We had a similar, if much more expensive thing in Switzerland.
There were about ten of us in the group and the secretary decided that as one of the women was having a baby, we'd all chip in for a present. Fair enough, I thought. However, what she decided the other person wanted was a custom-made baby changing table at Fr. 500 (or about 270 quid at the time) and expected everyone to cough up 1/10th the cost.
When I left, I'd heard a rumour that she was arranging something ghastly and expensive for my workmates to buy, so I headed her off by suggesting a comparatively very cheap thing, chipping in half myself and it being something very useful.
She also lost Fr. 400 of my expenses receipts so I never saw the money.
Cow.
( Colonel Boris "...a desperate Buzzfeed imitation...", Sat 25 Feb 2012, 6:22, Reply)