Consumers 'reluctant to return unwanted gifts'
Consumers are reluctant to return unwanted Christmas gifts to shops for fear of offending the friends and relatives who bought them, according to a survey published today.
It found that 31% of adults said they would ideally return a present, but that 27% were unlikely to do so as it risked upsetting those who gave it to them.
Another reason given for not taking gifts back, given by 17% of those surveyed, was to avoid a scene in the shop.
The poll, among 1,000 adults over the age of 15, was conducted on behalf of logistic software company EXE Technologies.
EXE marketing director Steven Buckley said: ‘‘Britons were estimated to spent around £18bn on Christmas presents this year and we believe that over 3% - of £660m of goods - will be returned.
‘‘It’s a shame that some people still put up with gifts they don’t like or that don’t fit especially if one of the reasons is to avoid making a fuss.’’
The estimate for how much shoppers would return was based on results from the survey, and the £18bn spending estimate which came from a Mintel survey conducted before Christmas.
