Just as the gift-giving season arrives and while pondering what to buy, a study has identified that a bag of onions and a toilet paper roll are among the worst gifts to receive. Among them, anti-wrinkle cream and a fly zapper are also topping the list.
Consumer group commissioned a survey of more than 2,000 people who received Christmas gifts in 2022.
It found that a quarter, 24%, had received unwanted or unsuitable gifts.
When asked what they did with the unwanted gift, three in 10 (27%) said they had either given it away or were planning to, one in seven (14%) sold or planned to sell it on an online marketplace and 8% had either returned the gift or were planning to.
Less popular ways of getting rid of unsuitable gifts included throwing them away 5% and giving them back to the person who gifted them 3%, according to the research carried out by Opinium across the U.K. in January 2023.
People were also honest about the worst present they had ever received. Among them were a roll of toilet paper and a fly zapper, a broken toy, a bag of onions and a woman who received anti-wrinkle cream from her husband.
One person said they had received chocolate from their dad despite being intolerant to milk. Another vegan person said they received a dead chicken from a friend who is a butcher.
Eight in 10 (78%) people surveyed said that none of the Christmas presents they received included a gift receipt, meaning they could not exchange any unwanted items for something more suitable.
Many retailers extend their returns policy during the festive period. But Which? cautioned customers to consider whether to accept vouchers, as they could become worthless if the retailer goes bust.
Harry Kind, a Which? Consumer expert, said: "Whether it's a fly zapper or a broken toy, our research shows a quarter of us have been left wondering what to do with a disappointing Christmas gift."
It's always worth getting a gift receipt so your loved one can return their gift if needed.
"Often, 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."
