Kiwis Plan to Sell Unwanted Christmas Gifts Online - New Survey

A booming trade in unwanted presents is set to start after Christmas Day, with a new survey revealing the majority of people will consider selling their expensive unwanted gifts online.

The research, commissioned by new Kiwi shopping site and app SellShed, investigated people’s attitudes to gifts and Christmas shopping in the lead-up to the festive season.

It found that 56% of Kiwis would think about putting a Christmas present up for sale if it was valuable but not what they wanted.

However, there is a generational divide, with those aged 25 to 34 years old more open to the idea of getting a cash payment for their unwanted loot than any other age group (67%). Over-65 year olds are the least likely to turn to the internet to sell their gifts after Christmas Day (41%).

Meanwhile, take note if you’re struggling to find the perfect pressie, as the gifts most likely to receive an unfavourable reaction have also been exposed. Forty-four per cent of Kiwis have confessed the classic gift of Soap on a Rope would be the worst possible gift they could receive this festive season.

Don’t think you can wrap up that cookbook you never use or a birthday candle you don’t like for your cousin, either. The soapy faux pas is closely followed by any present that has clearly been ‘regifted’ - with four in ten Kiwis (40%) saying that would be the most unsatisfactory item to unwrap this Christmas.

While widely considered unimaginative, socks appear to still be an appropriate pressie for some, with just 12% of the respondents saying they’d be unhappy with them.

A homemade gift could also be a winner, with only 5% saying it would be the worst present they could receive - although men are significantly more likely to be disappointed with a homemade chutney or scarf than women.

With an abundance of online shops and delivery services now available at the touch of a button, one in three Kiwis (35%) now intend to use their smartphone to find presents for friends and family, avoiding Christmas queues in favour of convenience.

And perhaps showing a large degree of optimism, three-quarters (75%) of respondents believe they will have all their Christmas shopping done in time for Christmas Eve, avoiding the typically frantic last day of purchasing in stores and malls across the country.

SellShed CEO Peter Howell says the company has seen a steady increase in use of the mobile shopping platform as Christmas approaches.

“People are enjoying the convenience of shopping online or on a smartphone app, and avoiding the crowds and long waits that are often associated with the traditional Christmas shopping period,” he says.

For more information, or to download the free app, visit www.sellshed.co.nz.

-ENDS-