Whether it’s an unflattering item of clothing, a bottle of booze you just can’t stomach or a book you’ve already read, it’s always awkward to receive an unwanted gift.
You don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but you’re also not keen on the thought of said gift haunting your house like the ghost of Christmas past.
Thankfully consumer champion Which? is on hand to help you out with 8 ideas for avoiding any awkwardness.
1. Return it
Research by Which? showed one in seven people exchanged their unwanted gift last year, while fewer than one in 10 made a return
If you’ve been given the receipt too, you can probably assume the gifter won’t take offense.
If not, and you feel comfortable doing so, you will need to ask for the receipt to be able to return the gift in-store.
Online returns usually require the purchaser to initiate the return process, so you will need to liaise with whoever has given you the item.
Most returns periods are extended over the Christmas holidays, so check to ensure you are within time.
2. Give it to a charity, shelter or foodbank
If the item is in good condition and you think there is a better owner for it out there, consider donating it to a charity, shelter or foodbank.
Most charity shops accept clothes, footwear, small items for the home, books and toys.
But do make sure to check that your chosen cause is accepting donations and they are happy to take your item before making the trip down there.
Which? says one in four people who received an unwanted gift last Christmas gave it to a charity shop or friends and family.
3. Sell it online
We are now spoilt for choice when it comes to selling our unwanted belongings online.
You can list your items on eBay, Vinted, Depop, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and Poshmark, to name just a few.
Some websites charge a small fee to list your items, so it’s always worth checking the small print and comparing options first.
4. Regift it
If the gift isn’t right for you but you know just the person who would love it, consider regifting your item to a friend or family member.
Which? Said: “One participant told us they regularly rehome toiletries sets to others: ‘I can’t use them as I have very sensitive skin, so whenever I get given one I regift it.’
You might want to tell the new owner where the gift came from, to ensure full transparency of your philanthropy.
5. Sell your giftcard
If you’ve been given a giftcard you don’t use, you can try to sell it for the cash equivalent.
It’s worth asking friends and family first, for a quicker resolution.
Otherwise, websites like Cards2Cash and Cardyard.
Whatever your decision, make sure you don’t take too long to move the card on. If the company goes bankrupt, you may lose out on the value of the card completely.
6. Rent it out
Some gifts might even be able to make you some quick cash, by renting them out.
Which? lists some websites you might be able to use: “Websites such as FatLlama allow you to rent out pretty much anything, helping you reap the rewards of your unwanted gift throughout 2023.
“For clothes or accessories, you could try By Rotation, Hurr or Rotaro.”
7. Take it to a car bootsale
Consider a car bootsale very, very far away from the home of the gift-giver.
But really, check what time the bootsale opens and how much it costs to pitch up.
This is also a great opportunity to get rid of any other junk you may have around the house.
And who knows? You might even rehome someone else’s unwanted gift.
8. Recycle it
And if the thought of your unwanted item ending up in landfill fills you with dread, take the green route and find somewhere to recycle it.
Which? Says: “Retailers including H&M and Adidas have recycling schemes that allow you to exchange unwanted clothes and trainers for a voucher.
“Marks and Spencer has partnered with Oxfam to give you a £5 M&S voucher when you hand in old clothes.
“Your donation must include at least one M&S item, and the voucher can only be used on clothing, homeware, and beauty products worth £35 or more.”
What are your gift voucher rights?
IF you have a gift card for a retailer or other business that goes bust, you could find it hard to get your money back.
Senior Consumer Reporter Olivia Marshall explains your rights.
When a firm collapses, administrators are often brought in and they view customers with gift cards as creditors.
First of all, you should go to the business and see if you can still use your voucher as some administrators will honour the purchase.
But otherwise you’ll have to make a claim in writing to them with proof of your vouchers.
If the gift card was purchased through a third party, you could also approach that business for a refund.
You won’t be entitled to a refund but they could still repay you.
Sadly there’s no obligation for your gift voucher to be honoured and if a business goes bust they can become worthless.
If you bought a gift voucher that’s worth £100 or more you could try claiming the money back under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
This law means shoppers can get their money back from their card provider if they didn’t get what they paid for.
For spends under £100, or if the voucher was purchased with a debit card, you might be able to make a claim through the “chargeback” scheme.
But unlike Section 75, this isn’t a legal requirement so there’s no guarantee you’ll get your money back.
Experts suggest avoiding buying gift vouchers due to the risk of losing money if things go wrong.
