In fact, 24% who received presents last year were gifted something unwanted or unsuitable, according to our survey.*
Some people received baffling gifts such as already-used deodorant and out-of-date chocolates, while others were given books they'd already read or clothes in the wrong size.
If you receive something weird and (not so) wonderful this year, there are some steps you can take to ensure that the sender's efforts don't go to waste.
From rehoming to recycling, here's what to do with your unwanted presents this year.
Received a faulty present this Christmas?1. Return it
If your present came with a gift receipt, you'll be able to exchange it for something else with the retailer the present was purchased from. You might alternatively be offered a full refund.
Make sure you check if the retailer offers an extended Christmas returns policy as some are more generous than others.
For online returns, the buyer often has to be the one to initiate the retur, and the money usually gets reimbursed to the account used to place the order. However, Amazon allows you to request a refund or credit note if your item was marked as a gift at the time of purchase.
If the present doesn't come with a receipt, you'll need to weigh up whether it's worth asking the sender to make a return.
As one participant recalled: 'I received slippers for a woman of advanced years – which I wasn't – from my husband. It was made worse by telling my husband they were horrid and I wanted to return them. He was quite offended, but I stood my ground.'
Find out more: .2. Donate it
And 27% who received an unwanted gift last year donated it to charity or gave it to friends and family.
One respondent told us: 'I have sometimes received gifts I don't want or need. I usually give them to a charity shop unless I know of someone who would appreciate the item.'
Consider donating your unwanted gifts to your local charity shop. Alternatively, check local refuge centres and shelters which might be looking for coats and other warm items during the winter months.
Food banks might also be accepting donations and some libraries accept toys.
3. Regift it
One man's trash is another's treasure.
If you receive a book, jumper or toiletries not to your taste this year, there's no shame in regifting them to a friend or family member who might get more use out of them.
'My worst present was bath bombs given to me by my mum,' said one survey participant. 'I have sensitive skin and couldn't use them, so I regifted them to someone else.'
4. Resell it on a secondhand platform
Some 14% of people who received unwanted gifts last year sold them on a second-hand marketplace, such as Amazon Marketplace, eBay, Gumtree or Vinted.
If you're looking to make some extra cash in the new year, reselling presents you're unlikely to use could be a good side hustle.
It's worth doing some research to see which platform is best for your item and how much it's selling for before listing it.
For clothes and accessories, try Depop or Vinted. For books, records and other electrical items, take a look at MusicMagpie and WeBuyBooks.
Gumtree also has an unwanted gifts section specifically for unloved presents.
Find out more: .5. Rent it out
You may be able to make money renting out unwanted clothes, sports equipment and household items.
By Rotation, Hurr and My Wardrobe HQ can be used to rent out your own clothes. What you make will depend on how many items you have and the listing price.
For other items, you can try Fat Llama, Pa-rent and RentNotBuy. These websites often let you rent out everything from DJ equipment to electric scooters and campervans.
This can be a great way to reap the rewards of your unwanted gift throughout 2024.
6. Recycle unwanted tech or clothing items
If being more sustainable is one of your resolutions for 2024, have a think about recycling your unwanted tech and clothes.
You can recycle via your local authority, or other recycling companies might reward you for using their services.
We Just Recycle pays for unwanted clothes, shoes, belts and bags. You'll get up to 50p per kg (maximum of £5 per bag weighing 10kg) and it offers a free pick-up service.
There are other retailers that offer their own schemes, too. H&M, for example, will issue you a 'thank you voucher' towards your next purchase for every bag of old clothes you drop off at its stores.
John Lewis offers a similar scheme, giving you £5 off a fashion or homeware purchase of £20 or more when you take in five or more items of pre-loved clothing.
Find out more: .*Which? surveyed 2,001 adults in the UK who received a Christmas gift in 2022. Fieldwork was carried out online in January 2023 by Opinium and data has been weighted to be representative of the UK population (aged 18-plus).
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/6-things-to-do-with-unwanted-gifts-this-christmas-a1i3S6W5shyw