5 Awesome Gift Ideas (That Your Kids Won't Resell the Next Day on Le Bon Coin…)

Nov. 9, 2023

In December 2022, nearly 17% of French people were considering reselling a gift they had received for Christmas. That’s a discouraging statistic as the holidays approach: why put so much effort into finding a gift… that will end up in the hands of a stranger! Let’s take a look at the reasons why our friends and family might decide to part with their Christmas gifts… and find ways to hit the mark this year!

Reselling a Christmas gift just a few hours after unwrapping it is rarely a deliberately malicious act. There are five entirely practical reasons that might justify parting with a gift we’ve received:

- The gift is unusable (e.g., size issue)
- The gift is too complicated to use (e.g., an activity that takes place far away)
- The recipient views the gift solely in terms of its value (for example: it could help finance an important project)
- The gift… is a duplicate!
- The gift isn't what I was hoping for

Before you take the insult personally, remember that you yourself have probably hidden an item—chosen for you with love (but absolutely hideous…)—in the back of a closet on the day after Christmas.

A surefire tip for giving a gift that hits the mark? Choose an experience instead of an object (especially for “kids” who are already adults and seem to have everything…).

Follow this guide to find THE Christmas gift that will delight the person you're giving it to!

1. Make sure your Christmas gift is perfectly tailored to the recipient

For months now, your grandson has been passionate about extreme sports and has been telling you about the skydive he’ll take one day, when he’s of legal age and no one will have anything to say about it. On the face of it, an adrenaline-themed Christmas gift should be right up his alley. That works out perfectly: this winter, the whole family is going on vacation to La Plagne, and just last night you saw a TV report about a long zipline starting at Belle Plagne.

Except that… your grandson is 11 years old. And the zip line is for ages 12 and up. However, there’s a thrilling activity in La Plagne that he could have shared with his parents: bob rafting, available for anyone 1.30 meters tall or taller! No problem: Mom and Dad will let his big sister enjoy it instead… But what a shame to have figured out the youngest child’s interests so well, only to stumble when it came time to choose his Christmas gift!

This year: Be sure to check ages, sizes, usage guidelines, etc., before finalizing your Christmas purchases. Anyone can get things mixed up, especially in large families with lots of birthdays to keep track of…

2. Forget about Christmas gifts that are too “complicated”

Your daughter seems tired lately. Juggling her roles as the mother of a 2-year-old and the manager of a 10-person department is a heavy burden, and her days are very busy. Great idea: Treat her to a massage with a gift box you bought online.

Problem: The terms of use for the box are a real ordeal. Finding half a day to slip away from home, making your way to the spa (further away than expected)… The logistics involved cancel out all the relaxing effects of that long-awaited massage.

This year: Book a massage for them at their vacation spot (after checking with them first, of course)! No logistical hassles, no need to think—just relax under the expert hands of the massage therapist (psst: did you know that Robin, the 2016 silver medalist in the competition for France’s best massage therapist, works in La Plagne? Give him a call and mention us—he’s a partner of our residence Chalet Hôtel TurquoiseBelle Plagne).

SkySpa La Rosière

3. Contribute to a fundraiser for a major vacation project

Worried that your kids might resell their gifts online the day after Christmas to make a little extra cash? Get ahead of the game and contribute directly to their “leisure” fund for their next ski vacation in La Plagne at La Rosière or Tignes !

An envelope may seem impersonal, but it will actually be greatly appreciated if you include a short, personalized note hinting at how the money you’ve slipped inside might be used (“Have fun on your vacation in La Rosière !”; “Say hello to Pepita when you’re enjoying yourself in Italy!”).

Paret by Evolution 2

4. Don't worry about giving a duplicate gift anymore

What's the problem with adult children who are all settled in? They already have everything! And the fear of giving them something they already have is almost greater than the fear of giving them something they won't like…

By giving an experience rather than a physical gift for Christmas, you greatly reduce the risk of the recipient ending up with two identical gifts. And there are plenty of experiences that people would be delighted to enjoy a second time if they received a duplicate ( who wouldn’t say yes to two massages instead of one, for example?).

Another idea: give the gift of an experience that’s even more enjoyable as a couple. That way, if there’s a duplicate gift, your son or daughter will be happy to share the experience with their partner or a friend (or… with you!). An example? Ice floating (which Tignes), which involves floating on the water in a gigantic hole cut into the frozen lake, bundled up in a wetsuit specially designed for extreme temperatures. It’s a fun and meditative activity that’s just as enjoyable alone as it is with a partner!

5. Play it safe with a Christmas gift that's sure to please

Is your daughter, who's still in college, planning to go skiing with her friends this winter? Treat her to a week-long ski pass—you're sure to make her happy!

A Christmas gift doesn't necessarily have to be original. You can simply build on an idea that already exists and do your part without running the risk of making a mistake.

And there you have it—we've gone over the five great ideas we came up with to keep your kids from being tempted (or forced) to resell their Christmas gifts online just a few hours after you've given them to them! Which one will you go with this year?

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