Christmas statistics reveal the most unwanted holiday gifts
So many items look like great gifts when strolling mall stores and kiosks in December, but a few weeks later, they end up in the return line.
According to statistics revealed on a "Christmas Gift Confessions" survey on retail site Finder.com, Americans will spend an estimated $15.2 billion on unwanted presents this year.
In fact, with 61 percent of surveyed Americans admitting to getting at least one unwanted gift over the holidays, the odds of wasting money on an unwanted present are high.
In order to help prevent wasting money on gifts that will be returned – or worse, left forgotten and unused in the box – take a look at this season's most returned items:
Least-desirable gifts:
- Clothing and accessories (43%)
- Household items (20%)
- Cosmetics and fragrances (12%)
- Literature (8%)
- Technology (5%)
- Music (4%)
- Food or drink (4%)
The products with lower percentages, such as food, music or technology, typically have higher approval ratings.
Most-returned gifts:
- Board games
- Toiletries and fragrances
- Celebrity cook books
- Slippers
- Autobiographies
- Christmas sweaters
- Fitness DVDs
- Selfie sticks
According to surveys, 31 percent of people plan to re-gift unwanted presents, and 20 percent plan to exchange. Friends are the largest culprit of giving unwanted gifts. Romantic partners, sons and daughters have the highest likelihood of giving good presents.
Worst gift:
According to Consumer Reports Magazine, hard liquor often an unwanted. Wine, however, is far more desirable, with only 6 percent of people saying they would not approve.
According to surveys, gift cards are a popular holiday item – and a safe bet for those who want to ensure their holiday presents aren't unwanted, re-gifted or returned.
