All I Want for Christmas Is… Not New! Brits Rethink Festive Gifting

There’s always pressure to find the perfect Christmas present, but it turns out Brits might not be quite so fussed about everything being brand-new. 

New research from European marketplace refurbed reveals that nearly eight in ten Brits (78%) would be happy to receive, or wouldn’t mind unwrapping, a professionally refurbished electronic gift this Christmas morning. 

And while shoppers might worry about giving a refurbished present, just 11% say buying brand-new is one of their biggest priorities when choosing Christmas gifts, suggesting there could be savings to be made without disappointing anyone on Christmas morning. 

With the cost of Christmas adding up, Brits are looking for ways to make their money go further. The study of 2,000 UK adults found that more than a third (34%) are hunting for the best deals, a quarter (25%) are setting stricter gift budgets and one in five (20%) plan to spend less on individual presents. 

But that doesn’t mean they’re willing to give up on the gifts their loved ones really want. Faced with a £500 gift on a £300 budget, more than a quarter (28%) would buy the same product professionally refurbished for £300, while just 7% would fork out the extra £200 to buy it brand-new. 

So, what would Brits happily unwrap refurbished this Christmas? Smartphones top the list (28%), followed by laptops (25%), tablets (20%), games consoles (14%) and smartwatches (14%). 

It seems Brits are taking a practical approach to Christmas gifting more generally. Nearly half (47%) say buying something their loved ones will actually use is one of their biggest priorities, while more than a third (37%) would most like to receive something useful themselves, ahead of sentimental presents (14%), experiences (12%) and luxury gifts (8%). 

The findings come as refurbed, one of Europe’s leading marketplaces for professionally refurbished products, prepares to launch in the UK this November, just in time for Christmas. 

Founded in Austria in 2017, refurbed has already attracted more than five million customers across Europe and clocked up over €3 billion in GMV. Now it’s bringing professionally refurbished products to British shoppers, from smartphones and laptops to coffee machines and hair styling tools, with savings of up to 40% compared with buying new. 

Peter Windischhofer, Co-Founder and CEO of refurbed, comments: “Christmas can be expensive, especially when you’re trying to get everyone the presents they really want. And there’s often this pressure to buy everything brand-new, even when the person opening the gift might not actually mind. 

“What our research shows is that Brits are far more open to receiving refurbished presents than we might think. So why spend more than you need to, particularly when budgets are already stretched? 

“Whether it’s a phone, hair dryer or coffee machine, buying professionally refurbished means you can get someone the gift they really want without paying the brand-new price. And with products professionally checked, tested and backed by a warranty, there’s no reason refurbished can’t be just as exciting to unwrap on Christmas morning.” 

All products sold through refurbed are professionally checked and tested for quality and reliability, with purchases backed by a minimum 12-month warranty and a 30-day return period. Giving Christmas shoppers one less thing to worry about, and more chance of finding the perfect present without the brand-new price tag.