These Taboo Holiday Items Are The Most Returned And Exchanged Christmas Gifts
The holidays are a time of cheer, family, and giving, but unfortunately, they're also the season of returning. According to studies done by gifting platform Gift Now, in 2016 alone, 54% of gifts were returned or exchanged by their recipients.
It just goes to show you that we're more than likely to gift a dud, so it really is the thought that counts. But if you want to avoid the whole situation itself, commit these infamous most returned and exchanged holiday gifts to memory.
Fringe Boots Topped The 2018 List
Clothing is a hit or miss when it comes to presents. What may seem like a fashionable item to you could be an eyesore to the person you're giving it to, and you'd never know until you realize you've never seen them wear it.
Fringe boots were one of the most returned gifts in 2018 and it's not hard to imagine why. They were a big fad item, and while many loved them, a lot of people hated them and saw their trendiness coming to an end. Now, they hang out at the fringes of fashion.
Kids Don't Love Baby Dolls Anymore
Those realistic baby dolls that can crawl, blink, make a mess, and wake you up late at night with their crying that swept our attention in the 80s and 90s somehow aren't popular with kids anymore. It's really not a mystery why.
Many parents, especially those of young girls, want their daughters to play with more constructive toys. So, as realistic baby dolls are being returned, more and more superhero and vocational-focussed toys and dolls are being bought for both genders.
Smartwatches And Other Tech Is "Too Personal"
While it may be really sweet of you to buy your loved one the latest piece of tech, you should actually think about holding off this holiday season. Every year a lot of technology is returned, and in 2018 smartwatches were among the gear that topped the list.
The reason being is because a lot of people use technology in a very intimate way, every single day. How many people do you know who are attached to their phones? So those big electronic gifts are seen as more of a personal buy that someone should go themselves and grab.
Tiny Sunglasses Also Found Their Way Back To Stores
There's a new sunglasses trend that comes out every single year it feels like. We've gone from oversized glasses to sporty Ray-Bans to mirrored aviators, and now it's those tiny glasses you see models and celebrities wearing. But you won't find them in closets come to the end of January.
Tiny sunglasses are one of the most returned gifts and it's not because the sun went away—it's because they're going out of style. People likely returned them because they don't see them sticking around as a hot item once summer hits.
Lego Had To Let Go
It's not that kids suddenly hate Lego—they really do love it. But, if you're a parent and you've ever been sitting on your couch and felt a pain in your leg and you found out it was a Lego piece stabbing you in the thigh, well, you're probably going to want to reduce your chances of that happening again.
Parents are returning gifted Lego sets because they're a pain to clean up off the floor and we always seem to find a way to step on them. That's just a no brainer.
Shirts With Sleeve Cutouts Are A Tad Too Trendy
If there's one thing you can count on, it's that the fashion industry will always try and find a way to make shirts and sweaters more interesting. We usually appreciate this, because there always comes a time when they create something that we'd actually wear to work. They're cute for yourself, but maybe hold off on buying these for Christmas.
Trendy clothing is a hard one to get for your friends and family, only because it so quickly goes out of style. So don't reach for that "cold-shoulder-sweater" because it's a moment of fashion that isn't frozen in time.
Other Blockbusters Made Star Wars Suffer
Surprisingly, one of the biggest movie franchises also saw its toys and merchandise reach high return rates in 2018. Even though Star Wars has found new life in Rogue One, The Last Jedi, and Solo, somehow Disney wasn't really able to get people to hold onto their merchandise.
This may be because other action and adventure blockbusters stole the stage in 2018, with Avengers: Infinity War, Deadpool 2, Black Panther, and Aquaman earning big bucks on the big screen.
Tape Measures Didn't Quite Measure Up
Small household tools have never really screamed "holiday gift" to anyone. They're useful things, but unless the person you're getting that wrench, hammer, or tape measure for has told you that they want it... it's probably going back on the store shelf.
Every year, tape measures top the list of the most returned or exchanged item and it's really no surprise why. If you're going to get your family member something this impersonal, you might as well just get them a card.
Air Fryers And Other Niche Kitchen Appliances Were Brought Back
Even though you've seen all the infomercials and read the Amazon reviews about how this niche kitchen "must-have" appliance has "changed someone's life," you shouldn't rush out to the store and grab one for your loved ones, because they'll probably return it.
Crockpots, instant pots, air fryers, and waffle irons are among the kitchen items that are most returned and exchanged. The reason is that they're usually fulfilling a want that the person you're giving it to doesn't really have, and will just take up space in the kitchen unused.
Chocolate Didn't Feel As Sweet As It Tasted
Chocolate, especially specialty chocolates, surprisingly don't seem like a very sweet gift to everyone. Life truly is like a box of chocolates, you never really know what holiday gift is going to be a home run.
Women, especially, don't want to get chocolate since 2018 saw most women returning the chocolates and candy they received. This is interesting since chocolate used to seem like a good present to get someone if you were drawing blanks... now we're not so sure.
Dress Shirts Didn't Dress To Impress
This probably won't surprise you if you live with a man who never likes to buy new clothes, who instead will wear the ones he's got until they're literally falling off his body with wear, but men don't like dress shirts as gifts. At all.
Dress shirts are one of the biggest items that men return to the store, and it might be because of how personal clothing can be. This is probably because he might buy a dress shirt for a special event, so he probably wants to get it sized correctly and make sure it fits in-store.
Baby And Toddler Clothes Are Often Traded In
Getting a new parent some baby or toddler clothing is actually a really sweet and thoughtful gift that they will definitely use and appreciate. The only issue is that kids grow... a lot.
Baby clothes were most exchanged for different sizes at the store, likely because the child's grown in the time the person bought the gift and when the gift was received. This isn't a bad thing, but it might be less hassle for the new parent if you gave them a gift card to a baby store instead.
Men's Athletic Clothing Also Didn't Hit The Ground Running
Athletic clothing comes in all shapes and sizes and we all have our certain preferences of what we like and what we look for in a garment. This is especially true for anyone who does a variety of different physical activities and needs different gear for all of them.
In 2018, men most returned athletic clothing, not because they've suddenly given up on their New Year's resolutions in January, but probably because they want to buy what works for themselves. So don't sweat it, it's normal these are exchanged.
Don't Buy Her A Sweater... Even Though You Probably Already Have
It really isn't Christmas if someone doesn't gift a really nice and well-made sweater. This is really sweet of them obviously, and they're just trying to keep you warm during the holidays. But Gift Now's findings are saying otherwise.
Even though regular sweaters don't have the same short fashion lifespan as trendy fashion items, the reason a lot of women return sweaters is probably because she wants a different style, color, or cut from the store. After all, most of us are picky about clothing—and sweaters are no exception.
Cosmetic Products Don't Look So Nice As Gifts
Cosmetics like makeup, nail polish, or expensive perfumes are great gifts if their brand, shade, and style are specifically asked for by someone. But if you're just walking into Sephora and guessing at what they'd like, you should probably just get them a gift card.
The reason makeup and perfume are on the list is probably because what smells good to you might smell horrible to some people. The same goes for makeup—what might be a cute shade to you might not work at all on their skin.
Women's Watches Are Safe Bets
If you're feeling overwhelmed at hearing about all of these "no" items and are a little lost about what you should get someone, check out these infrequently returned items that Gift Now recommends you buy.
Even though smartwatches couldn't keep up, watches for women are actually a good present during holiday time. This is probably because they're stylish, useful, and are considered more of a luxury jewelry item rather than a clothing piece.
Ties For Guys Are Tied And True
Even though it seems like a bit of a fallback gift, a tie is actually one of the items men found hardest returning to the store. So don't let anyone tell you that a tie is a bad gift because it's one of the safest choices you can actually make.
The reason men don't return ties so much is probably because of how and where men wear ties. They either wear them every day for work or they wear them on special occasions; in both cases, they either need more ties, or they can't give it away because they might need it later.
Fine Necklaces For Women Are a Glimmer Of Hope
So, as it turns out in a completely not shocking at all news, women like nice jewelry. Specifically, they like receiving nice necklaces as gifts at Christmas and are less likely to go exchange or return the item after seeing it.
This is probably because nice jewelry is hard to let go of, it can have sentimental value, you can wear it every day, and it can last for a long time. So if there's someone in your life you think deserves a piece of jewelry for Christmas, just know they'd love it if you got it for them.
Men's Wallets Are A Gift Option You Can Bank On
You may be seeing a pattern that luxury items are things that people are less likely to return or exchange, and you're absolutely correct. Men, specifically, really enjoy and will hang onto well-made wallets.
So be right on the money with your gift and get that special man in your life a well-made wallet. He'll use it every day, he (hopefully) won't lose it, and he's going to look at and be reminded of you and your thoughtful gift.
Anti-Aging Skincare Is A Glowing Recommendation From Both Men And Women
Newsflash, we all age—even though we don't like to admit it. That's why despite what people will tell you, we all like to invest in a good anti-aging cream or serum. Yes, even men, and we have the science to prove it.
In 2018, Gift Now found that both men and women aren't likely to return an anti-aging product that's been gifted to them. This is great news for everyone and their now hydrated, smooth, and free of age spots skin.
