message to Husband After Disappointing Christmas Gift
A Lower Hutt woman took matters into her own hands – and onto her husband’s Trade Me account – after receiving a Star Wars T-shirt as her sole Christmas gift after 20 years of marriage. The unusual act, born from a mix of amusement and disappointment, has quickly garnered attention and sparked a conversation about thoughtful gift-giving.
The story unfolded after Cindy*, a resident of Lower Hutt, opened her Christmas present to find a Star Wars T-shirt, purchased from EB Games. While a fan of the franchise, she admitted to feeling underwhelmed, especially considering it was the only gift she received alongside a pair of socks from her mother. “My birthday is the 21st so I guess that was his focus,” she told RNZ. “I did get presents for my birthday but yeah, that was not what I expected.”
Fueled by a couple of drinks and a playful spirit, Cindy decided to list the unworn T-shirt on her husband’s Trade Me account under the title “Revenge of the Wife.” The listing, a humorous blend of frustration and affection, quickly went viral.
“How am I supposed to gently explain to my husband that after 20 YEARS of marriage, receiving only a T-shirt for Christmas may… awaken my dark side?,” she wrote in the listing. “Answer: I don’t. I list it for sale on his Trade Me account and let the Force handle the rest.” She described the shirt as ideal for “Star Wars fans, husbands who think a T-shirt is a thoughtful gift and anyone brave enough to flirt with the Dark Side.”
Cindy’s goal wasn’t financial gain, but rather “preserving galactic peace in a 20-year marriage” and ensuring her husband “may or may not ‘get the drift.’” She urged potential buyers to “Buy it before my patience fully turns to the Dark Side. May the Force (and better gift ideas) be with you.”
Surprisingly, Cindy reported that her husband took her playful rebellion “really well.” The couple, known for their pranks and open communication, viewed the incident as a learning opportunity. “The foundation to a good marriage is being able to have a really good laugh and constructive conversations about things,” Cindy explained. The experience prompted her husband to realize the importance of directly asking her what she desires for Christmas, rather than defaulting to gifts he would enjoy himself.
The Trade Me listing’s question and answer section revealed her husband’s self-awareness. In response to a user’s comment suggesting she should have used a lightsaber, he admitted, “Point taken, you could say I had the aim of a storm trooper this year … completely missed the mark.”
The saga concluded with a promise of a “long” massage for Cindy, as a gesture of belated appreciation. Even more notably, all proceeds from the sale of the Star Wars T-shirt will be donated to Sea Shepherd, an organization dedicated to marine conservation, which Cindy playfully referred to as the “real Jedi.”
This lighthearted tale serves as a reminder that even after decades of marriage, open communication and a sense of humor remain essential ingredients for a thriving relationship. It also highlights the power of a well-crafted Trade Me listing to deliver a message – even across the galaxy.
*Not her real name.
