Make it ‘rein’: Gumtree reveals unwanted Christmas gifts worth $574 million

● More than half the country (53%) received at least one unwanted Christmas gift, with an estimated total of 18.7 million presents 

● One in five (20%) Aussies admit having an argument due to giving or receiving an unwanted gift 

● Friends (30%) are the main culprits for giving unwanted gifts, followed by parents (24%) and work colleagues (19%) 

Sydney, Australia, 26th December, 2021: Millions of Australians may be writing back to Santa this Boxing Day as new research from Gumtree reveals 18.7 million unwanted gifts were received last Christmas, with an estimated worth of $574 million — a staggering increase of $2 million compared to the previous year*. 

The Gumtree Unwanted Gifts Report 2021** suggests that over half of Australians (53%) received at least one unwanted Christmas gift under the tree. Among those getting unsuitable gifts, the majority (46%) received between two or three presents. The most common unwanted gifts were clothes and accessories (14%), followed by beauty products (12%), household items such as furniture, décor or homewares (7%) and books (7%). 

Unwanted gifts could even be a cause of Christmas quarrels, with one in five (20%) respondents stating they have had an argument due to giving or receiving an unsuitable gift. In some cases, the wrong present has ended friendships, with the equivalent of more than half a million Aussies (528,000) saying that due to giving or receiving an unwanted gift they are not friends with someone or that their relationship has changed. 

Gen Z takes the lead as the generation most likely to say they received unwanted Christmas gifts (73%), followed by Millennials (61%), Gen X (48%) and Baby Boomers (31%). However, Gen Z (12%) are the least likely to cash in on their unwanted gifts along with Baby Boomers (5%). 

Gumtree Australia spokesperson, David Low, said: “With most of us receiving an unwanted gift, there has never been a better time to turn disappointment into some much needed cash. Our report shows that after Christmas, more than one in four Aussies feel either broke or regret spending so much money during the holidays. Despite this, only one in ten are cashing in on their unwanted gifts by selling them. 

“This is the best time to pick up an item for yourself that Santa may have forgotten. During this time of the year, we usually see a spike in the number of listings on Gumtree. You’ll be surprised at the amount of brand new items, still with tags on, that you can pick up the days after Christmas or around the holiday period as people are looking to offload their unwanted gifts. What might have not been the right gift for you, might be the item on someone else’s wishlist that they didn’t get.” 

Turning unwanted gifts into money 

Savvy Australians who sold their unwanted gifts earned on average $88, up from $81 in the Gumtree report from last year. In fact, nearly a quarter (24%) of those who sold their unwanted gifts cashed in over $100. Based on this estimate, the value of selling unwanted Christmas gifts in Australia could be worth approximately $370 million, a whopping increase of $48 million compared to the year before. However, this is still short from the total value of unwanted gifts ($574 million) that Australians could rake in. 

Among those who sold their unwanted gifts, the most popular reason was so someone else could use the item (46%), followed by using that money to buy something else they like (31%), starting the new year with some extra cash (21%) or to fund a holiday (11%). 

When it comes to timings, some Aussies cannot wait to pocket in the money from their unsuitable gifts. The report found that one fifth of people (21%) sold their unwanted gifts right away and nearly 1 in 5 (18%) sold them at some point in the holiday season. Men are more likely than women to be quick and sell these types of gifts right away, saying there is no such thing as too soon (26% compared to 16%). 

The environmental cost of unwanted gifts 

Despite the opportunity to cash in on unwanted Christmas gifts, nearly one in three Aussies (32%) left their unsuitable gifts to collect dust in a cupboard. From an environmental point of view, one in ten (10%) or the equivalent to 1.6 million Australians threw their unwanted gifts in the bin, where they would end up in landfill. However, this trend is down from 2020’s report findings (13%). 

The toll that throwing out Christmas gifts may have on the planet is a concern for some. More than one in five (21%) Aussies state the environment and conscious living is the reason why they sold their unwanted gifts. Millennials seem to be the most aware of the impact that Christmas presents may have on the earth as they are the generation most likely to sell unwanted Christmas gifts because of the environment (28%), while Baby Boomers (6%) are the least likely to cite conscious living as a reason for selling their unwanted gifts. 

“It’s great to see Aussies thinking about the planet when deciding what to do with their not so wanted Christmas gifts,” said Low. “Every present that is thrown away is likely to end up in landfill and take a toll on the environment. Instead, by trading in the circular economy Aussies are not only being more sustainable but also financially savvy, a win-win for their wallet and the planet.” 

The unwanted gift givers 

Friends continue to miss the mark and for the fourth year running, they topped the list as the worst gift givers (30%), followed by parents (24%), work colleagues (19%) and siblings (17%). It also appears that things may not be all good in paradise, as more than one in ten (14%) Aussies say they got an unwanted gift from their significant other. 

For some, receiving the wrong present may actually be a case of karma, with three in five Australians (62%) admitting they have re-gifted someone an unwanted Christmas gift. Other common reasons for getting it wrong include not knowing the recipient’s individual style or taste (36%), a limited budget (30%) or not wanting to spend the cash (15%). 

Category: Miscellaneous