I understand and I hoped (after writing what I did) you wouldn't take it like I was disrespecting what you were doing. I, too, have brought hundreds of items for people and have been paid many times over for them but, yes, as the economy went down so also the reluctance to pay went up.
I have tried to live by the mantra. "If you can't afford to lose it, don't take it to Jamaica" I am always prepared to make a gift out of it if I have to.
The other problem is with the "quality" such as the remark about Black and Decker. I know Porter/Cable is preferred but Black and Decker does the job. If I give a watch, it is a Timex and not a Rolex. or a flip phone and not an I-Phone. I don't give a gift to impress I do it to help.