Twenty-seven percent of US consumers say they only use up to half the value of gift cards, gift certificates when shopping: RetailMeNot

Cindy Allen

AUSTIN, Texas , December 31, 2012 (press release) – RetailMeNot.com (www.retailmenot.com), the largest online coupon site in the United States, today released its last edition of the Shoppers Trend Report (STR) in 2012, revealing findings from a poll conducted by The Omnibus Company (http://www.omnibus.com). The report finds that while 50% of consumers say they spend 100% of the gift cards or gift certificates they receive, more than 1 in 4 (27%) say they usually only use up to half of the value of those gift cards or gift certificates when shopping.

“Consumers are leaving money on the table by not using the total value of their gift cards,” said Trae Bodge, senior editor of the RetailMeNot blog. “End-of-year clearance sales after Christmas are the perfect opportunity to get some great last-minute deals.”

According to the survey, the vast majority of consumers polled either sometimes, frequently or always (75%) take advantage of end-of-the-year sales. Only 7% of consumers say they never shop the end-of-year sales. Of consumers wanting to make a big purchase, 31% are waiting for the year-end clearance sales because they anticipate last-minute deals.

The Fate of Unloved Gifts

Did you ever wonder what happened to that ugly sweater from your Aunt Maude or that really “unique” piece of art you received from your eccentric brother-in-law?

According to the Shoppers Trend Report, only 31% of consumers polled would consider returning unwanted holiday gifts and 26% of consumers have “regifted” an item to someone else in their lifetime.

Other survey results

Of those who received gift cards or gift certificates, only half (50%) say they have used 100% percent of the gift cards they’ve received. Most consumers (69%) would not return unwanted gifts, instead choosing to store them, “regift” them or donate them to charity.

Key Survey Findings:

· 38% of consumers sometimes shop end-of-year sales; 24% of consumers frequently shop during end-of-the-year sales and 13% always do.

Only 7% of consumers say they never shop end-of-year sales.

· Most gift cards (40%), according to respondents, are purchased in amounts of $25–$49.

· 27% of consumers suspect that gifts they’ve given have been “regifted.”

· Nearly 2 in 10 (17%) consumers have tried to find out how much money was spent on a gift they’ve received.

· 36% of holiday shoppers report using an online promotional code or coupon to save money while shopping online this year.

· 26% of holiday shoppers reported using in-store coupons (printable, mobile) to save money on gift purchases this year.

Survey methodology

The survey was conducted between December 3 and December 10, 2012, among 1,106 U.S. residents ages 18 and over, using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the entire U.S. population ages 18 and over. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample. The margin of error for any subgroups will be slightly higher.

About RetailMeNot.com

RetailMeNot.com (www.retailmenot.com) is the leading consumer destination for collaborative online coupon, deal and promotional code hunting and sharing. Our mission is to help consumers save money and enjoy a hassle-free discount shopping experience. Since November 2006, our users have shared hundreds of thousands of deals and offers from retailers from across the globe. Online coupons are rated and ranked by users, ensuring that quality deals rise to the top and expired coupons drop down the list. RetailMeNot.com is operated by WhaleShark Media, Inc., the world's leading marketplace for online coupons and deals.

Shopping on the go? Download the RetailMeNot Coupons app for iPhone and Android phones to access Hot Deals, browse top coupons, popular stores and categories and get thousands of online and in-store coupons to shop when you want, where you want™. Make sure to "like" RetailMeNot.com and authorize the RetailMeNot app on Facebook, follow the company via Twitter @retailmenot and add us on Google+.

About WhaleShark Media, Inc.

WhaleShark Media, Inc. (www.whalesharkmedia.com) is the world's leading marketplace for online coupons and deals. The company's websites enable consumers seeking to save money to find hundreds of thousands of offers from retailers across the globe. WhaleShark Media experiences more than 400 million consumer visits to its sites every year. The WhaleShark Media portfolio of coupon and deal websites includes www.RetailMeNot.com, the largest online coupon site in the United States; www.VoucherCodes.co.uk, the largest online coupon site in the United Kingdom; www.Deals.com in Germany;web.Bons-de-Reduction.com and www.Poulpeo.com in France; www.Deals2Buy.com; www.CouponSeven.com; and www.CouponShare.com. WhaleShark Media is a fast-growing, profitable company funded by venture capital firms Austin Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Adams Street Partners, Google Ventures, J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Institutional Venture Partners (IVP).

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