It has long been considered the ultimate faux pas of gift giving, but it would seem the act of redirecting an unwanted present to a third party is becoming a socially acceptable practice.
With the buying-wrapping-delivering frenzy of another festive season upon us, a recent survey found a very magnanimous 83 per cent of respondents said they wouldn’t mind being given a recycled gift.
The key to a seamless “regifting”, as the potentially Scrooge-like process has become known, is in pairing an unwanted parcel to a suitable new owner.
Seems it’s not the concept of recycling that bothers recipients so much as being lumbered with a hopelessly mismatched present.
In other words Auntie Tina will happily turn a blind eye so long as the second-hand offering she finds under her tree is something she actually wants – rather than an ornately decorated dog-food bowl when she has no pets.
So there you have it: it really is the thought – and not the receipt – that counts.
US website CreditDonkey, who commissioned the survey, has even compiled a few pointers to help novice regifters avoid the most common rookie mistakes.
These include ensuring the person receiving the rejected present won’t cross paths with the original giver, and taking care to team each item to an appropriate home.
It might sound simple enough but according to a previous eBay survey, somewhere in Australia there’s a vegetarian still fuming over the tandoori spice rub for chicken they were once given from a not-so-thoughtful friend.
And should your cunning regifting be exposed, the experts advise, handle it was as much grace as possible.
After all, concealing disappointment upon unwrapping an utterly useless present is a timeless Christmas tradition - whether it is regifted or not.
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