SWNYFORGET By Zoya Gervis
New York office – 646-873-7565 / usnews@swns.com
People forget the majority of gifts they receive, according to new research.
With Christmas less than two weeks away, your anxiety about finding the perfect gift for everyone on your shopping list may be well-founded. New research shows that more than half (53 percent) of the gifts people received last year have already been completely forgotten.
The new study of 2,000 people also uncovered that Americans receive, on average, three forgettable gifts every holiday season.
These gifts aren’t just forgotten; they’re often unused. In fact, one in six gifts received will never be touched or used again after January 1st, the study found.
Survey participants who received forgettable or unwanted gifts are tough customers as 35 percent of them said that receiving a bad gift permanently affects their opinion of the gift giver.
The person Americans trust most to give them a good gift this season? The study found that your partner is most likely to give you the best gifts. This makes sense, considering that 70 percent of respondents said that what makes gifts memorable is loving the person who gave it to them. That said, in the family, siblings are considered the worst gift givers.
“It’s incredibly stressful to find the perfect gift that our loved ones will cherish forever, but it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Aaron Cooper, President of North America, Groupon. “We found that the gifts people remember the most are those that are given with love from someone they care about, fill a need, provide a great memory, have a sentimental meaning and result in compliments from other people.”
Why give unwanted, forgettable gifts at all? For more than half of respondents, the answer is simple: “I needed to get them something.”
Respondents were asked why they thought people gave them gifts that were easily forgettable and the top reasons included: they were just checking a box, they thought it was funny, they personally would have used or wanted the item for themselves, they were sending a message or they were being passive aggressive.
The average American will spend a total of $184.51 on bad and forgettable gifts this season.Men will outspend women on bad and forgettable gifts by approximately $42.
What’s a memorable gift, then? Clothing and apparel, dinner out at a local restaurant, electronics, a spa day, and a trip/getaway were a few ideas that Americans selected as being gifts that left a lasting impression.
Gifts to keep out of your cart included wrinkle cream, a scale, exercise equipment, underwear, and cleaning supplies.
ENDS
