Christmas Confidential lets households get rid of unwanted gifts

Updated

As another festive period draws to a close, many households across Britain will be determining fates for scores of unwanted gifts.

To help spare feelings, a discrete outlet for disposing of these troublesome presents is being offered by Argos and eBay - while also raising money for charity.

The Christmas Confidential project allows gifts which have been sold on eBay to be shipped directly to buyers through Argos stores.

For every gift that arrives at the eBay drop-off points at two Argos stores, eBay will donate £10 to Macmillan.

It comes as research suggests as many as 47% of people would be lumbered with unwelcome gifts this Christmas.

The online auction site said it saw listings for tablets and computers rocket up by 88% on Christmas Day while toys and games listings went up by 56%.

The initiative will run from the outlets in Old Street, London, and Liverpool One Shopping Centre.

Will Weightman, director consumer to consumer selling at eBay, said: "Selling your unwanted gifts is a great way of getting some extra cash and making sure that they go to a good home rather than languishing at the bottom of your drawer.

"The drop-off service at Argos is discrete, convenient and cost-effective."

To help ease the costs of the post-Christmas sell-off, eBay is also running a promotion offering no insertion fees on all consumer listings from December 26 to January 31.

The survey of 2,471 British adults aged between 16 and 64 was conducted in November.

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