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eBay could break hearts this Christmas
New research shows that placing unwanted gifts on auction sites hurts feelings
7 out of 10 people say their feelings would be hurt if they knew the gift they
gave was placed on eBay
Placing unwanted gifts for sale on auction websites such as eBay is becoming ever more common. Research from Neilsen/Netratings shows that 15 per cent of UK online shoppers plan to sell unwanted Christmas gifts online. A further 35 per cent are considering it – with women more likely to do so than men.
But be advised: if the person who gave you the gift finds out, it could break their heart.
New research from The London Gift Consultancy shows that one in fourteen people (7.2 per cent) say they would be broken hearted if they knew that the gift they bought their loved one was put up for sale on eBay.
Only 1.6 per cent of respondents said they would be happy if the gifts they gave were sold on.
In total, 71 per cent of people surveyed said it would hurt their feelings if the gift they gave their loved one was put up for sale on eBay.
Disappointment was by far the most common emotion, expressed by 64 per cent of people who said that they would be hurt. Whilst twelve per cent of this group expressed irritation, 9 per cent said they would be angry, with women showing a greater tendency to anger than men.
Research from YouGov shows that half (49%) of all adults in the UK receive at least three unwanted presents each year.
In 2004 eBay put the costs of unwanted Christmas presents at an estimated £1.3bn each year.
Lorraine Loughlin, Managing Director of The London Gift Consultancy said, “We help people to purchase the perfect present because gifts say a lot about the people who give them. Gifts represent the giver and the relationship they have with the recipient. Gift giving is a very emotional experience. The vast majority of gift givers care about the people they give presents to. Rejecting a gift can feel like a rejection of the giver. Likewise receiving an unwanted present can be awkward and embarrassing.”
Lorraine continued, “Making use of unwanted presents is a good thing. Even better is not to have unwanted gifts. Successful gift givers will heed my five top tips for purchasing the perfect present. They are:
1) Plan ahead: This will give you time and save you money
2) Allocate time: The perfect gift needs to be found in advance and given on time
3) Do your research: Good background knowledge of the recipient is vital
4) Be creative: Think beyond the norm
5) Perfect presentation: Irrespective of the cost of the gift, always make sure it is beautifully presented.”
Most sensitive group
Women in the South East aged 20 – 29 were the group in the UK most likely to be hurt if the gift they gave was placed on an auction site.
Age group results
Of those who said they would be hurt, teens were found to be the most sensitive age group. Eighty-one per cent of 11 – 19 year olds said their feelings would be hurt.
The age group least likely to be hurt were the thirty-somethings. Thirty-four per cent of the people who said their feelings would not be hurt were aged 30-39.
Gender difference
Women were more likely to be hurt by their gift being placed on an auction site than men. Seventy-five per cent of women said they would be hurt compared to sixty-six per cent of men.
Regional Results
The North East was identified as the most sensitive region, where nearly 9 out of 10 people (88 per cent) said they would be hurt.
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For further editorial information, contact Parker, Wayne & Kent Public Relations on +44 20 7609 1900 or email giftconsultancy@pwkpr.com
A backgrounder on selecting the perfect gift can be found at http://www.thelondongiftconsultancy.com/back2.htm
Images further information can be found at http://www.thelondongiftconsultancy.com/media.htm
For further information on The London Gift Consultancy visit www.thelondongiftconsultancy.com
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