Your best and worst Christmas gifts ever
From thoughtful family gifts to household cleaning items - here are your best and worst christmas gifts
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We asked you about the best and worst Christmas presents you’ve ever received, and you responded in your droves. Here we present the findings of our Xmas gift survey – your favourite Christmas gifts plus your ultimate Yuletide no-nos.
The bad
One person got a gift that, like an elephant, they’ll never forget...
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Asking for ‘smellies’ isn’t always a wise move, as one unlucky dotcomgiftshop customer discovered when, instead of luxury bath salts, someone gave her a bucket of elephant dung from the local zoo.
The worst gifts you’ve ever received include a stuffed cat, a gnome flashing its bum, compostable bin bags, gravel, a live cockerel, curried crickets, and a jam jar filled with salt.
We also love the response from someone who’s still scratching their head: ‘It was made of wire and to this day I don’t know what it was!’
It’s the thought that counts
Socks are a Yuletide no-no
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Whoever gives gaffa tape, coat hangers, window cleaner or spray starch as Christmas presents, take note: Gifts related to household chores go down with our customers like the proverbial lead balloon. While it’s true that it’s the thought that counts, you do actually need to do the thinking bit.
By far the most frequent ‘worst present’ response was socks. Whether they’re second-hand socks, cheap socks, light-up socks, bed socks, scary-toe socks, the message is clear: You don’t like getting them for Christmas. Giving socks shows you don’t really care.
Your favourite gifts
We prefers each other's presence to their presents, around our Christmas trees
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It’s reassuring to know that the vast majority of dotcomgiftshop customers still say the best Christmas gift is being close to your nearest and dearest. In fact, almost 90% of you said your absolute favourite thing about the festive season is family time.
Seeing loved ones who live far away or who serve in the armed forces comes high up on the list of your Christmas gift wishes. One of our favourite responses: ‘It was just being with my amazing elderly nannie who sadly passed away this year. I’ve spent every Christmas with her for 41 years.’
Most thoughtful gifts
Pictured above: String of 10 White Cafe Festoon Lights - £39.95
Our research proves that the best way to delight a friend or loved one, is to make your gift a thoughtful one. Like the respondent who said their favourite Christmas present was receiving ‘a cleaner for a year,’ and another customer who said they came home to find the garden festooned with fairy lights.
Other thoughtful presents include: ‘My sister in law cooking Christmas lunch’, ‘An album of all the postcards I had ever sent to my parents – 60 years worth!’, ‘A homemade jar from my daughter filled with all the reasons she loves me’, and a handmade spoon from a dad who has Parkinson’s and struggles to carve wood.
Have you ever received any memorable Christmas gifts? Whether it's for the right, or wrong reason, we'd love to hear it! Pop over to our Facebook page and share it with us.
Savvy shopping from dotcomgiftshop
Whether you’re searching for that elusive special something, or looking for unusual stocking fillers, dotcomgiftshop has lots of Christmas gift ideas:
For him
Pictured above (from left to right): The Modern Man Multi-Tool - £6.95, Bicycle Rider’s Hip Flask - £8.95, World Map Wall Chart - £29.95
For her
Pictured above (from left to right): Basil & Mint Apothecary Candle - £8.95, Brass Trinket Box - £24.95, Flamingo Bay Bamboo Travel Mug - £9.95
For kids
Pictured above (from left to right): Set Of 3 Weather Friends Cases - £24.95, Enchanted Forest Teepee - £79.95, Glow In The Dark Mini Table Tennis Set - £6.95
For dogs
Pictured above (from left to right): Small Red Paisley Dog Bandana - £3.95, Make Your Own Doggy Treats Set - £6.95, Stripy Dog Lead - £8.95