Internet sales sites flooded with unwanted gifts

Officials have stated that billions of pounds worth of unwanted Christmas gifts have already gone up for sale on Internet sites such as eBay.

According to officials from eBay its Internet marketplace has already been flooded with users trying to sell off unwanted Christmas gifts just a day after receiving them. Officials said that all sorts of gifts are being advertised for sale on the website, as budget minded consumers try and make some money back on gifts that they will not use. This could give other consumers an even greater chance of picking up bargains online, as they can choose from items for sale on websites such as eBay as well as on retailer websites.

It is thought that around £2 billion worth of unwanted gifts have been advertised on the Internet by recipients that would rather have the cold hard cash that the gift that they have received. Officials from eBay said that those advertising their unwanted gifts online are not being ungrateful but simply trying to be savvy at a time when the economy is slow and money is tight. Access to broadband Internet has made it easier for these savvy minded consumers to get rid of such unwanted items quickly and easily, and make some money.

It is thought that around £1.7 billion in total was wasted this year on presents that the recipient classed as unwanted, and this equates to around £36 per person. It is thought that for the average consumer around one out of every ten presents received will be classed as unwanted, and it is only natural that those that have received unwanted gifts will want to tap into the power of the Internet to try and make some cash from these items.

One spokesperson from eBay said: “Last year on the 27th of December Brits flocked to eBay to sell an estimated two million unwanted Christmas gifts. This year with the current economic climate it’s little wonder people will look to make extra cash, as a nation we are sitting on £455 million worth of untapped income from unwanted gifts alone.”

Further reports have shown that there was a greater number of people that made purchases from an online website on Christmas Day itself than attended a church service.