Sound advice from my father that I've adhered to for ten years now.
I've actually expanded the basic idea to say, "Never buy anything practical." My wife once told me she wanted a new electric skillet. I told her to go buy one for herself. My gifts to her include Channel No. 5, books, jewelry, and the like.
I avoid anything with a size. Generally things turn out OK.
When she asks me what I want, I'm very specific. There's a new Craftsman something-or-other on sale at StoreX. I saw the sale paper. I'd like a new Taylor Made Driver. Go to Golfstore Y and ask for Jim. He has the one I want behind the counter.
This is a very good practice. My wife is a pretty good pianist, and one year I gave her a new piano for her birthday -- a nice one too, a Steinway grand that still graces one end of our living room. As my birthday approached in December, I happened to mention casually that it was starting to get cold and that I needed to get a hooded sweatshirt for my morning walk/run. When I got the nicely wrapped sweatshirt as my birthday present, she must have noticed that I looked a little underwhelmed. Her response was "Well, that was the only thing I heard you say you wanted."
Moral of the story -- Specificity is good.