Money
Getting the best deal
Many happy returns this Christmas
Unwanted Christmas presents worth £1.6 billion will go unused this year, as people stuff unwanted gifts in drawers rather than returning them, says a new report
Nearly half of all Brits believe that they will never use up to a quarter of the presents they receive on Christmas morning, according to Comet.
Instead of hoarding gifts in the attic or the spare room, it is often possible to exchange the gift.
The bad news is that the law isn't on your side. You don't have any legal right to a refund simply because you don't like what you've been given.
The good news is that shops tend to be more understanding over the festive period, but their attitude may depend on the shop manager or the assistant you are dealing with. You don't know until you try, and being polite is the key.
As long as an item hasn't been used the shop should have no problem in swapping it.
It's obviously better that you don't return a ripped and battered-looking box - especially with electronics - but as long as the product itself is OK there shouldn't be a problem.
Clothes shops should not have a problem as long as the garments look and smell unworn. Leaving the tags on helps but isn't essential.
Music shops can cause a problem when returning CDs and DVDs that are not wrapped, because it is easy to make copies before taking them back. But if you explain they were gifts you may get them to agree an exchange.
Alternatively, if your gift was not bought from the high street, or is not something you think you can return, why not try eBay?
Setting yourself up on the site is relatively simple - just follow the instructions. You can sell virtually anything but all goods require a detailed description and a photograph showing any flaws. There are of course many ways to get stung by fraudsters who operate on eBay but you can avoid this by reading up on security measures on the website.
If you do not want to trade over the internet, try a car boot sale, advertise in the local newsagent or use free newspaper ads.
The survey named mother-in-laws as the most likely person to hand over an unsuitable gift.
To try and avoid buying the wrong gift in the first place, Comet's Bob Darke says: "Plenty of red-faced shoppers dash into shops at 4pm on Christmas Eve to grab the first thing they see. We'd advise planning ahead to avoid any flustered shopping moments."
Written by Holly Thomas. Holly is the deputy personal finance editor of the Daily Express and Sunday Express. Her opinions are her own and for general information only. Always seek independent financial advice.
