The most ridiculous Christmas gifts have been revealed: even a bag of onions is on the list

British scientists investigated the age-old holiday question

It has probably happened to everyone that a gift they received from a loved one turned out to be useless. British scientists conducted a survey and found out what the most ridiculous gifts respondents received.

A bag of onions, a roll of toilet paper, anti-wrinkle cream and fly killer were the worst gifts people surveyed said they had ever received.

One in four respondents to a survey by consumer group Which said they had received an unwanted Christmas gift in the past year.

The survey of more than 2,000 people who received Christmas gifts in 2022 found a quarter (24%) received gifts that were unwanted or inappropriate.

When asked what they did with an unwanted gift, three in 10 (27%) said they either gave it away or planned to do so. One in seven (14%) have sold or planned to sell it on an online marketplace, while 8% have either returned a gift or planned to do so.

According to research conducted by Opinium UK in January 2023, less popular ways to get rid of inappropriate gifts included throwing them away (5%) and returning them to the person who gave them (3%).

People also spoke candidly about the worst gift they’ve ever received. They included a roll of toilet paper and a zipper, a broken toy, a bag of onions and anti-wrinkle cream. One man said he received milk chocolate from his father despite being milk intolerant. Another “lucky owner” of an inappropriate gift said he received a dead chicken as a gift from a butcher friend. The recipient of the surprise is a vegan for life.

Eight in 10 (78%) of those surveyed said none of the Christmas gifts they received included a gift receipt, meaning they would be unable to exchange unwanted items for something more suitable.

According to the Daily Mail, many UK retailers are extending their return policies over the festive period.

Which consumer expert Harry Kind said: “Whether it’s a fly swatter or a broken toy, our research shows a quarter of us are wondering what to do with a disappointing Christmas gift. It is always worth getting a gift receipt so that the person has the opportunity to return the gift if necessary. Often only the buyer can request a return or exchange. But if the item was marked as a gift when you ordered it, the seller’s return policy may allow the recipient to return or exchange it.”