Retail Scores Big on Unused Gift Cards

(NEWSER) - Naughty or nice, America’s retail stores can’t look forward to two of the holiday season’s usual boons: gift card sales and “self-gifting” splurges, MarketWatch reports. About 44% of shoppers say they will not buy gift cards this year, up from 26% last year, a marketing study says. Meanwhile, people are being stingy with themselves as they shop for others. More»

Yuletide economics dissected

(NEWSER) - Christmas is coming, and the "voluntary December calamity" of destruction of billions of dollars in value is under way, writes George Will. People will splurge on gifts their relatives and friends don't want or need, and the discrepancy between the cost of the present and its value to the recipient adds up to wasted billions, Will writes in the Washington Post . More»

Too many of the cards go unused: New York Times

(NEWSER) - Someone on the New York Times editorial board must have gotten some crappy gift cards under the tree this year: The newspaper today proselytizes against the ever-growing trend and suggests that people give cash instead. Too many cards get lost or forgotten, and considering Americans spent $27.8 billion on them this year, that amounts to a lot of wasted gift-giving, says the newspaper. More»

No minimum purchase. Online retailers gulp.

(NEWSER) - Walmart just got cheaper: The retail giant today rolls out free shipping on its website with no minimum purchase, reports the New York Times. With cost-conscious consumers 55% somewhat likely to back out of a purchase if they have to pay for shipping, the move puts a ton of pressure on competing online retailers just as the holiday season ramps up. Many currently charge consumers an annual fee for unlimited free shipping, but Walmart may have set a new expectation. More»

Construction toy sales booming, but then you have to build them

(NEWSER) - Toys that required assembly were once an end in themselves, and their elaborate instructions made the process fun. These days, parents shopping for their kids don’t have much of a choice. “Toys do have more parts today,” a store owner tells the New York Times . Shipping flat and not assembling at the factory “keeps the costs down. It’s the Ikea model.” But even parents who appreciate the savings have that distinct Ikea feeling when they open the box. "Just looking at the Lego packages makes me cringe," says one. More»