Gift Giving Stress Takes Joy out of the Holiday Season
More than one-third of gift buyers say coming up with an idea is most stressful part of gift giving
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Fear of failure makes a bad situation worse for U.S. holiday gift givers. According to a new survey from Anker, the leader in mobile power, thirty-nine percent of gift givers don't feel confident that the recipient will like the gifts they have already purchased or plan to purchase. On average consumers have a difficult time shopping for one-third (32 percent) of people on their list.
This worry is well-founded. Every year the average consumer will receive two gifts they don't like. And those gifts are going to waste: 57 percent report they return the gift, store it or simply throw it away; 19 percent regift it.
This bad gift giving may be a self-fulfilling prophecy with nearly half (42 percent) of gift givers shopping for the easiest-to-buy-for first, leading 41 percent to purchase eleventh-hour gifts at a grocery store, drug store, dollar store, liquor store or gas station.
Useful presents can alleviate gift-giving stress
Purchasers likely bring on this stress by overthinking their lists. A survey released by Anker earlier this holiday season found that expensive, unique and sentimental holiday gifts are not what people actually want. Usefulness was the most important characteristic of a good holiday gift, cited by 54 percent of respondents. In fact, 68 percent of recipients say a bad gift is one that isn't useful at all.
To help determine usefulness, holiday shoppers should look for items that simplify the recipient's life: More than three-quarters (79 percent) of respondents note they would use a gift of this nature.
External batteries are one solution
Thirty-five percent of gift givers report that electronic gifts are the most popular among those on their lists, and external batteries — portable power packs for mobile devices — qualify as an affordable solution. In fact, the previous Anker survey revealed that 84 percent of smartphone users agree they would use an external battery if given to them as a gift, with 50 percent noting they would use it a few times a week or more.
"Anker was founded on the premise of helping people to power their mobile life," said Jason Lin, senior director of marketing for Anker. "Our external batteries are one example of a product that not only reduces stress for the gift giver, but for the recipient as well."
Selecting an external battery for everyone on your list is simple with the Astro Series from Anker, the No. 1 charging brand on Amazon. The Astro Mini, with its variety of color options and compact style, holds enough juice to charge a smartphone 1.5 times and is perfect for the busy parent or teenager on the go. For those with a gamer or business traveler on their list, Anker's 2nd Gen Astro E4 has enough power to charge a smartphone battery three to six times. Visit the Anker holiday page to learn more about useful Anker power accessories for holiday.
About the survey
The survey was conducted by Foxtrot Research; please click here to view the full results.
About Anker®
Anker, creator of reliable, affordable power accessories, was founded in 2008 by a group of ex-Googlers who set out to design dependable technology products with a commitment to getting it right through constant improvement. With an extensive line of power solutions including external batteries and chargers, Anker continues to design new products to make life easier through smarter technology. For more information, visit www.ianker.com, follow us on Twitter at @AnkerOfficial, like us on Facebook or email us at [email protected].
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SOURCE Anker
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