As a (very pragmatic) woman, I would MUCH prefer new tires to flowers (a-choo!) or jewelry. A mop/vacuum cleaner would actually be okay IF I had been complaining bitterly about the ones currently owned; otherwise I would take either as a slam on the current cleanliness level if in separate households or an implied assumption that cleaning the house is the little woman’s job rather than a shared responsibility if we lived together. New tires show thought and concern, flowers/candy/jewelry are knee-jerk. But then, I rarely wear jewelry but I do drive every day. A Coach bag? When you could get me a Ron Arra for the same money? Surely you jest!