It’s perfect – for someone else. Emma Simon on what to do with all those unwanted gifts
It’s probably not surprising that two out of three of us unwrapped a gift we didn’t really want this Christmas. But what’s more surprising is that an estimated 366,000 people already had the item listed on eBay by the end of Christmas night.
The festive jumper has proved again to be one of the most unpopular gifts, according to a survey by the British Heart Foundation. Other duff presents include celebrity biographies, novelty pants and socks, kitchenware and even jars of home-made pickle – though it remains unclear how much these would sell for online. The total value of these unloved gifts is estimated to be some £652 million, or £16.38 per gift.
A separate survey by eBay found that aunts, uncles and in-laws were the biggest culprits when it came to buying gifts we don’t want and can’t use.
For those who haven’t yet listed their items on eBay, it’s worth considering whether it’s better to re-sell, recycle or get a refund. Alternatively, if the Christmas spirit is still flowing, you could donate unwanted gifts to your local charity shop: many of these rely on the extra stock they receive at this time of year.
As a spokesman for the British Heart Foundation said: “It may not be to your taste, or may not fit properly, but it might still be a perfectly good present. And if someone bought it for you, then the chances are that others might like to buy it too – helping to raise money for good causes.”
Source: telegraph.co.uk
