Used Clothing as a Gift – Deception?

I found in the book "Maadanei Yom Tov" by Rabbi Yom Tov Zanger this case: Sometimes a person feels the need to bring a gift to a mitzvah meal, such as a brit or wedding meal, but since he has nothing impressive at home, he takes used clothing that looks new and places it in packaging from a prestigious store in the city. This involves the prohibition of deception, and it should not be done. Is the issue of deception in the very act of giving the gift as if it were new, or is it in wrapping it in prestigious packaging? In other words, is it deception to give used clothing as a gift?

Hello Rabbi 

It is forbidden to cause a person to think that you have given him something worth more than what you actually invested in it.

Therefore, it is forbidden to give used clothing in a way that would make him think it is new clothing. 

In any manner that would lead to this, it is forbidden. Whether by using new packaging or any other method.

Chullin 94.
It was taught, Rabbi Meir said: A person should not insist that his friend dine with him, knowing that he will not eat, nor should he offer him many delicacies, knowing that he will not accept them, nor should he open barrels sold to a shopkeeper unless he informs him, nor should he say to him: "Anoint yourself with oil from an empty vessel," but if it is for his honor, it is permitted. Is it not so that Ulla came to the house of Rav Yehuda, and he opened for him barrels sold to a shopkeeper! He informed him, and if you wish, say: Ulla was dear to Rav Yehuda, and in any case, he would have opened them for him. The Sages taught: A person should not go to the house of a mourner with a jug that rattles, nor should he fill it with water so as not to deceive him, but if there is a city friend there, it is permitted. The Sages taught: A person should not sell to his friend a sandal of a dead animal in the shell of a slaughtered animal, because of two things; one, because of deception, and one, because of danger; and he should not send to his friend a barrel of wine with oil floating on its surface.

Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat, Siman 228, Seif 6
And even to deceive people with words, showing that he is doing for him, and he is not doing, is forbidden. How? He should not insist (on his friend) to dine with him, knowing that he will not eat, nor should he offer him many delicacies, knowing that he will not accept them, nor should he open barrels open to a shopkeeper, and this one thinks he opened them for him, but he must inform him that he did not open them for him. And if it is a thing that if he wants, he can think that he is not doing for him, and he deceives himself thinking that he is doing for him for his honor, such as if he met his friend on the road and this one thinks he came out to meet him to honor him, he does not need to inform him.

Have an additional question on this topic or need clarification? Leave your comment below. (Please note that the comment will not be published but will be sent directly to the answering Rabbi for review and a private response)