I give VERY specific "hints" - often in the form of email link to actual item and then hope he purchases! I also have been known to exchange liberally!

In the past, no matter what hints I gave, my DH always snuck in something of his own choice and it was a total crapshoot, but he is such a nice guy it's always been fun. Very, very rarely he hit a home run (several years ago, Frye harness boots - I almost died); more typically it was something lovable but misguided (when we were first married, I got lipstick that he bought at CVS late on Christmas Eve -- his best friend bought his girlfriend the very same shade; and one year I mentioned I liked Rachel Ray, and I got her cookbooks for Mother's Day, my birthday, AND Christmas).
This year we've been together 24 years, and by now we've scaled way back even with our daughters. There are many fewer things under the tree, and we're both much more likely to ask for specific items so we don;t waste money and so we are more likely to satisfy each other's "dreams". We'll exchange 1 or 2 gifts, and I've been making a pinterest board of all sorts of things that I like, from big ticket to small, to give him ideas and so that I can be surprised but (I hope) not horrified. I hope he'll use the board but I know that I really have no control over the man.
My younger daughter and I laugh secretly about all of this, because we feel we have the gift-giving skill in the house. We know we come up with really great, special and meaningful gifts -- not expensive but just the right thing. My other daughter and DH...well, you just never know.

DH is really good at picking out chocolates, not so good at flowers (I have allergies), and dreadful at clothes. I was pretty surprised several years ago that he'd picked out a couple of leather jackets for me at Nordstrom after he observed me repairing my jacket's badly shredded lining with seam tape. Of course they didn't fit, since I think he did the guy thing of telling the SA, "She's shorter/bigger/smaller than you."

Today, UPS will be delivering a pair of silver studded fingerless gloves as well as gold studded ones. I wear fingerless gloves for health reasons, but I can't say that studded leather ones are actually NEEDS. They were on my Wish List, but then they went on sale so I became worried they would sell out. Guess I'll ask if he wants them to be his gift to me!

I thought DD would be better at picking out stuff for me. She's bought me solid colored scarves, and I never wear solid scarves, and they are more her colors than mine. Oh, well. We both like a lot of other stuff together.

My DH has pretty great gift skills, and I enjoy gift surprises! I sometimes will get my own, especially if there is something special I have in mind....(I did just buy a great shirt off Ebay he tried to get me last year)

One year it was a fabulous pair of tall Fluevog lace up boots! I had given some hints, but he decided on his own to get the lace ups intead of the zip, since I had that style already.

I also have a wonderful large turquoise pendant that was his choice and my favorite piece.

My husband bought me a baby bottle sterilizer as my holiday gift the year our first child was born. He was so excited that I felt guilty for feeling disappointed. So, yes, I buy my own presents! Or tell him exactly what I want and let him do the legwork if it's concert tickets or something along those lines. Both of us are happier that way

Usually, we pick up gifts and send to friends, so, i can get some gifts from my friends. Besides, i can get some from my families, also, i will send mine to them.

Birthday and Christmas gifts I usually choose myself and tell DH and he and Master 10 make the purchase. Sometimes for Christmas I buy and wrap myself I really don't mind and DH appreciates that 'he' is getting me something I really love and want:) Mothers Day is different, I let Master 10 and DH choose as I think that is an important part of of the concept of the day.

A little bit of both. Our son gave me some money this year to pick up something I really loved in Ireland so this month I will be receiving a really gorgeous necklace. Even if I buy my own gift dh always picks me up a bunch of little things.

Same as Freckles - a little bit of both. I don't think it's a slippery slope. Sometimes someone knows exactly what to get, and sometimes they simply don't, and they feel pressured to 'deliver'. When I'm asked, I always say I would prefer a gift that is an experience to share, like dinner somewhere fun, or a show we will both enjoy.