Second-hand pyjamas and marmite-scented deodorant have come out on top of the list of the most disappointing Christmas presents, according to research that shows one in five Britons has received an unwanted gift over the festive period.
More than 2,000 members of the public were polled by the consumer group Which? in January, about the presents they were gifted last Christmas and 21% of those surveyed said they had been given an unwanted present.
The consumer group revealed that one baffling example was a vertigo sufferer with a fear of flying who received a helicopter ride from their daughter.
The list of unwanted Christmas items included not only used pyjamas and Marmite-scented deodorant, but out-of-date chocolates. One participant was even gifted biscuits with nuts despite being allergic, while a loyal Chelsea FC fan received a book about Tottenham Hotspur.
They were also asked what they did with their unwanted gifts. A third (33%) of those surveyed said they kept it and would make use of it, while a sixth (15%) said they would keep it, but it would remain unused. A third (34%) of those surveyed admitted to getting rid of the unwanted present after the Christmas period was well and truly over.
The survey showed that 12% of respondents decided to regift their presents to a friend or family member, while 10% said they had dropped it off at a charity shop and 8% had sold it on an online marketplace.
Of those surveyed, only 2% said they had thrown away an unwanted present, with a mere 1% deciding that honesty is the best policy and giving it back to the person who bought it for them.
Lisa Webb, a consumer law expert at Which? said: “Our research shows that a fifth of us have been left wondering what to do with an unwanted gift.
“It’s always worth getting a gift receipt so your loved one has the option to return their gift if needed.”
Thankfully, many retailers extend their returns policy over the festive period, allowing those who received a disappointing gift to get a refund or exchange it for another item or a voucher.
Webb added: “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.”
