Unwanted Christmas presents - we’ve all had them, but what to do with them?
With recent research revealing that Britons splashed over £1.7 billion on unwanted presents this year, we show you how to sell your unwanted gifts and turn your pressies into pounds.
Get a refund or credit
The first port-of-call for any unwanted gift should always be to the retailer where it was purchased. This is the only place where you will get a refund or credit for its full value. Don’t be tempted to return gifts direct to the manufacturer as your agreement is always with the shop that it was bought at.
However, before you go rushing out to your nearest high street – a note of caution. You should be aware that legally shops are under no obligation to offer you a refund on your unwanted gift just because you don’t like it. Retailers are only obliged to refund or replace an item if it is either damaged or faulty.
Luckily for you though, with one eye on future sales and a dose of Christmas spirit still lingering in their veins, many retailers seem willing to overlook this legality around this time of year.
With this is mind, you should have no trouble getting a refund for the full amount if you follow these three easy steps:
- Have the receipt with you.
- Keep the gift in its original packaging.
- Take the present back as quickly as possible.
One thing to consider is that if your gift was originally purchased on a credit or debit card then a refund can only be credited to the card of the person who bought it. If this is the case then you’re unlikely to receive a cash refund and will most likely have to settle for a credit note or a replacement of the same value.
Obviously, getting the receipt off the person who gave you the unwanted present can often prove problematic. Some givers are very sensitive and you could find that this year’s best-selling Blu-Ray could be downgraded to a Terry’s Chocolate Orange by next Christmas!
Don’t panic though - even if you’re unable to get hold of the receipt it’s still worth a try. You may only be offered a credit note or exchange, but it’s better than nothing!
You should be aware that not having the receipt means that the retailer is only likely to offer you store credit or a replacement based upon the current value of the present. If the video game you are trying to exchange is now in the January sale, it could mean that you lose out.
Sell, Sell, Sell
A way of still converting your unwanted presents into cash without offending anyone is to sell or swap them online.
Popular sites such as eBay can be the obvious place to start, but sometimes a site’s popularity can be a major drawback when trying to sell unwanted gifts. eBay is flooded with unwanted presents in the days immediately after Christmas and with so many similar items on offer you may struggle to get a good price or even sell your item.
At this busy time of year you may be better off selling your items on a local auction site such as Gumtree, particularly if it is a large item which requires collection. Alternatively, Amazon offers a similar service to eBay for used items, but on a fixed-price basis rather than as an auction.
Those of us old enough to remember ‘Posh Paws’, will also be familiar with the 70’s concept of swapping. Never one to miss an opportunity of giving new life to the oldest of dogs, there are numerous internet sites at which an unwanted gift could be swapped.
There are specialist sites such as Swapaholix.co.uk (fashion), readitswapit.co.uk (books) or tradeyourstuff.co.uk (games), as well as more general sites like Swapz.co.uk, where you can swap everything from mobiles to children’s toys.
If you don’t have access to the internet, you can always try selling your unwanted gifts at a car boot sale. But maybe wait for the weather to warm up first!
The unwanted gift that keeps on giving
An increasingly popular way of disposing of unwanted gifts - although not something everyone may be comfortable with - is the practice of re-gifting. Re-gifting is where an unused present is ‘passed’ onto someone else the following year and is seen as an environmentally friendly way for dealing with the problem of unwanted gifts.
If you do engage in re-gifting it is a good idea to keep the item in its original packaging or cellophane wrapping to avoid giving away the fact that the gift is second-hand. Most importantly, keep a track of who’s gifts you re-gift as returning a gift to its original giver should be avoided at all costs!
Give something back
If you’d rather convert your unwanted presents into Karma than cash, why not donate them to a charity? With a reported 20% fall in donations over the past 12 months, Charity shops are crying out for unwanted and duplicate gifts.
Again the condition of the item being donated is important. An unused DVD still in its cellophane wrapper will make the charity more money than one that has been opened.
Ask and you shall receive (your perfect gift!)
Of course the best way to avoid the problem of what to do with unwanted gift, is not receive them in the first place. Just as we are all encouraged to write a will at some stage in our lives, writing a Christmas list should also be considered compulsory – and not just for children!
Most unwanted Christmas presents are a result of someone not knowing what gift to buy. Don’t be afraid of telling someone exactly what you want for Christmas – it makes it easier for the person buying the gift and you’re sure to be pleased with the result!
If you find the idea of asking for something uncomfortable, perhaps you could reach an agreement with any ‘repeat offenders’ not to buy each other presents. If it’s a partner or a close relative then maybe try suggesting you do something together instead, like having a meal or going to the cinema.
