As the New Year countdown begins, many Brits are reflecting on the festive season, with a significant number pondering what to do with a disappointing present. New research has revealed the most unwanted Christmas gifts of 2024, highlighting some truly baffling choices.
The Most Unwanted Presents Unveiled
Consumer champion Which? commissioned a survey that found a fifth of people, or 21 per cent, received an unwanted or unsuitable gift this past Christmas. The findings, gathered by Deltapoll from over 2,000 people across the UK, uncovered some particularly unfortunate presents.
Among the worst gifts cited were used pyjamas and a rotten coconut and pineapple. The lack of thought extended to personal interests and health conditions, with one recipient given a Tottenham Hotspur book despite being a Chelsea supporter, and another offered a helicopter ride despite suffering from vertigo and a fear of flying.
What Happens to Unwanted Gifts?
The survey also explored what people do with presents they don't want. A third of respondents (33 per cent) stated they kept and used the gift regardless. Meanwhile, one in six people decided to keep their 2024 gift but admitted they would not use it.
When it came to actively disposing of the item, 34 per cent had regifted it. These presents found new homes with other family members, friends, charity shops, or were sold online. Less popular methods included handing the gift back to the giver, an action only one per cent of people said they would carry out. A further two per cent confessed their chosen method was simply to throw the unwanted gift away.
Expert Advice on Gift Returns
Lisa Webb, a consumer law expert at Which?, commented on the findings. “It’s hard to think of a more disappointing present than used pyjamas or rotten fruit but our research shows that a fifth of us have been left wondering what to do with an unwanted gift,” she said.
Webb emphasised the importance of a gift receipt to give the recipient the option to return or exchange an item. She also noted a key detail for online purchases: “Sometimes, for online orders, only the buyer can request a refund or exchange. But if the item was marked as a gift when ordered, the retailer’s returns policy may enable a recipient to return or exchange it.”
This annual insight serves as a timely reminder for future festive shopping, advocating for considered purchases and the safety net of a gift receipt to avoid post-Christmas disappointment.
