Kiwis flock to TradeMe for regifting

About 5000 unwanted Christmas gifts have already been listed for auction on TradeMe as New Zealanders take up the concept of "regifting".

More than 10,000 listings had been added to the website since Christmas Day, with half estimated to be from sellers cashing in their gifts, said TradeMe spokesman Paul Ford.

The number of items labelled "unwanted gift" on the site was probably only the tip of the regifting iceberg, he said.

A recent poll on the website indicated New Zealanders continued to embrace the concept of regifting, with 65 percent agreeing that reselling or passing on a gift was acceptable.

Traditionally, the items most likely to be "regifted" included mobile phone accessories, women's clothing, fishing gear, cosmetics, jewellery, CDs and DVDs, ties, chocolates, and kitchen appliances.

Mr Ford said there were golden rules of regifting.

Remove the card, don't recycle the crinkled wrapping paper, don't on-sell handmade items and "move heaven and earth to ensure you do not end up selling it to the person who gave it to you".

- NZPA