‘Meanwhile you got big influencers out here giving spicy saltines’: Oregon mom buys Coach purse for daughter’s teacher. Is she ‘crazy’?
The holidays are officially here, and presents are flying everywhere, for family members, friends, loved ones, and of course, teachers. After all, a teacher plays a huge role in a child’s development, and many parents put real thought into what gift they receive. One TikTok creator, however, may have taken things a step further.
In a clip that got over 1.7 million views, Oregon mom Sammi (@shopoholicsam) shows the very generous gifts she planned to give her daughter’s teacher, someone she admits she doesn’t really know at all.
Is a Coach purse too generous?
In the video, Sammi starts by holding up a large Coach box and admits she’s already second-guessing herself. “Crazy I’m considering sending my 7-year-old to school with this tomorrow,” she says, before adding that it’s for her daughter’s teacher.
She then pulls out a smaller box to reveal a Coach apple bag charm and explains why she picked it. “When I see this, I instantly think of teachers,” she says. “So obviously I had to get it for her teacher.”
But that wasn’t where it stopped. Sammi explains that giving just one gift doesn’t sit right with her. “I’m not the type of gifter to only give one item,” she says. “That’s, like, my problem. I never, ever give anyone one gift only.”
That’s when she realizes the issue. “I get her a bag charm without making sure she had a bag to go with it,” she says, pulling out the big Coach box. “Am I crazy?”
She admits she felt awkward even making the purchase. “I felt like I’m crazy while I was buying this at the store and telling everyone it’s for my daughter’s teacher,” she says.
The biggest hesitation, though, is that she barely knows the woman receiving it. “I do not know this teacher at all,” Sammi says. “I don’t know her style. I’m picking this off the vibe of her.”
To calm her nerves, she sends her daughter to school with instructions. “I told her to ask her teacher if she carries a purse, and if so, what does it look like?” she explains.
The report back is vague but reassuring. “My daughter came home and said she has a purse and she loves purses,” Sammi says. “When I heard that, I was like, well… I guess I’m buying her a purse to go with it.”
Even then, the anxiety didn’t completely go away. “I love gifting, but sometimes I get nervous that I take it too serious,” she says. “I’m scared she’s not gonna like it.”
Later updates revealed that the teacher was grateful for the gift but asked Sammi to exchange the purse for another style. Sammi also shared which bag she ultimately chose, a Coach purse that sells for about $295 at Nordstrom.
Commenters Are Split
The comment section turned into a somewhat of a debate.
Some viewers loved the gesture and saw it as generous and heartfelt. “Teacher here: this is beyond thoughtful,” one person wrote. Another said, “As a teacher myself, I would have cried.”
Others felt the gift was too much. “U are crazy,” one commenter wrote bluntly.
Another pointed out the uncomfortable position it could put the teacher in, writing, “Your intention is good but you just created a huge ethical dilemma for that teacher.”
One comment that took off referenced a separate viral controversy, saying, “Meanwhile you got big influencers out here giving spicy saltines,” a nod to another creator who was criticized for gifting homemade snacks to teachers before clarifying there was a larger gift involved.
But one concern came up repeatedly: school rules.
“My district doesn’t let us accept anything that is over $50,” one commenter warned.
Are There Limits to How Much a Teacher’s Gift Can Cost?
In many states, including Oregon, public school teachers fall under laws that limit the value of gifts they can accept. Because they’re considered public employees, there are restrictions meant to avoid favoritism or conflicts of interest.
In Oregon, that limit is $50. Anything beyond that, a teacher can’t accept, even if the gift comes from a well-meaning parent.
@shopoholicsam ????? It started with a bag charm and quickly turned into more ? @Coach #coach #coachbag #gift #teacher #present ♬ original sound – Sammi
That doesn’t mean every teacher faces the same rules. Private school teachers aren’t subject to state ethics laws, so gift limits depend on school policy rather than law. Without knowing whether Sammi’s daughter attends a public or private school, it’s unclear whether the gift technically broke any rules.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Sammi via email for additional comment.
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