How to sell your unwanted Christmas gifts on eBay
Research released by eBay and TNS has found that £652 million was spent by British shoppers on unwanted Christmas presents last year – equivalent to £16.38 per person.
The research also reveals that of the 10 gifts the average person received at Christmas, at least one was left unloved under the tree.
Almost a quarter* of those aged 16-34 say they usually ‘re-home’ unwanted gifts by selling them, and 366,000 of all Brits who do this usually start selling their discarded presents on Christmas Day itself, with a further 183,000 selling items on Boxing Day.
3/4 of those that do sell their unwanted gifts on Christmas Day have already done so by lunchtime, with listings hitting a peak at 10am, just after most presents have been opened. Women may find themselves peeling the spuds alone this year, as men are twice as likely as women to take to the internet and list their unwanted gifts on Christmas day.
Other findings show:
- The most wanted presents Brits hope to find under the tree this year are: clothes, shoes and accessories
- The least wanted presents Brits will be leaving under the tree this year are: power tools and DIY equipment
- Those most guilty of buying unwanted gifts are; Uncles, Aunts and in-laws
- A fifth of Brits (22%) recycle unwanted presents by giving them to someone else as a gift
- 13% of Brits claim unwanted gifts are the worst part of Christmas, only closely beaten by the stress of Christmas shopping (14%)
eBay spokesperson Ruth Szyszkowski said, “We all know how it feels to open a turkey of a gift at Christmas. The good news is that eBay.co.uk offers a chance to upgrade an unwanted gift by selling it to buy something you really want or to just make a bit of money back after the costly Christmas period. Listing items on eBay has never been easier – sellers can now download the eBay selling app for free, which allows you to list items in just 60 seconds using new barcode scanning technology”
Those looking to sell their unwanted gifts this Christmas can use eBay’s top tips for selling:
1. Timing is key. Have a think about the best times to list – listings that end in the middle of the night will be seen by less people
2. Start at a low price. If you keep your start price at 99p then it’s free to list, and you’ll attract more buyers
3. The title is vital. The first thing that buyers see is the item title. You only have 55 characters to get their attention, so make them count. Include details like size.
4. Retail with detail. Make sure you include all available information when you’re describing your item and use good, clear pictures. Also, make sure you’re on hand after the sale to provide great customer service. This will ensure positive Feedback and a great experience for both you and your buyer.
*22.5% of 16-34 year olds
What can you expect to make from your unwanted gifts?
Unwanted Gift - Average Sale Price
Cosmetics - £10.47
DIY Tools - £20.28
Experience Days - £68.71
Kitchen Appliances - £53.14
