Press release -
£232m worth of Christmas gifts returned, as cost if living crisis bites
Almost a third plan to return, regift, sell or donate their gifts from last Christmas, with one in five doing so to help manage the cost-of-living crisis – with new research predicting £232 million worth of presents will be returned across the nation.
Young adults (18–34-year-olds) were the most likely to use sales money to help with the cost of living with three in 10 doing so. This number dropped to one in 10 for 55+ year olds.
The average value per gift being returned is £74 with those returning typically taking two gifts back. The most common gifts being re-gifted, donated, sold or returned are clothes and shoes (21%), followed by non-electrical beauty items (18%) and books and stationery (12%).
Over half (54%) said they would not tell the person who gifted them their present that they were returning it, with those over age 55 most likely to keep quiet about it.
The Post Office research found that the cost-of-living crisis was not the only reason for the rush on returns. With 28% saying the gifts they received were wasteful: young adults were the most likely to return a gift because it wasn’t sustainable.
Whilst 32% said they just didn’t need it and 40% said it would never get used – with those over 55 most likely to return their gifts for these reasons.
More than 40% of returns are sent back to small or independent businesses – creating added pressure following recent reports of the adverse effects of rising energy prices and limited consumer spending.
Kristian Latham, Head of Letters and Parcels at the Post Office, commented: “We continue to see big increases in return volumes following the Christmas period, as customers trust us to return their unwanted gifts safely; particularly important as our research shows many are returning and selling unwanted presents for much needed cash. Our Postmasters and staff are working extremely hard to handle this increased traffic to keep the process quick and easy.
“You can drop off your return when it suits you, with our branches open from early in the morning to late in the evening or even 24 hours for some. Some of our returns don’t even require customers to print a label, check the details in your return advice then bring the QR code from the retailer and we’ll scan to generate the return postage and address label. All returns are tracked so you can see where it is until it arrives at its destination.”
The research also found that one fifth of Brits plan to return their gifts via the Post Office. Whilst, nine in 10 customers to have returned items via the Post Office were satisfied with the service.
ENDS
About the research
Nationally representative research of 2,000 UK adults conducted by Opinium between 13th January and 17thJanuary 2023.
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About the Post Office
- With over 11,500 branches, Post Office has the biggest retail network in the UK, with more branches than all the banks and building societies combined.
- Post Office is helping anyone who wants cash to get it whichever way is most convenient. Partnership with over 30 banks, building societies and credit unions means that 99% of UK bank customers can access their accounts at their Post Office.
- Cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries can be made securely and conveniently over the counter at any Post Office; and the biggest investment by any organisation or company in the last decade is being made to safeguard 1,400 free-to-use ATMs across the UK.
- Post Office is simplifying its proposition for Postmasters with a focus on itscash and banking; mails and parcels; foreign exchange; andbill paymentsservices.
- Researchhas found that visits to the Post Office help drive another 400 million visitors to other shops, restaurants and local businesses equating to an estimated £1.1 billion in additional revenue for High Street businesses.
- 99.7% of the population live within three miles of a Post Office; and 4,000 branches are open seven days a week.
