Research reveals that some Canadians get caught re-gifting

Thoughtless and impersonal holiday gifts may leave many wondering about the rules for re-gifting

TORONTO , Dec. 26 /CNW/ - Three in 10 Canadians have received a holiday gift that was an obvious re-gift, according to new research from eBay Canada , and this may have had an impact on the more than 40 per cent of Canadians who are wary of what to do with unwanted gifts.

According to the research, conducted by Leger Marketing on behalf of eBay Canada , one in three Canadians may have unwrapped unwanted gifts that were either thoughtless or impersonal this holiday season but some may be hesitant to re-gift the item for fear of getting caught.

While Canadians may be reluctant to repurpose holiday gifts, there is nothing wrong with re-gifting or re-selling the item as long as it is done properly. It's an environmentally- and budget-friendly option for making the most out of unwanted items.

"Even though the gift may be unwrapped, unwanted holiday gifts don't have to go unused," according to Cathie Mostowyk, eBay Canada's budget expert and editor of the Shoestring Shopping Guide. "Don't store the item in the back of a closet or hide it under a bed. Rather, look at ways to make the most of unwanted holiday gifts by re-gifting or re-selling the item. It's a great way to recoup some of the costs."

In order to properly re-gift or re-sell an unwanted holiday gift, Mostowyk suggest the following tips and tricks for making more out of less this season:

    
    -   Be thoughtful. Just because the sweater isn't your colour or you
        already have the DVD in your movie collection, doesn't mean that
        someone else wouldn't appreciate them. Just make sure that the gift
        is thoughtful and personal based on the intended recipient.

    -   Be honest. Just because you're re-gifting doesn't mean you have to
        fib and say you bought it new. A simple "I received this as a gift
        but I know you'd appreciate it so much more than me" goes a long way.
        Your friends and family will appreciate that you're giving something
        personal, and that you took the time to think of them.

    -   Donate it. Charitable organizations get lots of donations over the
        holidays, but special items are needed throughout the year. Your
        re-gifting will make a difference to someone who really needs it.

    -   Sell it. There's nothing wrong with selling an unwanted holiday gift
        on eBay and buying something that you like instead or simply
        recouping some of the cash you spent on holiday gifts and
        entertainment.
    

This holiday season, it's easier than ever for Canadians to re-sell their unwanted items with five free listings on eBay.ca. Consumers can take advantage of five free insertion fees every 30 days for auction-style listings, regardless of the item's starting price. By using eBay's Sell Your Item form, it's easy for sellers - whether they're novices or experts - to post their items to the world's largest online marketplace in a few simple steps.

Consumers looking to sell their unwanted holiday gifts should go to www.eBay.ca to get started.

Methodology

This national survey was conducted by Leger Marketing between October 5 and October 8, 2009 . The survey was conducted using a national random sample of 1,500 respondents from Leger Marketing's Web panel. This method simulates a probability sample which would yield a maximum margin of error of +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

About eBay Canada

Founded in 1995 in San Jose , Calif., eBay Inc. connects millions of buyers and sellers globally on a daily basis through eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, and PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to securely, easily and quickly send and receive online payments. We also reach millions through specialized marketplaces such as StubHub, the world's largest ticket marketplace, and eBay Classifieds sites, which together have a presence in more than 1,000 cities around the world. In Canada , eBay was visited by nearly 7.3 million Canadians in October 2009 . (comScore Media Metrix).

For further information: For media inquiries, please contact: Nicole Tuschak, Environics Communications, [phone], [email protected]