4,500 Unwanted Gifts Listed On Trade Me As Kiwi Cash In On Christmas

It didn't take long for unwanted Christmas gifts to start appearing on Trade Me, with thousands of presents already listed for sale since Santa visited yesterday morning.

Trade Me spokesperson, Millie Silvester, said by 8:30am today, over 4,500 presents that didn't quite hit the mark were up for grabs online. Some of the most interesting listings so far include some De Walt power tools listed by someone who prefers Ryobi, a large Kathmandu jacket gifted to a ‘tall skinny young man who never wears a large’, and a bag of licorice allsorts gifted to someone who doesn’t eat sweets.

Ms Silvester said that bargain hunters were also out in force, with a surge in searches for secondhand treasures.

“Boxing Day is a prime time for Kiwi to head to Trade Me to scope out the presents that didn't make the cut. Last year, we saw almost 60,000 searches for ‘unwanted gifts’ on the 26th itself, and this year is already looking similar with over 10,000 searches yesterday - most before Christmas dinner had even been served.”

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According to a recent Trade Me survey, the trend of receiving lacklustre gifts continues. “The data shows a significant number of New Zealanders, 42 per cent to be exact, typically unwrap at least one present they didn't want," said Ms Silvester.

“It’s become a bit of a tradition for Kiwi to list their unwanted Christmas pressies on Trade Me. This year, our survey found that one in four Kiwi (25%) are planning to list any duds they get. We’re expecting to see thousands more of these items pop up over the next few days.”

The verdict is in: Reselling is a-okay

Ms Silvester said sellers shouldn't feel guilty, as most people are not offended if a gift is on-sold. “There's no need to feel bad about selling a gift, with over half of New Zealanders (51%) telling us they’d be okay or even happy if something they gave was sold. Only a tiny 5 per cent said they'd be upset.

“We think this shows that people just want their loved ones to be happy with their gift, even if that means swapping it for something they’ll get more use out of.”

Too polite to pipe up

When it comes to the awkward moment of unwrapping a dud, most Kiwi choose politeness over honesty.

“Rather than cause a fuss, a massive 70 per cent of us will simply put on a brave face and pretend to like a gift that missed the mark,” Ms Silvester commented.

“Our survey found that Kiwi have several go-to methods for dealing with these presents. The most popular choices are donating them to charity, regifting, or stashing them in a cupboard to be forgotten.”

Tips for a successful sale

“To make your listing stand out on Trade Me, include the words ‘unwanted gift’ in the title to attract bargain hunters,” said Ms Silvester. “Taking clear, well-lit photos also makes a huge difference. If the item is brand new in its box, get a picture of it in the intact packaging.

“A good backstory can help your item sell, but if you’d rather keep the sale on the quiet, it’s best to avoid any details that might identify you to the person who gave you the present,” she added. “It's also best to avoid listing handmade or highly personalised items, as they can be tricky to sell.”

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