Marmite-scented deodorant tops list of UK’s most unwanted Christmas presents | UK news
Marmite-scented deodorant and old pajamas top the list of the most disappointing Christmas gifts, according to research that reveals one in five Brits received an unwanted gift over the holidays.
More than 2,000 members of the public were surveyed by which consumer group? In January, they talked about the gifts they received last Christmas, with 21% of respondents saying they had been given an unwanted or inappropriate gift.
Marmite scented deodorant – one limited edition product Released by Unilever, which produces both the appetite-stimulating cream and Lynx body spray, rotten coconuts and pineapples were among the biggest disappointments reported, and a Tottenham Hotspur book that was not enthusiastically received by its buyer, a Chelsea fan, was also reported.
The consumer group asked people about other men they had: A vertigo sufferer with a fear of flying was given a helicopter ride by his daughter.
When asked what they did with an unwanted gift, a third (33%) of respondents said they would keep it and use it, while a sixth (15%) said they would keep it but not use it. Once the dust settled from the festive celebrations, a third (34%) of those surveyed opted to get rid of the unwanted gift rather than returning or exchanging it.
Popular options for giving away a non-conforming item include giving it to a friend or family member; 12% of those surveyed did so, 10% said they gave it to a charity shop and 8% said they sold it on an online marketplace.
Only 2% of those surveyed said they had thrown away an unwanted gift, and only 1% admitted to returning it to the person who bought it for them.
Which? “Our research shows that one in five of us wonder what to do with an unwanted gift,” said Lisa Webb, a consumer law expert at . “It’s always worth getting a gift receipt so your loved one has the option to return their gift if necessary.”
Fortunately, many retailers are extending their return policies over the festive period, allowing many people who receive a disappointing gift to get a refund or exchange for another product or coupon.
“Sometimes with online orders, only the buyer can request a refund or exchange,” Webb added. “However, if the item was marked as a gift when ordered, the retailer’s return policy may allow the buyer to return or exchange the item.”
Which? advises consumers that they generally must provide proof of purchase to return an unwanted item. Some retailers do not allow refunds to credit or debit cards unless the original cardholder is present. However, depending on the return policy, they may offer a gift card, coupon, or credit memo.
