We recently asked the world about the practice of regifting, a concept that has become part of our popular culture. We expected to hear mixed feelings, but the results of the survey were eye opening. In some cases they were eye popping! We were most surprised to find that 92% of you are ok with regifting, whether you’re the giver or receiver!
We were also intrigued to learn that 62% said that you plan to regift this holiday season! Those Secret Santa gifts might be holding an even bigger secret: they might be regifted!
Here are some other fun facts about regifting:
- Women tend to regift more often than men (3:1)
- People are most likely to regift during the holiday season (62%), for birthdays (58%) or for housewarming gifts (50%)
- People who regift are most likely to regift items to friends (63.7%), neighbors (45.5%) and colleagues (34.6%)
- The most commonly acceptable regifted items are home décor products (63%), antiques (63%) and books (59%)
- While some regifters are open about their gift recycling, the more stealthy regifters have mastered the art of keeping it a secret, including re-wrapping the item to look new (53%), inspecting the item and removing any gift cards or receipts from the previous giver (50%) and planning ahead to ensure they do not give the gift to anyone associated with the original gifter (66%)
- Some of the oddest regifted presents included:
o Monogrammed items with someone else’s initials
o Two-year-old fruitcake (that the person had originally given the gifter)
o Box of chocolates with bites taken out of several pieces
o Outdated desk calendar
o Partly used gift cards
o Toys with broken pieces
Since the holidays are full of giving, storytelling and sharing, we want to hear your regifting stories! Post your stories below in the comments section, but please keep them PG!
And for those of you who don’t want to chance getting caught regifting, why not list your unneeded gifts on Bookoo.com and use the money to buy something you really want!
Happy holidays!
My mother-in-law gave me a glass box from Tiffany’s that I had given her two years before. I could tell it was the same one because the sticker was torn in the same place. Of course, I graciously accepted the gift and now have a lovely Tiffany’s box in our living room!
Wow..you should give it back to her next year
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So I have always been “ok” regifting. Some gifts are just not given with careful care or the person the gift was purchased for has too much stuff. My problem comes over feeling guilty that I gave “your gift” away. And that goes back to purchasing gifts just because we feel obligated to purchase one for that individual. We never should feel obligated. Giving is such a heartfelt task! one that if isn’t a labor of love, should not be done.
My Favorite “regift” was from my daughter…..she found a cute little box she had and filled it by blowing kissed into the box. She wrote on the top “This box will always have a warm hug waiting inside for you and anything you hide away in it. Love….the box was a lovely butterfly box with “There’s no place like Home” written on the top. I keep my most treasured Christmas Ornaments inside the box. Of course they are the Ornaments made by my Children. : )
Interesting, I actually gave old gifts to other people. Saved lot of money!