Blue Dog Jewellery - what should you do with unwanted Christmas gifts?
This article in the Guardian writes about the vast number of unwanted Christmas gifts that are sold off each year. Why not give you unwanted Christmas gift to your local Oxfam shop so someone else can benefit from it?
Given with love; sold with alacrity
- The Guardian, Saturday 27 December 2008
- Article history
There may have been no snow this Christmas but when it comes to unwrapping that unwanted gift a seasonal sprinkling of white lies is just the thing. One in every 10 presents we receive is unwanted, costing an estimated £1.7m this year, according to research by the auction site eBay and YouGov. Although nearly half of us still have last year's presents, an increasing number of us are choosing to grin and sell.
Gifts listed on eBay yesterday included a radio-controlled Dalek, a £45 St Tropez fake tan set and a Rubik's cube. The most expensive unwanted present was a 9 carat gold chain which had reached a bid of £275.
The more bizarre included a leftover plate of Christmas dinner: "4 unwanted boiled sprouts and a spoon of peas, in need of a good home. The money will go to a local animal charity."
A set of wooden kitchen spoons was tagged: "Unwanted secret santa gift from work ... How low will I go?" There was also a lacy red basque, bought in the wrong size and a "Hunks calendar 2009," not to the seller's taste.
According to the research, people in the north of England are the least likely to give a wanted present, with more than 11m unwanted gifts - worth £114m - given away. Londoners came second with 9m poorly-received gifts and the Northern Irish third with 1.2m.
Video games and DVDs come top of the items being sold on eBay this Christmas. Also in the top 10 this year are women's clothing, lingerie, jewellery and golf clubs. Socks and scarves make a repeat appearance, but bubble bath has been pushed off the list in favour of kitchen gadgets and cookery books. Perfume replaces Christmas jumpers as the fourth most sold item.
Lucy Kemp, from eBay, said: "We see a big influx of listings on Boxing Day, but the busiest day is the 27th. We even find people are listing as early as Christmas afternoon when they get a present they don't want. Duplicate presents also cause sales - the Mamma Mia DVD looks popular this year. Last year's top unwanted present was Russell Brand's My Booky Wook."
Around 2m unwanted Christmas gifts were sold on eBay in 2007 and the company said it was expecting more in 2008 due to the credit crunch. Online swap shops also offer services.
Posted by Shona Lockhart, 5th January 2008
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